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BALTIMORE — Baltimore City Public Schools teach first graders about gender identity and genitalia, third graders about the LGBT Pride flag and fourth graders about sexual confusion, according to sex education curricula reviewed by Spotlight on Maryland.
City schools use the Maryland “Rights, Respect, and Responsibilities” curriculum (3Rs) in elementary and middle schools, though parents have the option to opt their children out of sex education courses. Maryland 3Rs curriculum is posted online by its author, Advocates for Youth.
Spotlight on Maryland obtained details about the curricula through a public records request for “sex education curriculums used by Baltimore City Public Schools at all grade levels since January 1, 2020.” The district required Spotlight on Maryland to visit its office in-person to review the high school curricula under staff supervision.
The Maryland 3Rs curriculum directs teachers to describe the concept of gender identity to first graders, which is consistent with state health education guidelines.
“Put the sign that reads ‘gender identity’ up (or write the phrase) on the board. Ask students to repeat it with you. Point out that the word ‘Identity’ begins with an I,’” the lesson plan states. “Say something like, ‘Identity starts with an I. That’s how you can remember it. ‘I’ feel, ‘I’ know.”
“Gender identity is that feeling of knowing your gender,” the plan continues. “You might feel like you are a boy, you might feel like you are a girl. You might feel like you’re a boy even if you have body parts that some people might tell you are ‘girl’ parts. You might feel like you’re a girl even if you have body parts that some people might tell you are ‘boy’ parts. And you might not feel like you’re a boy or a girl, but you’re a little bit of both. No matter how you feel, you’re perfectly normal!”
Another first-grade lesson plan teaches six-year-olds about their genitalia, which includes showing them a video that displays naked diagrams of boys and girls. Teachers are advised in the lesson to use gender-neutral language when describing body parts. Specific recommended phrasing includes telling students "most girls have a vulva” and “most boys have a penis.”
“You will notice that this lesson refers to ‘girls’ and ‘boys’ and ‘male’ and ‘female’ when identifying body parts. Lessons in higher grades use more precise language and begin to introduce a broader concept of gender. This lesson does, however, acknowledge that ‘there are some body parts that mostly just girls have and some parts that mostly just boys have. Being a boy or a girl doesn’t have to mean you have those parts, but for most people this is how their bodies are.’ And, ‘Most people have a vulva and a vagina or a penis and testicles but some people’s bodies can be different. Your body is exactly what is right for you,’” a teacher instruction reads.
These quotes from the first-grade lessons in the Maryland 3Rs curriculum on gender identity and genitalia are also used in lessons for kindergartners. However, a spokeswoman for Baltimore City Public Schools says its teachers do not use the kindergarten lessons in the curriculum.
A Maryland 3R lesson for third graders teaches about the importance of the LBGT Pride flag.
“Discuss that the rainbow flag represents Pride of gay and lesbian people,” it states. “Hold one up or show a picture of one for students to see. Explain that when gay and lesbian people, or people of various gender identities see a Pride flag, it may make them feel welcome and respected. Ask if students can think of other symbols that people use to show their Pride in their heritage or culture or some other trait about them? Ask students if there are [sic] symbols that help show respect for all people? Examples are parades, books or movies and religious symbols.”
Fourth graders are taught about the differences between being heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual.
“Even though the phrase ‘sexual orientation’ has the word ‘sexual’ in it, in many cases, people have strong feelings of love before feelings of sexual attraction or before acting on those feelings,” teachers are instructed to tell students. “You don’t need to have done anything sexual with someone to know your sexual orientation.”
“During puberty, it’s common to have feelings for people of your same gender and for people of a different gender,” the lesson plan continues. “Sometimes, that’s part of understanding your sexual orientation. Sometimes, it’s not, and you’ll have feelings that come and go. So you may not know what your orientation is right away, or until you’re older – and that’s okay.”
The fourth-grade lesson details male and female parts in diagrams titled in the gender-neutral terms “reproductive system one” and “reproductive system two.”
Teachers show fourth graders a video from Amaze, a project of Advocates for Youth, about sexual orientation. The video opens with a girl singing Katy Perry’s ‘I Kissed a Girl.’ It goes on to state it is “common to feel confused” about sexuality.
Dr. Sue Greenwald, a retired pediatrician in Nebraska who worked with childhood victims of sexual abuse for more than three decades, told Spotlight on Maryland sex education curricula like the 3Rs are a threat to children.
