On September 1, 2022, the following op-ed by Republican Senate Majority Leader Steven Orojo (R-24) and Sen. Holly Shepisi (R-39) on the new sex education mandate from Trenton was published by NJ.com .

There’s a lot of confusion about the new sex education mandate from Trenton, and a lot of false accusations being made.

Until a few months ago, very few people were interested in sex education. That changed this spring when school districts began informing parents of new learning standards that they will be incorporating into their curricula and needing to be taught in classrooms starting this September.

Concerned parents started contacting us as soon as they learned what was going on. They didn’t know that Democrats enacted a new diversity law mandating changes to school curricula, or that the state school board adopted new standards in her 2020 amid the pandemic. The kids.

We heard repeatedly from voters that they never had a real chance to participate in the process. They felt voiceless. As elected legislators, we knew we had a duty to represent their interests, so we got to work right away.

Based on the concerns we heard, we introduced the “3R” plan. In addition to fighting to rescind the new order, we are proposing a number of legislative amendments to encourage parents to opt-in to sex education rather than simply giving them an opportunity to opt-out that they may miss. We are considering further consideration, such as requesting parents to

Unfortunately, the Democrats who control Congress have refused to take action on any of our proposals.

Some, including those on the Star-Ledger editorial board, falsely claim that they care about sex education simply because “it’s a political winner.” Responding to the concerns of the voters who elected us is called representative democracy. That’s how government is supposed to work.

We listened to voters and were drafted into this fight. Our sole goal is to empower parents and help protect their children. that’s it.

As part of an ongoing effort to draw attention to this outstanding issue, Senate Republicans recently held independent hearings to discuss sex education, state curriculum mandates, and parental rights. . We had very helpful discussions with school board members, child health experts, and parents who shared their concerns that the new order from Trenton was inappropriate for young children.

School board members, including Sal Piari of the Garwood Board of Education and Andrew Coffo of the Parsippany School Board, said the Murphy administration has threatened to remove or lose funding if they do not incorporate it into their curriculum lessons. . About gender identity, masturbation, oral sex, anal sex, and vaginal sex.

Irene Eriksen, a nationally renowned researcher who advised the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the effectiveness of sex education programs, discusses what proponents call “comprehensive sex education” on these controversial topics. It exposed unproven and, too often, unchallenged claims that teaching is beneficial. in my youth.

Pediatrician Meg Meeker, a nationally recognized author and expert in child sexualization, argues that children do not have the cognitive capacity to understand the concepts required by the new order. explained that exposure at an early age can result in lifelong harm.

Finally, I heard from a parent who is tired of being bullied and ashamed that their child cares about what they are taught in school.

Questioning government orders isn’t “extremist,” but that’s why the NJEA’s new ads label parents. After the backlash, the union is now denying it meant what the ad clearly said and is gaslighting the parents again.

On the new diversity law, which requires parents to incorporate these controversial and potentially age-appropriate topics into lesson plans for other subjects, including English, not just sex education classes. He said he was also concerned.

State law allows parents to “opt out” of sex education lessons in health classes, but they correctly point out that parents cannot opt ​​out of related lessons in other subjects they must teach. I’m here.

Sadly, much of the media doesn’t seem to understand or refuse to acknowledge this difference when they write that parents and Republican lawmakers weren’t informed about the non-unlimited opt-out possibilities. is.

Shortly after our hearings ended, Sen. Bin Gopal (D-Monmouth), chairman of the Senate Education Committee and initiator of the controversial curriculum bill, condemned our efforts. , stated that the whole issue was “produced anger” and that both were false. Insulting parents with legitimate concern.

Senator Gopal may disagree, but these parents deserve to be heard. School board members deserved the chance to tell us how they are threatened by Trenton.

And we all deserve the opportunity to hear informed opinions from experts who believe there are better, safer alternatives to “comprehensive sex education.”

Curiously, Gopal is also a Republican for “blocking” a bill he sponsors that partially reaffirms that school districts must teach new learning standards mandated by state boards of education. condemned the

We certainly don’t support his bill, but there is no filibuster in the New Jersey legislature. Not scheduled for the final vote are Gopal’s fellow Democrats. Maybe he should ask them why.

When Chairman Gopal pushed his tone-deaf bill through the Senate Education Committee in May, he repeatedly wanted to repeal rather than reaffirm new mandates so that his bill could come to fruition. refused to hear his parents repeat to him.

Parents may know they are not the enemy if they hold hearings where they are actually listened to rather than lectured, as we are doing with Chair Gopal. I’m sure we’ll get a more friendly response in the committee if he allows us to consider our ‘three R’ plan, including