New Sex Ed Curriculum Challenged By Morris Co. Commissioners

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — In response to New Jersey's revised sex education standards, the Morris County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution requesting that the state ban the curricula and create a parent's bill of rights.

The Morris County Board of Commissioners stated their support for creating a statewide "Parents' Bill of Rights" regarding the controversial new health and sex education curriculum mandated by New Jersey.

The state curriculum, which was approved by the state Board of Education in 2020, is titled "New Jersey Student Learning Standards – Comprehensive Health and Physical Education."

It addresses a wide range of issues and topics, including personal hygiene, mental and social well-being, community health and support, fitness, nutrition, safety and substance abuse. There are several areas that cover various sexual health topics, such as personal growth, pregnancy and parenting, and social and sexual health.

State law requires instruction "on the political, economic and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in appropriate places in the middle school and high school curriculum."

Following an uproar over the revised curricula, Gov. Phil Murphy directed the state Department of Education earlier this year to review the sex education standards adopted in 2020 and set to take effect this fall.

Republicans in the state Senate have introduced legislation to create a Parents' Bill of Rights, criticizing both the health and physical education curriculum as well as the already implemented diversity and inclusion lesson requirements.

At a recent meeting, members of the Commission recited the entire resolution put forth by the board, which says, in part, "…those standards mandate a controversial set of curricula in public schools that deeply concerns New Jersey parents because it requires the introduction of sexually explicit material to all students beginning in second grade, where the standards require that children be exposed to materials demonstrating the range of ways people express their gender and how gender-role stereotypes may limit behavior."

The resolution also claims that the state guidelines were passed during the height of the pandemic when people were at home and unable to make public comments or offer input, stating that instead, "the New Jersey State School Board has refused to reconsider the standards while the New Jersey Department of Education has publicly threatened punitive actions, including withholding state aid, against local school districts that fail to implement the controversial curricula this fall."

Further, it calls on Murphy, the state legislature, and the Department of Education to return such curricula to the control of local school boards and to repeal and abandon the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

The county intends to establish a "Parents Bill of Rights" that, among other things, prohibits the state and local school districts from interfering with a parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct a student's education.

The proposed legislation also allows families to opt out of school district curricula, ensures curriculum transparency, involves parents in curriculum development, and protects parents' right to decide when and how to introduce material to their children.

While the curriculum has sparked debate across all Morris County school boards, not all of the parents who spoke in front of the board were against it. Teachers and parents have spoken out in support of the new curriculum since the spring, stating that LGBTQ students and students of color must feel included.

"I think it's very easy when your kid does not have any of these issues, that they have no choice over. Do you really think a child chooses to be LGBTQ+, why would anybody choose that? Do you have any idea the courage and bravery it takes for someone to have to live their life as their true selves," Long Valley resident Jeri Cenziper said.

Parents will be able to opt their children out of health and physical education classes, but some parents believe the law should be changed to require parents to "opt-in" in order for their children to receive the lessons.

The Middletown School District was recently one of the first to implement the "opt-in" policy. That means Middletown parents will be informed ahead of time about what will be taught and will be required to give their child permission to attend that day's lesson.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, five states require parental consent before children can receive sex education lessons. Thirty-six states, as well as the District of Columbia, allow parents to opt their children out of such lessons.