Broward school board discusses definition of ‘woman’ in sex ed curriculum
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. (FLV) – Broward County school board members discussed the definition of a woman in school curriculum.
Board members talked about the “Family Life and Human Sexuality” curriculum during the March 28 school board meeting. Members of the district and authors of the curriculum proposed revisions to comply with Florida’s parental rights and education statutes.
A board member asked if the revised sexual education curriculum defines what a woman is and members of the district were stuck on a clear answer.
Board Member Brenda Fam said she has been asked “what the definition of a woman is” in the sexual education curriculum for Broward County.
Fam also said she has been asked which individuals can get pregnant and give birth.
Fam said the answers to the questions are “very serious” because it’s “going to weigh heavy on them [parents] and whether or not they choose to leave the public school system or whether they stay based on some of these responses.”
Superintendent Earlean Smiley said the answer to the definition of a woman “would depend on a number of things” and said that question is “more than a question.”
“It’s a thought process and it’s an examination. A lot of laws based on a lot of things. And I guess I’m procrastinating and hesitating because there is no clear cut answer I could give you at this point,” Smiley said.
Director of Equity, Diversity and School Climate Jodi Washington chimed in and said they can “do a follow up” to provide the answer of the definition of a woman and said she didn’t recall the definition being in the curriculum.
Fam asked if the curriculum defines who can get pregnant and which individuals or which sex can give birth.
Washington said she is going to have to provide a follow up to answer that question as well.
Members of the district and authors of the curriculum requested the board to provide them with feedback of the curriculum, review, and subsequently approve the policy and curriculum during the May 9 Broward County Public Schools regular board meeting.
