New Sex Education Curriculum Lambasted By Woodbridge Mother

WOODBRIDGE, NJ —The mother of a middle school student went on the attack against the new sex education curriculum being taught in Woodbridge schools at the Oct. 20 meeting of the school board.

Christine Hanson, spoke vehemently about the new health/physical education curriculum, which started being implemented in all New Jersey schools this September. She also asked for Woodbridge schools to begin an "opt in" program, like the Middletown school district has done.

Middletown is one of the few districts in the state that is requiring parents to opt their children into the new sex education classes. That means that back in early August, parents or guardians were sent all the curriculum online and have to send back a signed permission slip that allows their child to be taught the material.

"I do not want my son being taught about anal sex and oral sex and things like that, especially not in middle school," Hanson said. "This goes against my religious beliefs. I don't think we should be putting these things into children's minds. I don't want my children to be taught this and if they are taught it, it's going to be taught by me."

What she's referring to this 66-page curriculum guide that was handed down from the state Department of Education two years ago. Before the pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy directed the Dept. of Education to revise the sex education curriculum taught in New Jersey schools; the new curriculum was supposed to be introduced in 2020. However, the pandemic and virtual learning delayed its roll-out until the fall of 2022.

Hanson said many parents in Woodbridge do not appear to be aware of the new sex education requirements.

"There are a lot of parents who have absolutely no idea about this, that anything has changed with the curriculum. You're not keeping us informed about the changes," she said. "My concern is why aren't more parents aware of this? There are a lot of other parents who I don't think know what their children are being taught. I think they should be afforded the opportunity to be aware."

Hanson was joined by another mom who got up and thanked the school board for allowing her to opt her children out of the new sex ed. classes. Since the 1970s, any parent in New Jersey has been able to opt their child out of any sex education curriculum they disagree with, or feel uncomfortable with.

However, Hanson said she does not agree with the opt-out policy, as she said it unfairly singles out her son and requires him to be removed from class.

"So my child has to be pulled out of a class. So now he's being singled out," said Hanson. "I think it should be an opt-in scenario. It shouldn't be a question of me having my child removed from his class."

Woodbridge school board attorney Jonathan Busch responded to Hanson and said he was not quite sure if what the Middletown school district is doing is legal.

"There are some school districts that have done things that they may or may not be able to do by law," he said.

"There's a lot of concerned parents like you. Obviously you are not alone," Busch continued. "These curriculum requirements, there is some ... (he paused) vagueness that allows the district to fill in the gaps. But these are standards that we, as a school district, are required to follow."

Busch emphasized that any parent or student who is uncomfortable with the sex ed. curriculum can opt out.

"That statue from the 1970s recognizes how you feel and that you are not comfortable with and want to teach to him at home. That's why that statute exists," he said.

You can watch last Thursday's Woodbridge school board meeting here in its entirety. Hanson starts speaking at the 1:00 mark:

Related: Middletown Will Require Students To 'Opt In' To Sex Ed. Classes (Aug. 1, 2022)