Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
Guidance Document Change: The guidance document "Model Policies Concerning Instructional Materials with Sexually Explicit Content" was developed in conjunction with stakeholders in order to comply with SB656 (2022).
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7/13/22  6:15 am
Commenter: Brad Fitzgerald

Model Policies Concerning Instructional Materials with Sexually Explicit Content
 

First, sexually explicit material should never be taught or presented in the public school setting.  It is not the mission of education to exhibit or waste time "teaching" obscene and non-essential material.  Rather, it is the job of education to objectively teach children and young people to think critically, synthesize ideas, understand history, science, mathematics and art, and to become cultured, educated, well-rounded adults.

I support critically important model policies to shield children from inappropriate, sexual content at school and support parental rights to reject damaging, offensive and subversive content and to protect children from being exposed to such.  Consequently, legislators, politicians, educational administrators and teachers have no right or standing whatsoever to usurp the rights of parents in this regard.  Not only do parents have the fundamental right to make these decisions, but they are also in the best position to know what is appropriate for their children.
 

Finally, make sure through this document that there are very specific actions that every school MUST take in order to ensure sexually explicit materials are clearly identified and first seen by parents.  I am concerned that, unless certain minimum standards are expressly mandated (as opposed to providing vague, subjective examples or suggestions), schools will find ways to subvert what they deem nothing more than mere guidelines open to broad interpretation and application. 

CommentID: 122301