Kindergarten sex education concerns many during controversial bill hearing

January 16, 2020

Nearly 100 people lined up outside of a committee hearing room in Olympia Thursday to testify on a controversial sex education bill, but only a few got the chance to speak. John Sattgast reports from the state Capitol.

SATTGAST: House Bill 2184 is a new mandated comprehensive sex education bill with many of the same controversial requirements as last year’s sex ed measure, which stalled in the House.

According to the new bill, “Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, comprehensive sexual health education must be provided to all public-school students that are not receiving comprehensive sexual health education.” That includes kindergarten through third grade.

It’s that provision that brought out people from all over the state to attend a hearing in the House Education Committee. This is Port Orchard Republican Representative Michelle Caldier.

CALDIER: “When I looked at the curriculum, I’d be happy to read some of this stuff, but I will tell you I know that the chair would gavel me because it is completely inappropriate for me to say here. And I think that if it is inappropriate for me to say on the dais, I don’t think that’s something that I would want to teach a kindergartner.”

SATTGAST: Ninety-seven people signed up to testify. Only 16 were given the opportunity before time ran out. Opponents say they’re concerned the state will decide what’s best for children and not the parents themselves. The committee is expected to vote on the bill on Thursday, January 23rd.

John Sattgast, Olympia.