Middletown BOE: Districts Have 'Discretion' Implementing Sex Ed

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown school board president Frank Capone and vice president Jacqueline Tobacco both said this week that New Jersey's controversial new sex ed. guidelines are mandatory — but school districts do have options in how they implement the lesson plans.

Anyone can read the 66-page curriculum guide from the state Department of Education. Among the talking points suggested by the state include: Talking about gender identity to second graders and discussing masturbation with fifth graders. Another requirement from the state is that by the end of eighth grade, students should be able to "define vaginal, oral and anal sex." Teachers should "describe pregnancy testing, the signs of pregnancy, and pregnancy options, including parenting, abortion and adoption" by the end of eighth grade.

After a parent outcry, Gov. Murphy said this week he will asking his Department of Education to "review" and "provide further clarification" on the curriculum standards.

"Regarding the new health curriculum, New Jersey state standards are mandatory," said Capone, president of the Middletown Board of Education. "How the curriculum is implemented is not. Districts have discretion as to the number of lessons districts include in their curriculum guides to cover each topic."

"All material should be age-appropriate," continued Capone in a Facebook post. "Middletown will be doing what's suitable for all children, and age appropriate based on parents' decision to opt in/opt out."

As has always been the case in New Jersey, parent can opt their kids out of sex ed. classes if they so choose.

Just on Thursday, NJ Senate Education Committee chair state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) said something similar: That the curriculum proposed by the state should be thought of as "a guide."

But Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R), who represents northern Monmouth County, said Gopal is not correct, and that this new sex ed. curriculum is a mandate school districts have to follow.

"If you look at the bill that passed this, the bill uses the words 'shall,' not 'may,'" said Scharfenberger. "All of this is just backpedaling and panicking by New Jersey Democrats because they got caught doing this and parents are — rightfully — very upset. You can debate taxes; you can debate borrowing money but there's one thing you don't mess with and that's peoples' kids."

Gopal said he just met Thursday with acting Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan and she told him:

"The 66-page document put out by the Department of Education is a guide for local school districts. But they don't have to use any of the specific words in their standards — only the themes."

A Middletown mom already raised alarm bells about the new guidelines at this Middletown BOE meeting in November.

"The 66-page policy looks, in my opinion, not appropriate to be taught in school," said mom Ann Marie Lusquinos at the November public meeting.

Gopal, a Democrat, also said he is personally uncomfortable with some of the language proposed by the state.

"No district has to (or in my opinion should) use the words '(masturbation)' or others discussed in those standards," said Gopal Thursday. "It is up to the school district to decide the specific curriculum and the word choice they use in their curriculum and make sure it is age-appropriate ... I am horrified by some of these words I'm seeing in some of these sample lesson plans. And it would be totally irresponsible for a school district to adopt some of what I'm seeing."

Gopal said he personally called Capone and Board member Barry Heffernan Thursday and told them "if there is any word in (the sex ed. curriculum that Middletown has to teach), tell me. Because I will stand there with them and raise hell."

Capone said he would get back to him, said Gopal.

Related: NJ Senate Education Chairman: Sex Ed Curriculum Is A 'Guide' (April 14)

Both Capone and vice president Tobacco said the Middletown school district — like all others across the state — were required by the state to come up with a plan for how the Middletown school district would implement the new sex ed. learning standards.

"How curricula are implemented is at the district's discretion in collaboration with the curriculum director and approved units," said Capone. "Make sure you know what your district is teaching and ask the questions. What are the units, and what are the lesson plans per grade?"

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