“Kids are naturally repulsed by sexual advances,” she told Spotlight on Maryland. “These curriculums desensitize them to specific sex acts and normalizes transgenderism. It overcomes their natural instinct to defend themselves. Lately schools are convincing students they should keep secrets from their family, such as when they socially transition. All of this is the very definition of grooming.”
Greenwald said sex education curricula like the 3Rs are designed by radical advocacy groups and intend to sexualize children at an early age.
“They tell the public that they’re training kids to know their body parts, but what they’re really doing is teaching kids what to do with those body parts,” she told Spotlight on Maryland. “They lie to the public, bottom line. They tell the public they’re teaching kids to keep them safe, but honestly, they’re teaching kids to be consumers of Planned Parenthood products.”
Two of the authors of the 3Rs curriculum, Nora Gelperin and Elizabeth Schroeder, previously worked for Planned Parenthood.
The 3Rs curriculum goes on to teach middle schoolers a variety of concepts about gender and sexuality, including using bathrooms based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
Advocates for Youth did not respond to a request for comment regarding criticism of its curriculum.
A spokeswoman for Baltimore City Public Schools said Advocates for Youth provided teacher trainings in the district titled "Ensuring Consistent, High Quality Sex Ed that Young People Deserve." She defended the school district's decision to require a curriculum that uses gender neutral language for lessons on human anatomy.
Former Baltimore City Schools parent Evie Harris, who recently moved her daughter to private school, told Spotlight on Maryland the city’s sex education curricula are a “travesty.”
“It should be immoral. And it's certainly lunacy for adults, teachers, administrators, none the less, to teach such unnecessary, inappropriate information to children,” Harris said.
The Maryland State Department of Education paid Advocates for Youth $4,800 in fiscal year 2021 to adjust its 3Rs curriculum to Maryland’s health standards, as previously reported by Spotlight on Maryland. The agency said it did not have data on what schools use the curriculum.
The Department of Health and Human Services has given Advocates for Youth more than $30 million in federal taxpayer dollars since 1995, according to online records. The group advocates for access to puberty blockers, transgender hormones and transgender surgeries for minors.
BALTIMORE — Baltimore City Public Schools teach first graders about gender identity and genitalia, third graders about the LGBT Pride flag and fourth graders about sexual confusion, according to sex education curricula reviewed by Spotlight on Maryland.
City schools use the Maryland “Rights, Respect, and Responsibilities” curriculum (3Rs) in elementary and middle schools, though parents have the option to opt their children out of sex education courses. Maryland 3Rs curriculum is posted online by its author, Advocates for Youth.
Spotlight on Maryland obtained details about the curricula through a public records request for “sex education curriculums used by Baltimore City Public Schools at all grade levels since January 1, 2020.” The district required Spotlight on Maryland to visit its office in-person to review the high school curricula under staff supervision.
The Maryland 3Rs curriculum directs teachers to describe the concept of gender identity to first graders, which is consistent with state health education guidelines.
“Put the sign that reads ‘gender identity’ up (or write the phrase) on the board. Ask students to repeat it with you. Point out that the word ‘Identity’ begins with an I,’” the lesson plan states. “Say something like, ‘Identity starts with an I. That’s how you can remember it. ‘I’ feel, ‘I’ know.”
“Gender identity is that feeling of knowing your gender,” the plan continues. “You might feel like you are a boy, you might feel like you are a girl. You might feel like you’re a boy even if you have body parts that some people might tell you are ‘girl’ parts. You might feel like you’re a girl even if you have body parts that some people might tell you are ‘boy’ parts. And you might not feel like you’re a boy or a girl, but you’re a little bit of both. No matter how you feel, you’re perfectly normal!”
Another first-grade lesson plan teaches six-year-olds about their genitalia, which includes showing them a video that displays naked diagrams of boys and girls. Teachers are advised in the lesson to use gender-neutral language when describing body parts. Specific recommended phrasing includes telling students "most girls have a vulva” and “most boys have a penis.”
“You will notice that this lesson refers to ‘girls’ and ‘boys’ and ‘male’ and ‘female’ when identifying body parts. Lessons in higher grades use more precise language and begin to introduce a broader concept of gender. This lesson does, however, acknowledge that ‘there are some body parts that mostly just girls have and some parts that mostly just boys have. Being a boy or a girl doesn’t have to mean you have those parts, but for most people this is how their bodies are.’ And, ‘Most people have a vulva and a vagina or a penis and testicles but some people’s bodies can be different. Your body is exactly what is right for you,’” a teacher instruction reads.
