Page 40 - EdViewptsSpring2020

Building From the Ground Up:

LGBTQ+ Education in

Elementary Classrooms

By Samantha Rodriguez, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, North
Arlington Public School District

Through the Hullabaloo bisexual, and transgender people, herself/ singular them-self reflected in
in an appropriate place in the the curriculum,” and it is our calling as
By the 2020-21 school year, all public curriculum of middle school and educators to secure this right.
schools in New Jersey will be required high school students as part of the Why Address LGBTQ+ Topics
to teach about "the political, economic district’s implementation of the New
and social contributions” of LGBTQ+ Jersey Student Learning Standards. in K-5 Classrooms?
individuals and persons with disabilities. Now, this statute comes complete So, my question is, “At what age do
Specifically, N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.35 with a religious, political and ethical we give students the right to truly
references middle to high school set of baggage to be unpacked and see themselves in the lessons we
students and states the following: sorted district-by-district. However, teach?” Granted, the mandate only

A board of education shall include when we wade through the intrigue covers LGBTQ+ education in middle
instruction on the political, economic, and hullabaloo, there is a simple core and high school. However, laying the
and social contributions of persons belief that resounds, “Every single groundwork for celebration of self and
with disabilities and lesbian, gay, child has the right to see himself/ acceptance of others is a skill that

Educational Viewpoints -38- Spring 2020