Watch: Sex-Ed Misinformation in New Jersey Curriculum is Corrected During a Live Panel Discussion on 101.5

Empower yourself and your children by separating fact from fiction. Listen as Kerri Waibel, Social and Emotional Learning Alliance of NJ, and Kate Okeson, Make it Better for Youth, do just that.

“On Thursday, September 22, NJ 101.5 hosted a panel discussion on the NJ updated Comprehensive Health and Sex Education standards. These standards are intended to keep NJ’s youth healthy and safe. The updated standards make it clear that it is possible to help youth understand their own bodily autonomy, give them language to address violations of their person, address equitable approaches to gender and sexual orientation, and address social and emotional health as well.

While NJ largely favors standards aimed at middle and high school-age youth, there have been concerns about what the standards say and what they mean for elementary-age children.

Many individuals are struck by the notion that appropriate anatomical vocabulary is somehow challenging for young people, and the in-studio panelists, Kerri Waibel (SEL4NJ) and Kate Okeson (Make it Better for Youth) addressed and corrected the falsehoods perpetuated by the two guests by phone – parents and sitting BOE members. Listen in.” Kate Okeson makeitbetter4youth.org

About Make it Better For Youth and the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for New Jersey

The Monmouth County Consortium for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Youth is a non-profit organization of concerned and determined educators, community leaders, arts and cultural organizations, businesses and individuals who are are pooling resources and ideas to make it better with education, outreach, and social opportunities for our LGBTQ youth.

Connect with Make It Better For Youth  on Facebook @MIB4Y 

While there are many definitions of SEL, SEL4NJ defines “SEL” as an umbrella term that includes social and emotional development, character education, positive youth development, whole child/whole school approaches, caring schools and communities, and efforts to create positive school climate and culture. SEL also includes efforts to promote mental and physical health and to prevent substance use and bullying. Promoting SEL includes building an essential set of life skills that includes self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, problem-solving/responsible decision-making and relationship skills. These skills are necessary in ensuring all students receive an appropriately challenging academic foundation in Reading, Writing, Math, the visual and performing arts, and other subject areas. Schools that embrace an institutional commitment to educational equity develop these values in all students including vulnerable populations.

Connect with SEL4NJ on Facebook