Duval County Schools Approve Controversial Supplemental Curriculum for Sex Education

JACKSONVILLE (FLV) – Duval County Public School Board voted to approve a controversial supplemental health curriculum for sex education after dozens of speakers spoke in support and against the curriculum Tuesday.

The motion was passed by the school board 5-2.

State statutes do not require schools teach sex education, however, they are required to teach comprehensive health education which includes reproductive health.

Some people were fine with subjects like HIV and STIs being taught to students, however, they were uncomfortable with sexual orientation and gender identities being included in the new supplemental curriculum. Others believed the curriculum would help students make informed decisions about sex. Most of the people speaking during public comment supported the curriculum.

Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene made it clear that there will be an opt-out option for parents who are not comfortable with the curriculum.

Duval County Chapter Chair of Moms For Liberty Rebecca Nathanson expressed she felt the supplemental materials inject unscientific ideology and urged board members to vote no.

“If you vote yes on this material, you are voting in support of having middle schoolers between the ages of 10 and 13 to an advocacy activity whereby they make a pamphlet describing different sexual orientations and gender identities. The supplemental materials inject unscientific and propagandistic gender ideology. In time we will look back at these lessons and judge harshly the adults who approved this. Please vote no,” said Nathanson.

One community member told board members he read the supplemental for middle school and high school and believed the focus on gender identity is not “acceptable.”

“The lessons regarding abstinence, STD, HIV, AIDS and pregnancy are acceptable, however, the lessons focused on gender identity and expression are not acceptable. Therefore, I’m asking you to vote no on the supplemental health curriculum. There is no credible, medical, scientific factual basis to put this material in a textbook and teach this in our classrooms,” Tim said at the meeting.

The middle school textbook approved includes a section on “Diversity in Relationships,” which defines homosexual, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual. The book also talks about people questioning sexual orientation or gender identity and defines the term “coming out.”

The superintendent said that not everything in the book will be taught and that it will be clearly defined on the website. Greene stated that teachers will “pull pieces from this” supplement to make a lesson.

“Not everything in the book is taught. So there are lessons in the book that we will not teach in our district and that information will be clearly defined on our website,” Greene said.

The superintendent explained that gender identity won’t be taught in a “stand alone,” it will be taught related to possibly contracting a disease such as HIV.

“Do we teach about LGBTQ students or that can be connected to HIV? Yes we do because that community of individuals can have a high risk of contracting HIV so no, it is not taught in a stand alone [….] that we’re teaching about these gender identities. It is taught related to possibly contracting a disease,” said Greene.

Parents in support of the supplemental curriculum believed it would give students fact-based sex education that is necessary. 

“I believe having both parents and teachers providing our kids with approved fact-based sex-ed is necessary. With the borage of social media, internet influencers and peer pressures, our kids need help from all of us when it comes to sex-ed topics. This will help them make informed decisions, today and for their futures. Please vote yes for the state approved supplemental materials,” Richard told board members.

LGBTQ group JASMYN board member Jenny Richards asked board members to vote yes on the supplemental curriculum.

“Please vote yes on the fact-based comprehensive sexual health curriculum prestented today. Students make better decisions when they have access to accurate information,” Richards said.