Referendum 90 is good for our children’s health

Referendum 90 is the sole statewide initiative on the ballot you will be receiving next week. That gives you more time to read it and study the issue. You might be surprised this issue is on the ballot. Here is the background:

The state legislature passed SB5395 “Concerning comprehensive sexual health education,” last spring in response to the state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal’s request. Reykdal is elected statewide to supervise on public schools and to follow the law. For Senate Bill 5395 his Office’s webpage states this:

“Schools may use curricula and other instructional materials that have been reviewed by OSPI and the state Department of Health for consistency with these (state) provisions or may choose to develop and review materials themselves. Curriculum, instruction, and materials must be medically and scientifically accurate, and consistent with the provisions outlined in the bill.

“OSPI provides tools for districts to use when conducting their own reviews. OSPI does not approve or develop curriculum.”

The webpage section ends: “The only required content is: In grades K-3, instruction must be in Social Emotional Learning - learning skills to do things like manage feelings, set goals, and get along with others. (Note: there is no sexuality content required for students in grades K-3.)”

You can decide to, as stated on the ballot:

Vote yes, approving Referendum 90, allowing Senate Bill 5395 to take effect. Public schools will provide comprehensive sexual health education for all students and require students to be excused if requested by their parents.

Or: vote no and reject Referendum 90. Senate Bill 5395 will not be enacted. Public schools will not be required to provide comprehensive sexual health education to all students.

The state voter guide arguments have no language about “have mandatory sex education curriculum taught beginning in Kindergarten,” as Republican candidates are stating. The voter guide “No” background statement has these sentences: “Kindergarteners need to learn social skills and elementary students should focus on fundamental learning. Materials that currently meet state standards include graphic sexual subject matter.”

The voter guide argument to repeal Senate Bill 5395 does not have one sentence reading “mandatory sex education curriculum taught beginning in Kindergarten” because the court approving the ballot language rejected that statement as false. Kindergarten teachers will teach managing feelings and getting along with others. “Graphic sexual subject matter” is for older students, as approved by school boards for their school districts’ students.

The reject argument in the official voter guide is measured and cannot include the rhetoric Republican legislative candidates in the region are using.

A lead group organizing the vote no campaign is Informed Parents of Washington. Their website says they are “a parents’ organization formed to resist the sex-ed bill” and have this on their homepage: “We are organizing to fight for truth, transparency and to stop the enactment of laws by the government to gain access to our children.”

Their materials and rhetoric quickly devolves into this, an example they provide as “approved curriculum:” “Who Decides What is Age Appropriate? … The 3 Rs Kindergarten Lesson 2 that tells 5-year-olds about ‘a very sensitive area called the clitoris,’ and explains the sex act and boners.”

Before you vote, keep in mind what the Office of Public Instruction states on their website “there is no sexuality content required for students in grades K-3.” Weigh that against the no campaign promoting “The 3 Rs Kindergarten Lesson 2 that tells 5-year-olds about ‘a very sensitive area called the clitoris.’”

This newspaper operates on the principle that more information is good. Debate is good, too. And then there are the facts. People in a democratic society need to be all in on the facts.

Parents may want to keep information on choosing “healthy behaviors and relationships based on mutual respect and affection, and free from violence, coercion, and intimidation” from their kids. Those opposing human development education, for that is what this is, have a right to do so. But when advocates refuse to stop making misleading and false statements, their ongoing campaign of falsehoods – what in a simpler time were called lies – needs to be named for what they are: lies.