State’s proposed health standards need a closer look

It’s tough enough being a parent these days. Now they (and, really, all of us) must keep an ever-watchful eye on the Department of Education. They seem to have the goal of making this country more and more progressive, and, at times, in conflict with what’s taught at home.
    And what better place to start that indoctrination than with our children?
    The proposed Nebraska Health Education Standards recently released by the NE Department of Education should be reviewed by EVERY parent. There are some concerning “standards” in them, some of which shouldn’t even be addressed in schools.
    And it starts as early as kindergarten. Just take a look at a couple of the standards proposed that would become part of your child’s kindergarten education:
    “State medically accurate names for body parts including genitalia.” Really? Is that not something to be discussed at home, or at least in biology classes in higher grade levels?
    “Discuss different kinds of family structures. (e.g. single parent, blended, intergenerational, cohabitating, adoptive, foster, same-gender, interracial).” Did you notice that traditional marriage between a man and a woman is not mentioned? Again, why does our Department of Education think this is a topic for our schools to teach?
    If the 3rd grade health standards are approved, students will be asked to “Identify trusted adults, including parents and caregivers, whom students can ask questions about gender identity and sexual orientation.” Of course, they list “trusted adults” before parents, who seem to be suggested as the child’s second choice.
    In 6th grade, the proposed standards would suggest students “Define and explain differences between cisgender, transgender, gender non-binary, gender expansive and gender identity.” Cisgender is now the new word for “identifying” as the sex you were born with. According to these proposals,  male and female are words no longer in the dictionary.
    There are a lot more in the proposals, and everyone should take a look at them.
    I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that there are a lot of good proposals, too, dealing with topics like nutrition, injury prevention, mental health and substance abuse, as well as other good suggestions on marriage, family and human sexuality.
    But why do “educators” at the highest levels make it their goal to push ideas about family and sexuality that differ with what many parents teach their children?
    Some of these proposals raise serious concerns about respecting a parent’s role as their child’s primary educator. Some also fly in the face of what our churches teach.
    You have a chance to comment on the proposals, but the deadline to do so is near—APRIL 1.
    Read the full grade-by-grade list of proposed standards at cdn.education.ne.gov and click on the Nebraska Health Education Standards link near the top of the page.     
    You can provide direct feedback at: www.education.ne.gov/stateboard/members. Our representative, Robin Stevens of Gothenburg, serves District 7. You can email him at robin.stevens@
nebraska.gov.
    There is also a petition you can sign at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/nebraskans-against-department-of-education-d....
    It takes work to be a parent. This is one effort, however, that will be worth the time it takes to review the proposals and let the state board of education know what you think.
    Parents aren’t the only ones who should be concerned, either. All of us have a responsibility to our children.