ST. GEORGE — School board officials gathered Tuesday to discuss the health and sex curriculum and assurances for the state for instruction this school year within Washington County School District.

By state law and per Utah State Board of Education Rule R277-474, all details for the curriculum must be shown and given to the local education agencies for approval before they can be taught within schools for seventh grade and 10th grade.

The sex ed course curriculum and assurances for the state were presented by the district’s health coordinator Amy Christiansen. 

Christiansen reminded the board that by state law, the sex education class is strictly “opt-in,” and parents must give permission before the student is allowed to enroll.

Christiansen added that for parents who “opt out” of sex education for their child, alternative placement is available for them.

The materials for instruction were approved by a sex education review committee of parents and staff and then finalized approval by the school board. Any guest speakers and resources go through the same review and approval process.

The review committee comprises the health district coordinator, a school nurse, a health teacher and six parents with kids ranging from elementary to high school age.

“Once the materials are approved, it is up to the teacher to use them at their discretion,” Christiansen said. “They may use any, all, some. All materials used in class must be prior approved.”

Parents can access the materials anytime by simply asking the teacher for their child’s health class.

New sex education teachers must have received Utah State Board of Education-sponsored professional development, while veteran teachers have to have had local education agency-sponsored training within three years.

The following are not approved by the state board of education and may not be taught within the classes:

• The intricacies of intercourse, sexual stimulation or erotic behavior;
• The advocacy of premarital or extramarital sexual activity;
• The advocacy or encouragement of the use of contraceptive methods or devices.

Per state board rule R277-474-4-7, teachers may answer spontaneous student questions regarding human sexuality if they provide accurate data, correct inaccurate or misleading information or respond to comments made by students in class.

Three resources were presented for approval including district health teachers’ creative lessons that align specifically for seventh grade, Hope Pregnancy Center, and the Glencoe Health Textbook for 10th grade.

According to the charts presented, Washington County saw an 18.8 rate per 1000 females aged 15-19 who gave birth during 2018-2020. The school district has reported one to two porn complaints involving students per month.

All health and sex ed curricula and assurances were approved unanimously.

Upgraded sex ed guide

Two public attendees registered to make comments, one condemning the board and another speaking out about “porn” in books returned to school libraries. Each person had three minutes to speak.

April Pinkston first spoke to the board.

“I moved here three years ago from ‘Commi-fornia’ because I was convinced that a state that is known to be God-fearing, God-loving, Bible-believing people would not allow the NEA into your schools,” Pinkston said. “And then as soon as I get here I find out that Governor Cox accepted $75,000 as a campaign contribution from the NEA.”

Pinkston continued with her comments.

“He sold our children’s souls, and you guys are going right along with it,” she said.

The NEA or National Education Association wrote a “guide policy” for upgrading sex education in American schools in 2017. The “guide policy” was revised to allow new sex education subjects to be taught, including gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual harassment, sexual assault, consent and homophobia. It is considered controversial by several parental and public rights groups, such as Americans for Fair Treatment.

Erika Hodges, who wore a blue shirt that read “Banned Mom” on it, commented next, expressing her dissatisfaction with 23 “pornographic” books that returned to the school libraries. She also mentioned a district statement that was published in a St. George News article on Oct. 15.

“I am a parent,” Hodges said. “I am the parent who brought this to you. I was authorized to enter the library. I did have permission to go in from both the office and the librarian. If anyone needed a warning for the safety of the students, they are not allowed to do something, it was the district.”

“You talk about how to collaborate and listen; why is there so much pushback against me and other parents who have tried to bring this to your attention?” Hodges asked.

After the meeting adjourned, board member Craig Seegmiller said he went and met with Hodges and looked over the list of some of the 23 books with references to the explicit material in each book. Seegmiller said he will make sure the books are put through the review process by the sensitive materials review committee to decide on their legality in schools.

A nonprofit organization, Rated Books, has published online a list of books with ratings, maps of locations of books that are said to be improper for schools and explicit references from each book. They have a section for Utah schools that include all 23 books.

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