REMARKS
Council Member Shahana Hanif advocates for comprehensive sexuality education
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123 sec
Council Member Shahana Hanif presents her support for Resolution 94, which calls for comprehensive sexuality education for K-12 students in New York State. She emphasizes the importance of age-appropriate sexual education in promoting health, preventing abuse, and creating inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ students.
- Hanif highlights the current gaps in sexual health education in NYC public schools, including inconsistent implementation and lack of standardized curriculum.
- She argues that state legislation is the best way to address these issues and improve outcomes for students.
- The council member urges her colleagues to support the resolution and expresses interest in hearing from the administration and public on the matter.
Shahana K. Hanif
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Thank you.
0:09:15
Good afternoon.
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I'm council member Shahana Hanif, and I'm proud to sponsor rezo 94, which calls upon the New York State legislature to pass and the governor to sign a 4604 and the New York State Senate to introduce and pass a companion bill to require comprehensive sexuality instruction for students in grades k through 12.
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This curriculum would address age appropriate physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of human sexuality and reflect the National Sexuality Education Standards.
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Thank you to chairs Joseph and Lewis for including reso 94 on today's agenda and giving me an opportunity to speak.
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I would also like to thank Bronx borough president Vanessa Gibson for introducing this resolution alongside me.
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Implementing comp comprehensive and age appropriate sexual education from k through 12 is critical to equipping young New Yorkers with information that promotes health and well-being.
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Not only does sexual education reduce unplanned pregnancies and spread of sexually transmitted infections and diseases, it also helps prevent against sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence.
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Inclusive education can also be key to creating welcoming environments for LGBTQ plus students.
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In 2011, New York City public schools began requiring students in grades 6 to 12 to take sexual health education.
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However, many schools are not meeting this requirement.
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Additionally, when the requirement is met, the quality of instruction is unclear due to a lack of standardized curriculum for schools and training for teachers.
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Further, there is no requirement for sexual health education for k through 5 students.
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State legislation that creates a clear set of curriculum and implementation plans is the best way to address these gaps and deliver the healthiest outcomes for our students.
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I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I look forward to hearing from the administration and the public on this issue.
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Thank you.
