Before anyone reading this tries to label me as being an “ultra-right winger” or some other nonsensical adjective thrown around to disparage someone of an opposing opinion, let me just say – that isn’t the case; in fact far from it. I’m middle-of-the road on most issues. However, and that’s a big HOWEVER, when it comes to protecting children that is where I draw a concrete line in the sand and why I’m writing this now.
What we are seeing with sex education isn’t new. It has been happening for over a decade. It also occurring not just in New Jersey but across the nation. We have duplicitous elected officials that claim to be “champions” for children by doing things like focusing on removing sugary cereals and snacks from diets while, at the same time, force-feeding kids information about the so called “benefits of pornography” when they are in school.
How does one claim to want to protect kids while priming their young minds to accept sexually explicit content? The answer is you can’t because the two are mutually exclusive, and all you end up doing is degrading the innocence of a child.
Keep in mind, we are not talking about normal sex education that focuses on body developments like puberty and the basics of what sex is – this is far beyond that. The materials “suggested” to be included in New Jersey’s curriculum are vastly different. We’re talking about materials that advocate for adolescents to watch pornography on top of other aspects I quite frankly don’t even feel comfortable mentioning.
And the vast majority of teachers are not on board with this push from politicians who don’t know the first thing about what it’s like to be in a classroom. They are worried about the young lives they see each day as well as the ones they themselves may have at home. They are dealing with exhaustion and having to help students facing increasing mental health issues and learning losses due to COVID-19 not to mention keeping their jobs since Trenton consistently cuts school funding. They don’t have time for this nor should they.
Children are abused, trafficked, exposed to violence, sexual assault and murdered across this country – yet instead of focusing efforts to STOP that from happening, state Democrat elected officials are choosing to push on them, and force teachers to offer, materials that could have life-long detrimental effects on their psyches.
We know that kids are exposed to explicit content, consciously and subconsciously, every time they look at a phone, tablet, or computer. Yet, instead of giving them a safe haven from the faults of society as a whole the New Jersey Legislature, Governor Murphy and Department of Education (NJDOE) are instead putting out resources that would only sink children deeper into a sexual void.
Oh, and you can spare me the “parents can opt-out” and “schools make the final decision” narratives from the NJDOE, Democrat Legislators, and Governor who are running to cover their collective backsides after parents got a look into the looming curriculums.
If that were true, they would have been out in front telling parents, teachers, and boards of education from the beginning instead of hoping that no one notices – you know like they do with 99% of the laws/regulations passed in New Jersey. And to some of the Republican Legislators that chose to not make this an issue last year when these bills were up for a vote, in the famous words of John McClane – “welcome to the party pal[s]!”
Let’s look at this from a different angle. There are countless studies by psychological associations and national governments that show the deep-seated problems with exposing children to sexually explicit content. For instance, in 2017, the Australian Government released a study about the long-term health effects on young minds exposed to sexual material as well as pornography in their adolescent years:
“Sexual preoccupation, compulsive consumption and “addiction” can be associated with the frequency of viewing pornography and also the purposes of using pornography (e.g., as a way of relieving negative states).
While some of the effects of viewing pornography, such as more permissive attitudes and beliefs about sex, knowledge about sexual practice and sexual practices themselves may not be inherently problematic, the most dominant, popular and accessible pornography contains messages and behaviours about sex, gender, power and pleasure that are deeply problematic. In particular, the physical aggression (slapping, choking, gagging, hair pulling) and verbal aggression such as name calling, that is predominantly done by men to their female partners.” {Quote from Quadara, A., El-Murr. A., & Latham, J. (2017). The effects of pornography on children and young people: An evidence scan. Melbourne, Australian Institute of Family Studies.}
In another study, the United Nation’s International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has also reviewed the detrimental effects of exposing children questionable content:
“Pornographic content can harm children. Exposure to pornography at a young age may lead to poor mental health, sexism and objectification, sexual violence, and other negative outcomes. Among other risks, when children view pornography that portrays abusive and misogynistic acts, they may come to view such behaviour as normal and acceptable.
UNICEF is alarmed by the massive quantity of pornography available online, including increasingly graphic and extreme content that is easily accessible to children of all ages. Efforts to regulate content and restrict children’s access to pornography have not kept pace with technological shifts that have profoundly altered the landscape for the consumption of pornography.” {Committee on the Rights of the Child, General Comment No. 25 (2021) on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment, CRC/C/GC/25, paras 54-56; Committee on the Rights of the Child, General comment No. 20 (2016) on the implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence, para 48.}
So, while we have international organizations like the United Nations are calling for a reduction to exposure to sexually graphic material, New Jersey chooses to encourage it.
Not only does this new curriculum’s form of “teaching” sex negatively impact all kids, it has an even worse impact on young girls. The degradation of women is front and certain at almost every turn. But can anyone honestly be surprised that Democrat leaders in this State don’t care? It’s the same party that claims to be the “party of women” yet in the same breath wants to spread the usage of videos to young girls that often makes them out to be nothing more than sex objects to be used. It’s the disgusting epitome of hypocrisy!
Continuing that point, has no one in the Trenton examined the mental health factors of all of this? The looming mental health crisis is no longer on the horizon – it is here, especially for kids. Pushing curriculums like this do absolutely nothing to help – in all actuality it makes it worse. Just look at what the American College of Pediatricians found in their study:
“…Pornography exposure at these young ages [grade school children] often results in anxiety for the child. Children also report feelings of disgust, shock, embarrassment, anger, fear, and sadness after viewing pornography.
These children can suffer all of the symptoms of anxiety and depression. They may become obsessed with acting out adult sexual acts that they have seen, and this can be very disruptive and disturbing to the child’s peers who witness or are victimized by this behavior. Children under twelve years old who have viewed pornography are statistically more likely to sexually assault their peers.
In sum, children exposed to pornographic material are at risk for a broad range of maladaptive behaviors and psychopathology.” {The Impact of Pornography on Children
American College of Pediatricians (2016) Primary Author: L. David Perry, MD, FCP}
It’s disturbing that no one thought to wait and seriously think about this. They were just too worried about political futures and priorities, forgetting that they have an obligation to the welfare of their residents – especially children.
No matter what the Governor has purported about having the New Jersey Department of Education review the materials, they are still there and should be removed. This needs to be watched, carefully, because Trenton believes us all to have short-term attention spans and this is one issue we can’t afford to have that happen.
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BRIAN THOMAS is a Councilman in the Borough of Neptune City. He has extensive experience working in and around New Jersey government, at multiple levels, for over a decade.
