New Sex-Ed Curriculum Raises Concerns Among Ridgewood Parents

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — New state-approved student learning standards covering sex education and gender identity raised concerns among parents at Monday's Ridgewood Board of Education meeting, as a revised, comprehensive health curriculum for the 2022-23 school year was up for a vote.

Standards could incorporate teachings of gender expression and gender stereotypes to second graders, masturbation to fifth graders, and vaginal, oral and anal sex to eighth graders; these were all part of the new health curriculum that was considered and approved by the village school board.

"I question how much we give life to things when they are introduced so early," one Ridgewood parent said, adding that he hopes the district will practice prudence in how it approaches these sensitive topics.

Another resident said she thought there was a "lack of effective participation" from the community prior to the meeting, and that she hopes there is a "level of detail and transparency" provided to parents throughout the implementation of this curriculum in schools.

In a presentation on the proposed health curriculum from administrators, Stacie Poelstra, the district's Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; and Daniel Kilday, the district's Supervisor of Wellness, discussed the standards for grades 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8; they said that two letters would be sent out to parents and guardians notifying them of the revised curriculum.

Parents who submit a signed statement to the school may opt their children out of the lessons to enroll them in an alternative learning experience, Kilday said.

Grade 1 curriculum, presenters said, may now list "medically accurate names for body parts, including genitals." Grade 2 may discuss how individuals "make their own choices about how to express themselves, the range of ways people express gender and how gender-role stereotypes may limit behavior."

Grade 5 curriculum may explain "common human sexual development and the role of hormones (romantic and sexual feelings, masturbation, mood swings and timing of pubertal onset)." It may also "explain ways that pregnancy could occur (in vitro fertilization and surrogacy)," and describes "gender-role stereotypes and their potential impact on self and others." It may also differentiate between sexual orientation and gender identity (as will grade 8), when previously the intent was only to discuss, Kilday said.

Grade 8 includes the intent to define vaginal, oral and anal sex, when previously the curriculum said to "identify behaviors that would put someone at risk for sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies."

Kilday said at the meeting that these sexual health conversations are to emphasize safety, identity and risk-reduction.

"The importance of talking through these topics with families when they are uncertain and they then ultimately make the decision around (whether to enroll their child) has always been the philosophy here in New Jersey," presenter Poelstra said.

Another presentation on these matters and the revised curriculum will be scheduled at a later date for parents to attend, the presenters said.

Board President Hyunju Kwak said that she is aware that "a lot of thought and care" went into adhering to the new state guidance in preparing the health curriculum.

"It always seemed to me that the preference would be for parents and teachers to help kids understand sexuality and sexual activities as they grow up and not so great for them to learn from their peers in the bathroom, on the bus or on the walk home," board member Sheila Brogan said at the meeting.

The father from earlier in the meeting spoke again in the second public commenting period, encouraging the board and district to allow for communication and engagement from parents on these matters and not allow it to be a top-down approach from the state level.

"The sands are shifting very quickly," he said.