SALINE, Mich - The Saline Area Schools District is facing scrutiny over proposed updates to its sex education curriculum, which would replace terms such as “boys” and “girls” with more inclusive language like “persons with vaginas” and “persons with penises.” The changes, reviewed during a Sept. 10 district meeting, are intended for students in fourth through eighth grades.
Cameron Cochran, assistant principal at Heritage School and co-chair of the district's Sex Education Advisory Board (SEAB), defended the terminology shift during the meeting. “It’s a more inclusive language,” Cochran stated. The update aims to reflect contemporary understandings of sex and gender, presenting these aspects as separate identities—biological versus self-expressive.
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Kristen Hoffman-Peavler, co-chair of SEAB and a vocal advocate for the curriculum, explained that the terminology aims to be clearer for students. “When you say things like ‘person with a vagina,’ those in the room who have one recognize that and feel included,” Hoffman-Peavler said, emphasizing the shift in modern sexual education toward separating biological sex from gender identity.
The proposed curriculum included graphic materials depicting boys at puberty, which some parents described as overly explicit. Hoffman-Peavler, during the meeting, discussed her personal passion for puberty education, sharing anecdotes about attending lectures on the topic, lightheartedly comparing her enthusiasm to "fangirling over Justin Bieber."
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The proposed changes have sparked controversy, with concerns raised not only about language but also about the explicit nature of some of the materials. The curriculum's choice to include topics like masturbation and the decision to teach in mixed-gender classrooms has led to further debate among parents and educators.
The Positive Prevention curriculum, designed by a California-based company, was selected by SEAB as part of its effort to modernize sex education. However, this curriculum, which had already been introduced in Special Education programming in 2021, drew significant criticism. As reported by WDIV News, many parents have since opted out, citing discomfort with its graphic content.
At the Sept. 10 meeting, the Board of Education delayed a vote on the curriculum updates after receiving concerns from teachers, instructing Cochran and Hoffman-Peavler to gather more feedback before moving forward.
Under Michigan state law, parents are permitted to opt their children out of sex education, a point Cochran highlighted in an August letter to district parents, where he also sought community feedback on the proposed changes. The district is planning to implement the updated curriculum in either the 2024-25 or 2025-26 school year, depending on the feedback received and board approval.
The discussion around these changes reflects a growing national conversation on how best to approach sexual education in schools, with inclusivity, parental concerns, and age-appropriateness remaining at the forefront of the debate.
