Is Gov. Phil Murphy “gaslighting” parents when it comes to new sexual education standards for the Garden State?
The answer is a resounding “yes” from State Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho (R-24), who said the Murphy Administration’s stance that school districts will be penalized for not teaching the new curriculum directly undercut previous assertions that parents and local school boards control what’s taught in classrooms.
“We have absolute proof that Governor Murphy has been gaslighting parents who have expressed their serious concerns about new sex ed requirements that many believe are inappropriate for young children,” said Oroho.
Murphy’s Rebuttal
“After the governor spent all Spring telling parents that their concerns about the sex ed mandates were unfounded, the [New Jersey Department of Education] is now saying school districts will be punished if they don’t teach students about topics including vaginal, anal, and oral sex as the new standards require,” he continued.
Gov. Murphy said the standards were made in collaboration with parents, experts, and teachers, and that state Republicans efforts to undermine the curriculum included intentional misrepresentation.
“In New Jersey, parents always have and always will have a say in their child’s education, which includes opting their child out of any health lesson that they would rather discuss in the privacy of their own home,” he said.
Fighting for Parents’ Rights
New Jersey Republicans have positioned their fight as one for parental rights. Oroho argued many parents were unaware of the new mandate, and found out through the dissemination of sample lesson plans and potential curriculum.
“Parents don’t really have the final say on what their kids are taught when the Murphy administration says schools will be penalized for not teaching the new sex education requirements imposed by unelected Trenton bureaucrats,” added Oroho.
The Sussex County lawmaker additionally argued parents won’t have any say in the curriculum despite the clear language of the mandate from the State Board of Education.
The ‘Three R’s’ Plan
“The unspoken threat is that Governor Murphy will cut state aid to school districts that refuse to comply, which will drive up property taxes for struggling families in those communities even higher. Communities will be forced to decide whether standing up for their values is worth the economic pain the Murphy administration might impose on them for daring to assert their parental rights when it comes to sex education,” said Oroho.
Oroho and State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-39) sponsored legislation that would repeal the new sex education mandates.
The legislation is a key component of the NJ GOP’s “Three R’s” plan, which would repeal, replace, and restore sexual education standards and diversity and inclusion curriculum requirements.
Ratman Murphy is a deceptive (think his Goldman Sach’s training) bad of excrement.
If it is true that SOME parents were unaware of new proposed curricula, whose fault is that? Could it ne they werent paying attention to the proposal stage? Tough luck, Charlie.
No one is gaslighting parents – sex education taught in the schools will continue to be age appropriate- I much rather have my child learn biological facts rather than information found on TikTok or other popular websites
Well said!