Blitz Bureau
COLUMBUS: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a legislation recently that boosts the rights of parents to know when schools are changing their child’s healthcare or preparing to present lessons involving “sexuality content,” as Conservatives nationally increasingly criticise public schools as too liberal on such issues.
The signing, according to an AP report, comes as Conservatives nationally are increasingly critical of public schools as too liberal and seek to quash discussion of hot-button topics, particularly around gender identity.
The Republican Governor told reporters after a separate Bill-signing at the Statehouse that the basis of the ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ is that parents want to be informed about what’s going on in their children’s lives and Ohio wants to give them that option. “They’re the first teachers, they’re the best teachers, and that’s very, very important,” he said.
A separate provision of the Republican-backed Bill requires districts to allow students to leave school during the day for periods of religious instruction, rather than making access to such programmes the district’s choice. It’s among various ways in which Ohio has expanded access to religious education in recent years.
Under the new law, parents will be able to opt out of schools’ suggested healthcare changes or the lessons identified in the Bill that contain discussion of sex, sexuality or gender identity. Opponents decried the Bill as forcing schools to “out” LGBTQ+ students by revealing their private healthcare discussions with trusted adults at school to their parents.
Equality Ohio, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy, policy, and legal aid organisation, said House Bill 8 does nothing to create welcoming schools for those students or to support teachers in creating a safe learning environment. “It’s deeply disappointing that Gov. DeWine has signed HB 8 when it was opposed by educators and the LGBTQ+ community alike,” Executive Director DwayenSteward was quoted as saying by AP. He added the legislation “punishes teachers and staff for supporting LGBTQ+ students who are already targets of bullying and harassment.”
