{"id":8093,"date":"2022-08-17T00:41:16","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T04:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/?p=8093"},"modified":"2022-08-17T01:54:43","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T05:54:43","slug":"toms-river-parents-voice-concerns-over-states-sex-gender-curriculum-families-can-opt-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/2022\/08\/toms-river-parents-voice-concerns-over-states-sex-gender-curriculum-families-can-opt-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Toms River Parents Voice Concerns Over State’s Sex, Gender Curriculum; Families Can ‘Opt-Out’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"An<\/a>

An elementary school classroom. (Credit: Kathy Cassidy\/ Flickr Creative Commons)<\/p><\/div>\n

Toms River parents expressed concern over the state\u2019s controversial gender and sex education curriculum requirements that will be implemented for the upcoming 2022-23 school year, while district officials assured the lessons would be designed locally, with parents being empowered to guide their children at home.<\/p>\n

The curriculum standards have faced scrutiny across New Jersey, but especially in more conservative-minded regions, where parents have accused the state of politicizing classrooms. In May, the state Board of Education \u2013 which does not have a connection to the local board in Toms River \u2013 doubled down on a 2020 measure that requires school districts to integrate gender identity and similar matters into the sex ed standards. The board declined to review the standards<\/a>, which were adopted during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Board President Kathy Goldenberg took a tough stance against parents and officials who oppose the new standards<\/a>, saying a vote on a review \u201cwon\u2019t happen\u201d and that she \u201cwholeheartedly disagrees\u201d with critics.<\/p>\n

The local board in Toms River held a public information session during its regular curriculum committee meeting Monday night where parents were encouraged to voice their concerns and ask questions of district officials as they finalize lessons for the impending school year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want all of our children to leave our school system prepared for their future endeavours and be people who add value to their community,\u201d said Superintendent Joseph Citta. \u201cWhen you try to get varying views of 1,600 students, 33,000 parents to move in a collective mindset, it\u2019s a challenge. We\u2019re trying to build consensus.\u201d<\/p>\n

The state\u2019s revised standards for sex and gender education largely resemble much of what has been taught in school health classes for years, however the age at which students are expected to learn certain aspects of sexuality has raised eyebrows with some parents. Additionally, some parents have expressed concern that required lessons in gender identity may be utilized to promote<\/a> a left-leaning political philosophy.<\/p>\n

Officials stressed that district leaders and board members maintain latitude over the focus of the lessons as they are applied in the Toms River Regional district.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe implementation of this curriculum is done at the district level,\u201d said Rachel Cicala, Director of Elementary Curriculum. \u201cIt\u2019s important to know that all of our curriculum is written by committees of Toms River teachers and administrators.\u201d<\/p>\n

The elected Board of Education will also be responsible for reviewing the curriculum and voting for its ultimate approval. Parents will also have the option of \u201copting out\u201d of the lessons, and many of the most controversial aspects of the curriculum is expected to be covered at home, where parents can expose their children to the information they wish.<\/p>\n

One such controversial requirement is for second graders, in which a state performance expectation assumes children will be able to \u201clist medically accurate names for body parts, including genitals\u201d by the time they complete second grade.<\/p>\n

Toms River will teach students to identify body parts that can be seen when fully clothed, such as head, shoulders, knees and toes, Cicala said. More sensitive parts of the human anatomy will be referred to as \u201cprivate areas\u201d only if a question arises. The \u201cgenital\u201d standard should be taught at home \u201cin a manner that parents feel is appropriate for their children.\u201d<\/p>\n

The state\u2019s performance expectations that call for second-grade students to be able to \u201cdiscuss the range of ways people express their gender and how gender-role stereotypes may limit behavior\u201d will be taught in a way that has students identify the things they like to do \u2013 such as playing soccer, wearing a baseball cap, baking a cake with a grandparent, or singing \u2013 and share how they express themselves while doing those activities. The \u201cgender stereotype\u201d portion, like the expectation for students to be familiar with genitalia by the time they complete second grade, will be left to parents to be taught at home.<\/p>\n

