We endorse: ‘Yes’ on Washington Referendum 90 for responsible sex education
Washington is one of only 18 states that don’t require school districts to provide comprehensive sexual education (CSE). As a result, only 60 percent of public high schools in our state teach it.
A majority of duly elected state lawmakers voted last spring to make CSE mandatory. Referendum 90 gives Washingtonians a chance to agree that K-12 public school students should have access to fact-based sex ed.
We encourage voters to say “Yes.”
What often gets lost in the hot-button issue is that sex ed wouldn’t be compulsory. School districts would have to provide CSE, but parents and guardians could opt their student out. They’d also be notified 30 days prior to any lesson and encouraged to look over the curriculum.
School districts must keep the opt-out avenue available at all times and local school boards must be accountable for all content.
It’s why local educators would be given a menu of curricula from which to choose. They’d also be free to create their own, but like all subjects taught in public schools, lessons are expected to meet state guidelines from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
The biggest arguments against R-90 center on age appropriateness. An oft-heard refrain is that kindergartners are too young for sex ed.
But we’re listening to leading public health and professional medical organizations including the American Medical Association; the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American School Health Association and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All support K-12 CSE.
If Referendum 90 passes, elementary school students will receive a mere one hour of instruction per year geared toward social-emotional learning, not sex. Districts can choose from a range of lesson objectives including body safety and how to identify improper touching.
Opponents fixate on specific lesson plans wherein elementary-age students are taught proper names for body parts, including male and female anatomy. But the intent is to give youngsters the language and tools to fend off or report abuse. As the American Academy of Pediatrics points out, “the genitals, while private, are not so private that you can’t talk about them.”
Experts agree the first line of defense against abuse is teaching safety and consent, and given that one in three girls and one in six boys report one or more unwanted sexual encounters by the time they graduate high school, this law isn’t extreme; it’s essential.
To be clear, Washingtonians have every right to take the leading role in how their kids learn about their bodies. That opponents of the new law gathered more than 260,000 signatures during a pandemic to refer the law to voters is a singularly impressive feat. No other statewide initiative or referendum made the ballot this year.
If R-90 is approved, families need assurances that the opt-out provision is ironclad and that kids won’t be subject to bullying or ostracism if pulled out of class..
But it’s unfortunate some opponents have warped a legitimate debate by fear-peddling. They’ve also objected to what they short-sightedly call “pro LGBT messaging.”
Whitney Holz, representing Informed Parents of Washington, told our Editorial Board that CSE would desensitize children and cautioned against a “pleasure focused” curriculum.
We agree it’s the responsibility of adults to address sexual health at home. Trouble is, that doesn’t always happen. Without CSE, some kids are left with the internet and social media as their guide.
Learning objectives for middle and high school students don’t seem unreasonable. Students would receive two hours per year on seven topics, including: development of communication skills based on mutual respect; health care resources; abstinence and other ways to prevent pregnancy and disease; positive relationship development and exploitative relationship avoidance; and affirmative consent.
Voting “Yes” on Referendum 90 will help Washington kids make healthy, informed decisions. If anyone thinks they can design a perfect sexual-health curriculum by public consensus, they’re sorely mistaken. It will never happen and our children will pay the price.
ABOUT OUR ENDORSEMENTS
The News Tribune Editorial Board interviewed candidates and did other research before making our picks for the 2020 election. Endorsements are intended to promote civic discourse and encourage voters to dig deeper. Board members in this set of interviews include: Stephanie Pedersen, TNT president and publisher; Matt Misterek, editorial page editor; Karen Irwin, editorial writer; Matt Driscoll, local news columnist; Pamela Transue, community representative and former president of Tacoma Community College; and Jim Walton, community representative and former Tacoma city manager. Read more about the candidates in our online Voter Guide.
This story was originally published October 15, 2020 at 1:00 PM.