Outrage is growing over an Illinois bill that would mandate national sex ed standards, and bar any individual school districts from opting out. Not only are Illinois residents speaking against it, but it’s being opposed by a state school board association as well.
HB 5188 would force each school district to adhere to the National Sex Education Standards, and amend state law from allowing school districts to set their own sex ed standards. This is in response to SB 818, which was signed into law last year — however, many school districts chose to opt out, which apparently state legislators want to prevent going forward.
“All Illinois public school students need and deserve age appropriate, medically accurate inclusive instruction that will affirm them and help them be safe and healthy,” State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, the sponsor of an amendment to House Bill 5188, told the Center Square.
Under the national standards, children would begin receiving sex ed in kindergarten, learning about consent, gender identity, hormone blockers and healthy relationships. And there is bipartisan pushback brewing.
“The standards went too far and that’s why we are seeing tremendous pushback by the school districts and their school boards,” Republican State Sen. Sue Rezin said, arguing that the number of parents and school districts who opted out is a sign that the bill is too extreme.
Democrat State Sen. Linda Holmes, meanwhile, pointed out that it’s one more mandate in a long line that teachers are already inundated with. “If the state of Illinois passes another mandate, we’re already not meeting all the mandates that we have, because quite frankly there are not enough hours in the school day to do it and still teach math and science and English, the education that our kids need,” she said.
Another complaint is that this bill seems to be retaliation for school boards not falling in line.
“There had been little to no warning that this bill would be coming, but it was assigned to the Senate Executive Committee shortly after it was officially made public,” Rezin said. “It appears that they didn’t like the fact that nearly 70% of school districts opted out of their curriculum, so now they are taking away your local school board’s control.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), which has issued a call-to-action against it.
“Late last evening, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) posted an amendment to HB 5188 that would require sex ed to be taught in kindergarten through grade 12 in Illinois schools,” their statement read. “IASB has worked in good faith with stakeholders on sex ed standards and curriculum for several years. Previous sex ed bills focused on content of curriculum while still preserving local control around the decision to offer sex ed to all students. HB 5188 removes that local option and MANDATES the national sex ed curriculum standards for all schools.”
Planned Parenthood had previously applauded the passage of SB 818, claiming it would help students make “safe” choices.
“Thank you to the Illinois General Assembly for passing this important piece of legislation. Because of their hard work and dedication, public and charter schools will have clear guidelines and standards for providing medically-accurate and age-appropriate personal health and safety education in grades K through 5 and comprehensive sexual health education in grades 6 through 12,” Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, said in a statement. “By developing standards to require inclusive, evidence-based curricula that includes information about healthy relationships, gender identity and sexual orientation, Illinois schools can reduce bullying, stigmatization, harassment, violence and discrimination for all students. Not all families in Illinois look alike — and that’s why it was so crucial schools have established requirements for when they choose to teach personal health and safety and sexual health education.”
Planned Parenthood is frequently involved in sex education for children, yet as a Live Action investigation found, it’s grossly inappropriate — and potentially dangerous. Planned Parenthood counselors were found giving dangerous advice to underage children, encouraging girls to experiment with BDSM and role-play. Whipping, choking, asphyxiation, violent torture sex, and horsewhips, clamps, and ropes being used during sex were presented as normal and healthy, along with sex acts leaving welts, burns, and marks, instead of being presented as abusive or harmful. Girls were also given advice on how to work their way into having anal sex.
The Illinois amendment now heads to the Senate floor for approval, before being sent back to the House.