There are additional expectations for students by the time they complete eighth grade and twelfth grade. By the end of grade eight, students should be able to \u201cdefine vaginal, oral and anal sex.\u201d The curriculum in this arena, according to Adrienne Gold, Director of Secondary Curriculum, will center on \u201cinforming students about sexually transmitted infections and that these are locations in your body where STIs can enter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sexual act itself is not defined \u2013 only the body parts are referred to as \u201cplaces of transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students will be expected to \u201cdifferentiate between gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation\u201d by the end of their eighth grade year. The curriculum calls for students to be able to explain \u201cwhat they mean in welcoming and inclusive ways, with a focus on acceptance and respect for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The twelfth grade curriculum is more nuanced, expecting students to be able to engage in a discussion on sexual and social issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese concepts have been taught in high schools for years,\u201d Gold said.<\/p>\n

Parents React<\/strong><\/p>\n

Citta explained that parents will receive an information pack and must acknowledge the curriculum is being taught. Those families who wish to opt-out their children may do so, which will mean the students will move to another classroom while the controversial lessons are being taught. The students who opt out will be presented with traditional physical education and health assignments.<\/p>\n

Still, some parents said they did not favor an \u201copt-out\u201d option, but rather an \u201copt-in\u201d policy that requires parents to affirmatively express the fact that they want their child to participate. Officials said the state law does not provide for such an option.<\/p>\n

Parents had mixed views on the curriculum, with occasionally-heated speakers coming to a lectern and having their say. The majority who spoke were opposed to the curriculum standards, but a few spoke in support of the changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to take the courageous path and remove all of this sexual \u2026 content from the curriculum,\u201d said one parent. \u201cWe are made to look like fanatics, but we are fighting for our religious freedom. Do the right thing and tell the state, \u2018no.'\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnny Resto, a parent, told board members he feels parents\u2019 voices \u201care being overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought I would have to worry about what my children were learning in school,\u201d he said. \u201cWhy is this being taught and what is the thought process behind this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Officials pointed to the 2020 law.<\/p>\n

One woman who spoke took her fellow parents to task. Devon Mazza, who said she is a teacher in a Monmouth County school district, spoke in favor of the curriculum.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who question how we align curriculum to standards are the same people who would not be able to make it through a teacher preparation program for fifteen minutes,\u201d Mazza said. \u201cIf you want to have control over the curriculum, you should go to school and get a degree in your content area. It is really difficult to have your profession questions over and over again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The criticism was met with groans from the audience and a request from the board to maintain decorum in the room.<\/p>\n

Another parent, Cynthia Rossi, said she believes it is important for students to be exposed to a range of topics they may face outside of school.<\/p>\n

\u201cDevelopmentally appropriate and evidence-based education on sexuality is important,\u201d Rossi said. \u201cThis is especially important as the United States has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy out of every developed country in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Louise Aikens, another parent, said she believes children should learn about sexual preferences and identities through life experience rather than in a classroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not want my children to learn about all of these people in a textbook,\u201d she said. \u201cThey live in our community. Our kids can meet them and learn about them organically. Let relationships happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have time in our school to teach cursive writing to the children,\u201d said one woman, speaking of her granddaughter. \u201cMy granddaughter decided she was going to have a legal signature, and she had to teach herself cursive writing. But they have all the time in the world to teach sex.\u201d<\/p>\n

Citta, after hearing from the group of parents, said the staff committee will take the feedback and use it to help finalize the curriculum for the upcoming school year. Details will be posted on the district\u2019s website in the near future.<\/p>\n

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Toms River parents expressed concern over the state\u2019s controversial gender and sex education curriculum requirements that will be implemented for the upcoming 2022-23 school year, while district officials assured the lessons would be designed locally, with parents being empowered to guide their children at home. The curriculum standards have faced scrutiny across New Jersey, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[1080,1649,63,1650,11,64],"class_list":["post-8093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-toms-river-schools","tag-featured","tag-gender-identity","tag-new-jersey","tag-sex-education","tag-toms-river-nj-news","tag-toms-river-regional-schools"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/5133718379_0362f58d1b_o.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8093\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/tomsriver\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}