old_bridge_NJ_5756_Meeting_20231114_191058.mp4

John Howard [00:00:00] John Howard. I'm from the New Jersey Policy Center for more on New Jersey. We have a bunch of families here in Old Bridge Township. I stated it earlier, the attorney general's office said before a judge Mikowitz, in the Superior Court of New Jersey, in Morris County. That Policy. 5756 is not a mandatory policy and school boards are not required to adopt it where the Department of Education released its guidance. Therefore, and I quote the judge's ruling on September 26, 2023, and I quote, in sum because policy 5756 is not mandatory, the board is free to repeal the same. UnQuote.

John Howard [00:00:40] When it comes to in NJ lag there is no precedent. There's no civil case law in N.J. that has even been implied in any manner that would prohibit parents being informed of the child's social, emotional, mental well-being, including gender identity. Or NJ lag has been used to protect someone based upon gender identity. That adult was always diagnose with gender dysphoria. And these school policy stated, no medical diagnosis is required for someone to change a gender identity.

John Howard [00:01:11] Again, completely out of step with NJ lag case law. So for the attorney general to tell school boards, to keep parents in the dark and to lie to parents, and to view parents as a problem is grossly irresponsible and a serious violation of parental rights. It's both ... unethical and is dangerous. When the loving involved parents become the enemy of the state.

John Howard [00:01:36] On the other hand, the Supreme Court has repeatedly held the rights of parents to direct education and upbringing of the children and make decisions concerning the care of the children. Why? Because parents know what is best for their children. That is why the choice of words used by those supporting maintaining 5756 such outings students puts them for harm. That's very troubling language and it shows a strong anti-parent bias.

John Howard [00:02:09] New Jersey was recently ranked fourth in the nation for the worst problems of bullying in schools. Yet the attorney general is pointing his finger at moms and dads. He has the finger pointing in the wrong direction. Moms and dads are not the problem. They love their children and want to see the best for their children. So I encourage you repeal 5756.

Caitlin [00:02:41] Hello. Good evening. My name is Caitlin, I am an Old Bridge resident and former student of Old Bridge.

Caitlin [00:02:46] Policy 5756 was put in place to protect one of the most vulnerable populations, students who are transgender. It seems like some people are rather confused with the rights of parents policy adopted in 1999 put in place to protect a much more vulnerable population.

Caitlin [00:03:02] In an ideal world, all students would be ... fortunate enough to have a compassionate and understanding home life. Sadly that's not the world we live in.

Caitlin [00:03:11] Policy 5756 was established to protect those students. However, grown adults are willing to take the policy away because they are more concerned about parental rights. Parents are ... policy in place to protect their rights. A policy that allows parents and guardians to access all information regarding their child unless prohibited by law or state or federal law. With all the noise against the policy 5756 the true meaning of the laws and replaced with rhetoric. It's been lost the policy addresses topics of harassment and intimidation and bullying, proper training of personnel, and discrimination. These points have not been the target of conversation. Instead, it's been parental rights that again, have been protected since 1999. When addressing policy 5756, please prioritize students who without this policy are not protected. Instead of parents who, with or without the policy, have the same protected rights.Thank you.

Daren [00:04:05] I want to thank the board and I want to thank the teachers in my own life. [name] Because without them [name], Daren, from Old Bridge.

Daren [00:04:16] I want to thank the teachers and the board because when I was a kid, I was a troubled little kid. I grew up on the streets in Brooklyn and from a single mom. It was tough. I was thrown on the street. I was almost homeless. My father was a compulsive gambler. It was a sickness. My mom strugged as a small kid. But in school, my grades are very small, my behavior was bad because I had a troubled home. I was so blessed and thankful that the teachers had a good relationship with my mom.

Daren [00:04:53] They would call and tell what was going on. They would tell that I was doing something wrong. They would call my parents, go to school and have conversations. Isn't that why we're all here? You love your kids. Transgender. I have a friend of mine, 3 weeks ago, committed suicide. He's not trans anything. I just was depressed and he's death. So, I know it's difficult, but the teachers aren't psychologists. This gentleman that stood up who works in the hospital, respect, that's where kids need to go with this problem. I have two daughters, in Old Bridge. 17 and 13. I'm their father and I love them unconditionally. I am also their protector. And I wouldn't want my girls coming home saying to me that I was talking to the teacher by something and they said, Just keep this secret between you and I. Now, wait a second. That doesn't happen a lot, right? Right? It doesn't. I'm not saying it does. But just imagine if my kid came home and said it to me. It happensm You know why. Because it happened to my best friend.

Daren [00:06:12] And make no mistake, you're putting the teachers and kids at risk because the teachers shouldn't have to hide something from the parents and think it's okay that you protected them and the parents in here are no good! it's ridiculous! The right to report, my right to report.

Daren [00:06:31] And at the end of the day this is school! This is a school. This isn't a psychiatry center. This isn't a hospital. Mind your business. ... Let me speak!

Daren [00:06:45] The bottom line is it's wrong. The parents need to be involved with their children because they love their kids. Period. Full stop! What are we arguing about?! You know why we can't get any more teachers?! Very simple! They don't want to work anymore! because now they're cops. There's psychiatrist, they're social worker, and they're playing God. At the end of the day, it's not their job. If somebody comes in and they want to change their gender, or if they want to cut off their penis, they want to go get on puberty blockers, guess what? Here's the deal. Get social services, get DIFFUS, get somebody because these teachers and this board, the teacher, the teachers, they don't have a license for it! period

Harrison William [00:07:32] Hi. I'm Harrison William. I am a resident of Old Bridge for the past, I'd say around a decade, maybe a little more, of my life. And I am a current student of Old Bridge High Scool. [Hold on].

Notes [00:07:59] [At this time, the previous talker was kicked out of the room. He was starting a commotion.]

Harrison William [00:08:42] Hi. Let me start again. I'm Harrison William. I'm 17 years old and a current student at OBHS. I've lived here for the past, maybe a little over a decade of my life, and much as some of the other people come before I didn't come with any prepared remarks, but I call them as someone who is currently kind of in the situation that's being discussed today. I'm gender fluid and I have been ... My whole life. That's how it works. I don't come with any of my medical knowledge or faith, but it's ... it's important to know that this isn't, like, a contagion as it was said before. It's just who people are. The people are born the way they are. Full stop. I accept this myself. I am Genderfluid doesn't matter what pronouns I use. My little sister over there. I'm always going to be her older brother and I am going to be here to protect her regardless of anything.

Harrison William [00:09:48] And that includes something like this and how people have said very easily before. It's not, 5756 isn't teaching kids to be transgender or harming students who aren't transgender. It's simply to protect students and children who come from homes that aren't capable of protecting them. I come from a house that is capable of that. My mom and my stepdad and my father all love me very dearly. They know who I am as a person. They know everything about me because I can trust them. But I have plenty of friends who live in-state, out-of-state. Even right down the road who can't trust their parents with that information. Because if they do, they run the risk of being kicked out of their house, of being sent to somewhere. [one minute].

Harrison William [00:10:50] All right. Thank you. And it just isn't viable for this to happen. People have come up here with statistics about transgender suicide and youth. And on paper the numbers look great. 95% of kids come out fine. But the fact that there is that 5% lack there is the problem. These people who come and inform these parents who ... can't be trusted with this. I'll just say plainly like that, they drive their children to places like this where they feel like the only option is to kill themselves. And some of them do. I've been in that situation. I have been suicidal. I have been at this school and felt not safe. But I do now, because I have teachers that I can trust to talk about, like my drama teacher, my choir teacher. I have people who I can speak to about these things, freedom. And now I can talk to my parents about it, too.