LACEY, N.J. — Parents, grandparents and students have spoken out against controversial sex education standards that include teaching gender and sexuality at Lacey.
The Lacey Township School District held a “listen and learn” forum to explain the new health and physical education curriculum. The forum was hosted by William Zarinski, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.
The purpose of the forum was to show how the controversial standard would be implemented and to allow the public to express their thoughts on it. He specifically asked for comments on what people didn’t like about the curriculum. Zylinski said he took the comments and brought them back to his team to make adjustments as needed.
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Zylinski wanted the evening to be “civil discourse,” but the hour and a half forum was filled with arguments between parents and guardians, frequently yelling at others while speaking. I had a guardian.
This topic has been repeatedly discussed on Lacey over the past few months, with parents expressing disapproval of the content. read more: ‘Say No’ Lacy’s Parents Tell School Board About Sex Education Standards
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Zirinski’s description of the curriculum was essentially that the standard’s most controversial topics were left out, such as the topic of masturbation. These can be taught at his home, he said.
He emphasized that the standards set by the state are merely guidelines and examples, and that it is up to schools to figure out how to implement them.
“We don’t manage standards, we manage curricula,” says Zylinski.
For those still concerned, parents can opt their students out. Lacy’s online system does not allow students to view their schedules until her opt-out form is verified, Zylinksi said.
This was called a “compromise” by Zylinski for parents who repeatedly requested to be “opted in” rather than opted out of the curriculum.
In a few weeks, you’ll be able to see sample lesson plans. Zylinski also encouraged parents to connect with their child’s health teachers to learn more about what they specifically share in class.
Despite this, parents said they did not like what was being taught. Many seemed particularly troubled by LGBTQ topics. On the topic of gender identity and sexual orientation, a woman who identified herself as a grandmother said this was “normalizing immorality and perversion”. Others called it pushing the agenda.
“Don’t take illness for granted,” she called out early in the meeting. “Don’t force it down her grandson’s throat.”
Richard Vidnick, a frequent speaker at school board meetings, said that normalizing LGBTQ topics is social disintegration. He highlighted the topic of transgenderism, suggesting that transgender people have mental problems, and said it was “not normal and not real”. added that the only reason they were included in the standard was to “meet an awake agenda,” and warned about their effects on children.
“Once you open Pandora’s box, there’s no going back,” Bidnik said.
Another parent shared concerns about transgender issues being taught in the curriculum and expressed fear that transgender students were allowed into locker rooms with their daughters, He mentioned the idea that people were unsafe if they shared a locker room or bathroom with a transgender person. has no relevance to
Lacey Township School District policy allows transgender students to use alternative pronouns or choose a name different from their gender at birth, and the school does not have to notify parents. According to policy, Lacy’s transgender students are also allowed to use facilities deemed appropriate based on their gender identity, such as bathrooms and changing rooms.
A woman who identified as a case worker, the only voice clearly endorsing the standards, said that thanks to social media, children know more than their parents think. She asked if her parents would like them to learn these things from social media or in the classroom, and if every child has an opportunity to discuss these topics at home. She said she doesn’t have parents to support her.
“Something is going on sexually with younger kids and they need to know how to handle it,” she said of the LGBTQ topic.
“I have seen the unimaginable things happen to children,” said the woman. She asks her parents to think about what their students are going through because their children are suicidal because they don’t feel accepted.
“It’s not our place to judge children,” she said. said that students who do not specify how they do so may not understand what others are going through and may harass students.
The topic of making healthy decisions about sex by the end of eighth grade was another controversial topic.
“Most teenagers do,” Zylinksi replied.
Some parents said that sex should not be taught at all. “Schools shouldn’t teach sex,” he said.
Another concern was that parents wanted their children to learn, but the children themselves did not. Zylinski said he would address this and work with a guidance counselor to determine the best course of action.
Until the curriculum is approved by the school board in September, Zylinski said the controversial aspects of the curriculum that remain will not be taught in class.
You can view the health and physical education curriculum for all grades online at the Lacey School District website.
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