Brianna Groch spoke during public comment to push to the board to implement a more thorough sex education course at the high school
By KRYSTAL NURSE
The Sun
Senior Brianna Groch alerted the Clearview Regional Board of Education of the district’s absence of a thorough sex education course for high school students during public comment.
Groch said she has gone through every level of physical and health education in the district, and has only been taught “STDs and their symptoms.”
In regard to sexual wellness and health, the state issued a revised 2014 New Jersey Student Learning Standards mandate stating districts must teach students about healthy relationships and how to spot unhealthy, or abusive ones, self-examination in regard to various cancers to the chest and pelvic region, sexually transmitted diseases and infections and prevention methods, sexual orientation and gender identities, abstinence and the use of contraceptives, the effects of intercourse on a student’s life in respect to their mental, physical and social health by the time they graduate from high school.
“According to a survey I ran of 150 of my peers, it is the general consensus of Clearview students that it is the duty of this district to provide sex ed,” said Groch. “Not every parent is willing to talk about sex with their student. Not every student has access to a physician. Ultimately, it is up to the school for students to receive this essential form of education.”
Groch later said she attempted to start a group at the high school where peers taught one another about sexual wellness and health, but the students involved became dissatisfied and frustrated because she “was left wondering why it falls on me, a student, to provide an education that the district is required to teach.”
She added in previous years, she was met with pushback from adults that the topic was too controversial to introduce and there were others that needed to be discussed in the various health classes.
“In my four years of high school, I’ve never been taught the forms of contraception, the signs of an abusive relationship or how my body works reproductively,” said Groch. “Tell me why learning the symptoms of heart disease — something I could be suffering from in 50 years — is more important than safe sex practices and the healthy relationships I’ve been engaging with now.”
Groch cited the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute of Health on various statistics regarding the state’s position in confirmed STD/STI infections and how adolescents are affected by unsafe or abusive relationships.
Superintendent John Horchak commended Groch for speaking about the topic and said he will work with high school Principal Keith Brook and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Sherry McAteer, who’s been in the district for a year, to introduce a more thorough sexual education course in the district and to be compliant with the state’s laws and mandates.
In other news:
- Checks were presented by students Helena Reynolds and Ray Milavsky to recipients of the “Hoagies 4 Hope” donations.
- Fenu Cherian was sworn in to fill an empty seat in Harrison Township for the board. His term expires on Dec. 31, and the seat will be up for election for an unexpired two-year term in November.
- James Turk from the Harrison Township Historical Society presented two copies of the “Old Harrison Township” history book to be stored at the high school and middle school libraries.
- Brook updated the board on the various ways the high school was celebrating Black History Month.
- Media students at the high school presented a video and QR codes they created showcasing the various clubs and courses offered at the school including firsthand accounts from faculty and students.
- The district’s audit report, dated June 2018, was presented, and auditors found no issues in the district’s expenditures and revenues. The district was compliant with federal and state laws and mandates.
- Aaryn Battle was congratulated for representing the middle school at a school board association dinner, and the middle school’s Math Counts team was congratulated for placing second in the South Jersey competition.
- McAteer said the high school is adding the following courses for the 2019–2020 school year: Advanced Placement World History, mathematics research, introduction to singing, introduction to instrumental music, strength and performance, civics, cultural themes throughout history, computer science, introduction to law and environmental science.
- Student council members notified the board of Mrs. Cleaview (April 4) and Clearview Day of Service (April 25, tentative).
- Students and counselor Paul Sommers reminded the board of the upcoming spring musical “Footloose” from March 21 to 23.
- A new high school club, Hogwarts Huddle Book Club, was approved by the board.
The next board meeting is scheduled for March 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building on 420 Cedar Road. The budget is expected to be introduced at this meeting, with a public hearing on April 25.
