In the summer of 2018 the Battle Ground School District attempted to implement a new comprehensive sex education curriculum. Hundreds of parents showed up to protest and the school board backed down…until now. The district has proposed a revised curriculum which is still a comprehensive education program but instead of using all of the FLASH curriculum they are only going to use 10/15 lessons. The most concerning is the material on “gender”. There will be discussion at the upcoming board meetings (the next is October 14th) with the goal of approving by the end of October. The district held 2 public information sessions (you had to reserve space to attend) and allowed people to make an appointment at the district office to review the material.
On September 18th I spent nearly 2 hours reviewing “the binder”. That did not include reviewing the ten (10) FLASH lessons. Fortunately I had purchased the FLASH binders (5 of them) and done a series of articles on each binder. (You can click on the links at the end of this article to read them if you want). I took my notes and prepared two (2) reports: 1st is a one (1) page summary and 2nd a comprehensive twelve (12) page report. Both of the documents are downloadable in these links:
BGSD 2019 HS Sex Health Curriculum Review – 1 page summary – Dick Rylander
2019 BGSD Sexual Health Curriculum review Sept 2019
The views are mine. Several people from the public contacted me and asked me to file a Public Record Request (PRR) with the district asking a series of question. I filed that request on Sept 25th. On Oct 2nd I received an email saying it would take 20 working days (~1 calendar month) to gather the information and respond. That takes the response beyond the closing date for comment and school board voting. I’ve emailed the school board president and the district superintendent and asked them to extend the response and hearing time frame to allow the public to obtain, review and comment on the PRR. As this article goes to press they have not responded. See below for the list of questions that were posed in the PRR.
Following is the full text of the 1 page summary incase you prefer to read it here
Battle Ground School District High School Comprehensive Sexual Education Curriculum Review
This is a 1 page summary of key points from my 12 page thorough review of the proposed curriculum viewed at the district office including details about the FLASH materials. This 1 pager is offered in the hope that it will be read and that the main document will be referenced.
Issues/Concerns
- This is essentially the FLASH program proposed in 2018 in that 10 of the 15 FLASH lessons are used.
- This is an attempt to create a Comprehensive Sex Education Curriculum patterned after HB 5395 which was tabled due to thousands of parents across the state objecting to the materials
- The survey the BGSD conducted in late 2018 where responders made it clear they did NOT want the “gender” subject covered. By inclusion of the “gender” materials the district makes it clear they don’t listen and don’t care what the community wants
- There is no evidence that the community was included and consulted regarding the proposed curriculum. There is no evidence that the internal process of review was followed.
- Students who are “opted-out” are told to use the Essentials of Health textbook. If that is sufficient as an alternative why isn’t it used for the entire course?
- The proposed curriculum goes far beyond what the State requires.
- The self-identity section is based on Eric Erikson’s work which was tightly tied to Freud and has since been questioned as valid yet is used because it fits the FLASH goals
- Creating an “on-line” collage using social media is reckless and should not be an option
- Page 453 spells judges by saying “society’s views on identity are wrong”
- Best estimates are that less than 1/10th of 1% of those under 18 years of age have “gender identity” issues and most grow out of it. So why is this topic being given the time and attention it is? If it’s a way to get to bullying it’s the wrong approach and method
- Some of the examples and proposed video’s are unseemly and inappropriate and attempt to mainstream views on gender, LGBTQ and similar views
- Statements on the safety of birth control and incidence of pregnancy with condoms gives a false impression of risk
- The BGPS “resource” sheet is given out but parents aren’t told…nice job of parenting removal
- See the 12 page document for details on the FLASH lessons that are a problem and as such disqualify the materials.
Finally, accepting any money from Cardea Services is unacceptable. Their agenda is tied to their money offerings. No matter what the district is told or promised taking their money means you support their views and will be listed in their materials.
Provide the basics to meet the State requirements. Nothing more…nothing less. Approving this proposed curriculum is to ignore the community desires.
Dick Rylander
p.s. On September 25th I submitted a Public Record Request to the BGSD regarding the proposed curriculum. On Oct 2nd I received an email saying it will be 20 business days to respond. This will be AFTER the closing dates for public comment and hearings. I have requested an extension. Thus, these comments are incomplete and may change based on the responses.
Here are the questions that were in the PRR:
- High School Sexual Health Community Input Survey results, categorizations, and conclusions (I have the survey results in total but understanding what the district saw, used and interpreted is critical to understanding where the district is coming from)
- Adoption Committee notes as to how these survey results were analyzed and applied to currently proposed H.S. Sexual Health curriculum.
- Completed adoption committee forms including; Elimination of Bias in Instructional Materials, Strengths and Weaknesses of Programs used in final proposed curriculum, Sexual Health Program Review forms completed on Jan. 18, 2019 for curriculums used, and any completed forms relating to the thorough examination of chosen materials.
- Copies of IMC Committee Process Review Checklists on Sept. 18. 2019
- Cost for purchase and use of FLASH, Positive Prevention Plus, and any supplemental materials used in proposed Sexual Health Curriculum.
- Amount and requirements for use of Cardea Grant/Stipend.
- Cost paid for member training and for time spent analyzing Sex. Health Community Surveys.
- Please include any monies spent for the selection and adoption with previous Sexual Health Curriculum proposal (summer 2018) .
Here are links to past articles on the FLASH sex ed curriculum and other sex ed efforts that have been and are being brought back:
https://swweducation.org?p=5074 FLASH – Health Curriculum – Summary Review – The Good…The Bad…and The Ugly
https://swweducation.org?p=5072 FLASH – Special Education
https://swweducation.org?p=5069 FLASH – High School
https://swweducation.org?p=5052 FLASH – Middle School
https://swweducation.org?p=5047 FLASH – Elementary School
https://swweducation.org?p=5172 F.L.A.S.H. Kindergarten to 4th grade: Sexual Health Education in Washington State
https://swweducation.org?p=5042 Sexual Health Education – FLASH – Overview
https://swweducation.org?p=6041 OSPI Sexual Health Training
https://swweducation.org?p=6062 Stop the State Take Over of your School Curriculum – Comprehensive Sex Education
https://swweducation.org?p=5610 SB5395 – Mandatory Sex Education K-12 (Updated March 13th)
https://swweducation.org?p=5332 HIV/AIDS Sexual Health – KNOW Curriculum Grades 7-8
https://swweducation.org?p=5327 HIV and Sexual Health – KNOW Curriculum – Grades 5/6
https://swweducation.org?p=5169 Health Education – Kindergarten to 5th Grade: LGBTQ Curriculum & Support
Your school district may already be using some of these materials. You need to reach out and investigate. Please share your thoughts and what you learn. We would love to publish any articles you might choose to write.
Thank you so much, Richard, for providing all this valuable information! You’re so inspiring!