These quotes from the first-grade lessons in the Maryland 3Rs curriculum on gender identity and genitalia are also used in lessons for kindergartners. However, a spokeswoman for Baltimore City Public Schools says its teachers do not use the kindergarten lessons in the curriculum.
A Maryland 3R lesson for third graders teaches about the importance of the LBGT Pride flag.
“Discuss that the rainbow flag represents Pride of gay and lesbian people,” it states. “Hold one up or show a picture of one for students to see. Explain that when gay and lesbian people, or people of various gender identities see a Pride flag, it may make them feel welcome and respected. Ask if students can think of other symbols that people use to show their Pride in their heritage or culture or some other trait about them? Ask students if there are [sic] symbols that help show respect for all people? Examples are parades, books or movies and religious symbols.”
Fourth graders are taught about the differences between being heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual.
“Even though the phrase ‘sexual orientation’ has the word ‘sexual’ in it, in many cases, people have strong feelings of love before feelings of sexual attraction or before acting on those feelings,” teachers are instructed to tell students. “You don’t need to have done anything sexual with someone to know your sexual orientation.”
“During puberty, it’s common to have feelings for people of your same gender and for people of a different gender,” the lesson plan continues. “Sometimes, that’s part of understanding your sexual orientation. Sometimes, it’s not, and you’ll have feelings that come and go. So you may not know what your orientation is right away, or until you’re older – and that’s okay.”
The fourth-grade lesson details male and female parts in diagrams titled in the gender-neutral terms “reproductive system one” and “reproductive system two.”
Teachers show fourth graders a video from Amaze, a project of Advocates for Youth, about sexual orientation. The video opens with a girl singing Katy Perry’s ‘I Kissed a Girl.’ It goes on to state it is “common to feel confused” about sexuality.
Dr. Sue Greenwald, a retired pediatrician in Nebraska who worked with childhood victims of sexual abuse for more than three decades, told Spotlight on Maryland sex education curricula like the 3Rs are a threat to children.
“Kids are naturally repulsed by sexual advances,” she told Spotlight on Maryland. “These curriculums desensitize them to specific sex acts and normalizes transgenderism. It overcomes their natural instinct to defend themselves. Lately schools are convincing students they should keep secrets from their family, such as when they socially transition. All of this is the very definition of grooming.”
Greenwald said sex education curricula like the 3Rs are designed by radical advocacy groups and intend to sexualize children at an early age.
“They tell the public that they’re training kids to know their body parts, but what they’re really doing is teaching kids what to do with those body parts,” she told Spotlight on Maryland. “They lie to the public, bottom line. They tell the public they’re teaching kids to keep them safe, but honestly, they’re teaching kids to be consumers of Planned Parenthood products.”
Two of the authors of the 3Rs curriculum, Nora Gelperin and Elizabeth Schroeder, previously worked for Planned Parenthood.
The 3Rs curriculum goes on to teach middle schoolers a variety of concepts about gender and sexuality, including using bathrooms based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
Advocates for Youth did not respond to a request for comment regarding criticism of its curriculum.
A spokeswoman for Baltimore City Public Schools said Advocates for Youth provided teacher trainings in the district titled "Ensuring Consistent, High Quality Sex Ed that Young People Deserve." She defended the school district's decision to require a curriculum that uses gender neutral language for lessons on human anatomy.
Former Baltimore City Schools parent Evie Harris, who recently moved her daughter to private school, told Spotlight on Maryland the city’s sex education curricula are a “travesty.”
“It should be immoral. And it's certainly lunacy for adults, teachers, administrators, none the less, to teach such unnecessary, inappropriate information to children,” Harris said.
The Maryland State Department of Education paid Advocates for Youth $4,800 in fiscal year 2021 to adjust its 3Rs curriculum to Maryland’s health standards, as previously reported by Spotlight on Maryland. The agency said it did not have data on what schools use the curriculum.
The Department of Health and Human Services has given Advocates for Youth more than $30 million in federal taxpayer dollars since 1995, according to online records. The group advocates for access to puberty blockers, transgender hormones and transgender surgeries for minors.
