After a presentation on a more comprehensive sex education curriculum, including information on sexual orientation and gender identity lessons, the August 8 Wauwatosa Board of Education meeting was decided by a heated debate.
An updated Human Growth and Development curriculum is proposed for the 2022-23 school year.
As public comment lines were filed in the back of the conference room, parents vehemently argued for and against the new curriculum.
“I stand here to vehemently protest the sexual content of your special. If I had just stood by and allowed it to happen without active protest, I would be ashamed.” You will feel humiliated,” said one parent.
Others said the new curriculum was not comprehensive enough, that it was “out of time” to update the curriculum, and that even the proposed version was “not comprehensive enough.”
What is included in the proposed curriculum?
For primary school, curriculum updates begin early in kindergarten, with additional coverage on defining gender, gender roles, identifying medically appropriate names for body parts, and learning about consent in everyday contexts. Includes lessons. In addition, a picture book that introduces more diverse backgrounds will be added.
By eighth grade, middle school students learn about different gender identities, sexual orientations, sexual activities, and how they all affect social relationships.
By high school, students learn about abuse in relationships, safe sex, analyzing information on social media, and a more complete understanding of sexual orientation, gender, and other social identities.
Response to Curriculum
John Etter, Wauwatosa parent, Wauwatosa East High School teacher, and Gender and Sexuality Alliance advisor, was pleased with the proposed curriculum and how it would promote inclusion in Wauwatosa schools. I said yes.
“We are optimistic that every student in our school district (heterosexual, queer, cisgender, transgender) will have the education they need to live safe, healthy and happy lives. , I will be thrilled and relieved if this is passed,” Etter said.
Additionally, Etter said that as a teacher, he approached his students to seek further support and education about their LGBTQ+ needs.
A student at McKinley Elementary School spoke in support of the new curriculum at a school board meeting.
“This is physical science. It’s not a big deal to learn about it. I think people will be more empathetic to each other if we do it together,” said the student.
This resonated with board member Sharon Muhlfeld, who said she was moved by the young student’s testimony.
Board members Jenny Hoag and Jessica Willis expressed their support for the curriculum.
However, board member Michael E. Meyer raised concerns about interfering in family life.
Also, Ted Barthel, a member of the external committee that helped review the curriculum, disputed the fact that the district used national sex education standards as a basis.
“There was absolutely no debate about where the starting point would be…Without parental input, it was decided to use the national sex education standards as a basis,” said a parent of a district student. Basel said.
Policy review
The decision to review the curriculum was made in accordance with a policy requiring the curriculum to be reviewed every three years. Despite policy, the curriculum had not been reviewed in his decade and had been identified by the school district as a priority.
Using the National Sex Education Standards as a basis, school districts have created both internal and external committees made up of community members such as teachers, health care professionals, caregivers, students, and local clergy. .
Using both committees, the district reviewed the curriculum for all grades and produced the curriculum that was presented at the August 8th School Board meeting.
The curriculum has an opt-out option for parents.
The fate of the curriculum is scheduled to be decided at a Board of Education meeting on August 22nd, where board members will take into consideration feedback on the curriculum.
Beck Andrew Salgado can be reached at 512-568-4070 or Bsalgado@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter. @Beck_Salgado.