I attended the meeting held on Feb. 3 hosted by Rep. Peggy Bennett, District 27A, about the comprehensive sex education bill.

I attended the meeting with an unbiased opinion and went for the sole purpose of being an informed adult. I do not have children, hence no grandchildren to be concerned about, though I feel every person should be aware of what is being taught to our future generations.

Rep. Bennett had introduced an amendment to HF 1414 — its purpose to delete the comprehensive sex education bill from the larger omnibus education bill HF 2400. This was a larger spending bill on education containing the comprehensive sex education bill. The intent was for the bill to stand alone to be voted on as a separate issue.

The guest speaker, Julie Quist of Child Protection League, said the comprehensive sex education curriculum is based on the main experts Planned Parenthood and Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, and their organizations. Planned Parenthood lobbies for the curriculum and study books for schools. Two of the recommended books are called: “SEX: The-All-You-Need-to-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties,” recommended for appropriate ages 12 and up, and “It’s Perfectly Normal” — I believe this to be ages 10 and up. Parents should check out the table of contents and decide for themselves whether this is appropriate for their particular child in a public school setting.

This law, once passed, requires the school districts to comply. They cannot opt out. Parents may opt their child out, but the core elements of the curriculum must be taught.

Rep. Bennett informed her constituents of the bill likely to be introduced again during the 2020 session. All options were given, including decisions about keeping local control where parents, teachers, faith communities and school boards — not state agencies — drive the curriculum.

Guest speaker Julie Quist said preschool parents could not opt out of gender training that usually starts without parental knowledge or consent. She suggested reading “Gender Ideology Harms Children,” put out by the American College of Pediatricians. This was a meeting to inform the constituents of District 27A of a bill that will affect your children and grandchildren, and whether you want to lose your local control.

Cathy Sippel

Albert Lea