Updated Sex, Health Lessons For Haddonfield Students Are Released

HADDONFIELD, NJ — The Haddonfield School District created a webpage that shows the updates to the district's health and physical education lessons.

Based on that website, the learning outcomes in the 2022-23 academic year for second graders now also include:

• identifying body parts
• discussing how people "make their own choices about how to express themselves"
• examining the different gender types and how gender-role stereotypes "may limit behavior"

The website stated that the learning outcomes in the 2022-23 academic year for fifth graders now also include:

• identifying gender-role stereotypes and their possible impacts on the students and those around them
• understanding the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity

Based on that website, the learning outcomes in the 2022-23 academic year for eighth graders now also include:

• understanding the concept of sexual consent
• defining what a "healthy relationship looks and feels like" and understanding that victims of dating violence are never at fault
• staying safe online
• learning the difference between gender identity, gender expression, biological sex and sexual orientation; the various stages of pregnancy and the different types of sexual violence
• discovering ways to increase the odds of having a healthy pregnancy and healthy child
• hearing about the social, emotional and financial challenges that are linked to parenthood
• helping provide inclusive schools and communities
• making healthy decisions about engaging in sex

The website also stated that the learning outcomes in the 2022-23 academic year for 11th graders now also include:

• expanding on the definition of healthy and unhealthy relationships
• knowing the "significant" changes that occur to the fetus (or fetuses) during its development; when these changes take place; and what are some positive and negative lifestyle decisions that may affect fetal development
• understanding how "social factors and pressures impact decision-making about pregnancy prevention and/pregnancy options" (e.g., teen pregnancy, higher education expectations/pressure, cost analysis, abortion, adoption)
• comprehending how different stages of pregnancy may impact the person carrying the fetus
• discussing every member of society's role in preventing assault
• showing how to protect oneself against sexual assault and what to do if sexually assaulted
• evaluating the "internal and external influences and pressures to become sexually active" and the consequences of doing so; the choice, use, and effectiveness of various birth control options; the pros and cons of adoption
• recognizing the warning signs of and red flags that indicate dating violence

Additional information regarding these updates to the Haddonfield School District's sex and health education curriculum can be found at this link.

"One of the reasons we are giving complete lessons for this ... is that this is a district-wide curriculum," Haddonfield Board of Education Member and Curriculum Committee Chair Jaime Grookett said at a Haddonfield Board of Education meeting on Aug. 25.

Parents who want to opt their child out of the updated lessons should visit the same website that contains the updated lessons, she also said.

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