PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mari Moss, Representative of We Love Harlem Initiative, on Sex Education Curriculum
3:24:09
·
3 min
Mari Moss, representing We Love Harlem Initiative and mothers of children in the school system, testified on the importance of parental involvement in sex education curriculum. She conditionally supported Resolution 94, emphasizing the need for full parental information, consent, and approval in the implementation of sex education programs.
- Stressed the importance of prevention and parental involvement in children's education
- Called for transparency in curriculum details, teacher qualifications, and implementation methods
- Advocated for addressing domestic violence and human trafficking in the curriculum
- Emphasized the need for age-appropriate content and data-driven accountability in sex education programs
Mari Moss
3:24:09
My name is Mari Moss and I represent We Love Harlem Initiative and mothers of children in the school system.
3:24:18
I am very I was very inspired by the young people who were here for the journalism.
3:24:23
So I just wanted to say that.
3:24:24
And I also wanted to say I'm really, inspired also by the education of, sex trafficking as well.
3:24:32
So I also, want to support that initiative.
3:24:37
But my, my favorite saying is prevention is far better than the cure And I'm a very strong advocate of parent involvement in the schools, and that includes in the education process.
3:24:50
So parents are the primary stakeholders in their children's lives, and involvement is essential, particularly in matters of health education, including sex health education.
3:25:01
Our school system has a troubling history of parental alienation, often excluding parents from decisions regarding their children's well-being in educational curriculum.
3:25:11
Because of this, I can support resolution 94, the sexual education portion of resolution 94, if all parents are fully informed about the curriculum being presented, the qualifications of the teachers delivering it, the class size, the timing of the instruction, the methods of presentation, and all other details and parameters involved.
3:25:37
There can be no substitute for parental involvement or information, involvement consent, and approval when it comes to this curriculum.
3:25:45
Parents must be engaged and and educated through community education councils, community boards, the United Federation of Teachers Parents Groups, wellness, advisory councils, assemblies at the schools, school leadership teams, and other parent organizations to ensure families are well informed about the curriculum's objectives and benefits.
3:26:10
Parents should also be provided with tools and resources on how to have meaningful conversations with their own children about their needs and development, reinforcing that teachers are not substitutes for parents in this critical area.
3:26:26
Furthermore, the curriculum must address domestic violence awareness, methods to avoid human trafficking, and strategies for identifying and responding to these issues.
3:26:37
Lessons must be age appropriate and development developmentally suitable with clear guidelines on how it can how content is tailored to different age groups.
3:26:50
Also transparency in how this is implemented and non is nonnegotiable.
3:26:55
The success of this of such programs depend on data driven accountability.
3:27:00
Schools must collect and monitor youth risk, behavior data to track outcomes such as reductions in sex rates or STDs, unintended pregnancies, incidence of abuse and trafficking.
3:27:14
These findings should be shared with parents at the school level, empower empowering families to make informed decisions and advocate for continuous improvements in the curriculum and its delivery delivery.
3:27:26
I wholeheartedly support providing proactive life saving information to students, but it must be delivered with explicit input, permission, and consent of parents along with regular reviews at least quarterly to ensure ongoing transparency, accountability, and alignment with community values.
3:27:45
Collaboration between parents, educators, community boards, and other stakeholders is essential to ensure our children receive the education and protection they deserve.
3:27:54
Thank you.
