Educators in the state of New Jersey are being required to teach middle school students about pregnancy options and anal sex or face potential “disciplinary action” by the school superintendent.
New state-wide sex education standards adopted by the New Jersey Board of Education in the summer of 2020 require they be adopted starting this month, according to Fox News.
The Department of Education for the state has warned teachers who fail to educate kids as young as 8th grade about what concerned parents and even some district officials believe could be too mature for the kids, could face negative repercussions or loss of funding for the school.
The districts are responsible for creating curricula that adheres to the state standards. The state standards outline what students should learn at each grade level.
“The New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) are mandatory for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to implement and failure to comply can result in disciplinary action,” a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Education told Fox News Digital.
“Under [New Jersey Statutes Annotated] 18A:35-4.7, for children to be excused from any part of instruction in health, family life, or sex education, their parent or guardian must inform the school principal in writing that the instruction conflicts with their conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs.”
Currently, by the eighth grade New Jersey standards require that students should “describe pregnancy testing, the signs of pregnancy, and pregnancy options, including parenting, abortion, and adoption;” and “Define vaginal, oral, and anal sex.” Eighth-grade students are also required to “develop a plan to eliminate or reduce risk of unintended pregnancy and STIs (including HIV).”
The mother of one student in the Berkeley Heights school district called out the standards saying they are “harmful and offensive” and said it was difficult to even find out what her kids would be learning.
The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, has opted her children out of the updated sex-ed curriculum which she reportedly found alarming. According to Fox News, she is concerned other parents won’t know enough about the updated standards to act before their children receive the education.
“All I’m asking for is transparency and accountability,” the mother said calling what she went through “a lot of work for most parents.”
“I had to send quite a few emails and figure out who is in charge and teaching what to get to this point,” the concerned parent said.
Dr. Melissa Varley, the superintendent of the Berkeley Heights school district, told Fox News Digital that her district “presented the new PE/Health Curriculum on August 11th at the Public Board meeting. The Assistant Superintendent and PE/Health Supervisor explained in detail the Opt Out Process available to all parents.
“In addition, all parents are welcome to personally review the curriculum guides and teaching materials,” the superintendent added.