10/29/2023
For those of you who have recently received a letter from your school regarding the S*x Ed Curriculum and who want to to decline (opt out). Please see a very ell crafted letter by a parent from PS 37 as your model letter.
Redacting 2023 letter re hiv curriculum
Re: (NAME OF CHILD and GRADE) Growing Up and Staying Safe: New York City K-12 “HIV Education” Curriculum and other “health” or “human body” classes
Dear Dr. Regan,
On or about __________________________ was sent home to parents regarding a curriculum titled “Growing up and Staying Safe: New York City K-12 HIV Education Curriculum”. This curriculum was quietly released by the NYC DOE this September and referenced to in the “parent facing” letters sent home that did little to describe what is actually in the curriculum, and certainly did a good job in being opaque. There is reference to being able to find materials online but then fail to direct where online to find the information. Then there is a very confusing statement about being able to “opt-out” of classes, a tear of sheet offering an opt-out, but then a statement that there are no opt-out lessons for Kindergarten level students.
The DOE and school administrators surely must have anticipated that many parents will take issue with the school’s intention to teach very young students lessons with questionable content that crosses the lines of parental rights and religious freedoms.
There needs to be clarification by the school on exactly what lessons regarding sensitive topics such as s*xuality, s*x, gender, the human body, ge****ls, and political dogma the school will be teaching my kindergarten student, the exact dates those lessons will take place, how to opt-out, and of what you are opting out.
After using my skills to do some independent research, I have taken the time to review in detail the new DOE curriculum called “Growing Up and Staying Safe: New York City K-12 HIV Education Curriculum”. Upon finding and inspecting the actual Power Point presentation slides disseminated to teachers for Kindergarten, I have determined that my child is NOT to be exposed to the materials contained in Lesson 3 titled “My Amazing Body Belongs to Me!” and the inappropriate book “These are my EYES, This is my NOSE, This is my V***A, These are my TOES,” by Lexx Brown-James, in any format, including but not limited to print, audio, visual, electronic media, summary materials or teacher-led lesson.
I hereby DEMAND, that I be allowed to opt-out my (NAME OF CHILD) from the above named lessons, and any lessons with similar substantive content, so that he can attend the rest of the school day and receive his IEP mandated therapeutic speech and occupational therapy sessions without being exposed to s*xual content inappropriate for 4 and 5 year olds.
If the school refuses to allow my requested opt-out, then I hereby DEMAND to be informed of the exact dates on which the above referenced lessons, and any lessons with similar substantive content, are to be presented to my child’s class so that I can keep him home on those days.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures the fundamental right of parents to direct the care, upbringing, and education of my child. See Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 U.S. 702 (1997). The Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children. See Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000).
My poor NAME OF CHILD, who has a disability, is doing his best to overcome his/her challenges. NAME OF CHILD who cannot yet even say his own name or make it through the school day without wetting his pants, is too young for certain things. It is my place to explain sensitive and private issues to him when he is ready; it is not the place of the government to interfere.
Sincerely,
_____________________
NAME OF PARENT/GURDIAN
