Miami-Dade School Board, parents to discuss controversial approval of 2 sex educations textbooks

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – On Wednesday, the Miami-Dade School Board will decide whether two sex education text books will end up in the classroom.

Some parents are expected to speak at the meeting, who are concerned about how the board will move forward with the books titled, “Comprehensive Health Skills.” The two separate textbooks are designed for middle and high schools.

“It goes into details about medical procedures such as abortion,” said Alex Serrano, the county director for County Citizens Defending Freedom, the organization that has highlighted a number of examples in the textbooks they believe are inappropriate, especially for middle school-aged children.

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Serrano is raising three children who used to attend the Miami-Dade Public School system but then pulled them when he “became aware of the many issues prevalent in the system.” After a year of home schooling, his children are now enrolled in private school.

County Citizens Defending Freedom cites a textbook excerpt from chapter 20 and page 653 in which abortion is addressed.

“In some cases, people who are not ready to give birth and raise a child choose to end the pregnancy with a procedure called abortion,” the book details.

According to the excerpts posted as examples, the textbooks also address: emergency contraception, natural methods like withdrawal, gender identity and sexual orientation.

“I would argue that plan B pills, how they work and how they’re accessible over the counter…is not an age appropriate information for an 11 year-old,” Serrano said.

The two textbooks had been approved for adoption, but after objections were raised a hearing was held and an independent district officer found them to be appropriate.