Chicago City Wire

A Chicago mom took to Facebook to criticize Chicago Public Schools for agreeing to teach sex education to young children.

“This is what my 8yr old did in health class today,” Shaina Izurieta posted on Facebook. “Apparently they sent me an 'opt out in the mail.' I never received it. I am disgusted, if you feel like I do, please make sure you opt out before you get blindsided like I was today. My son didn't even get his foot in the door before he told me how disgusted he was in gym class today.” 

Izurieta did not respond to a request for comment. But she is disappointed about the inappropriateness of topics that young children are expected to learn and the absurdity of when parents should give consent to the activities that their kids will be taking part in.  

“For those of you who will say this is not the same thing, please save it, I am not in the mood, but how do they send your kid a letter to show them zebras at the zoo that a parent must sign but not a private part!” Izurieta linked to a photo of an assignment showing close-ups of the crotches of both a man and a woman. “CPS really failed me with this one!” 

CPS opted in to mandatory sexual education for young children. In 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the mandatory sexual education bill SB 818 which requires children to begin taking sexual education sessions as early as age eight. While that bill allowed for school districts to opt out, which the overwhelming majority did. That mandate includes topics like gender identity to be taught to young children in the state's early sexual education instruction. The rule was marketed as a way to align state and federal standards for sexual education.

Earlier this year lawmakers unsuccessfully pushed a bill that would have mandated all schools teach strict sexual education standards including introducing children to gender dysmorphia. The bill, seen as a way of mandating the sexual education standards included in SB 818, was signed into law last year by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Effingham Radio reported. That previous law allowed school districts to opt out. The new law would require standards for all public schools. SB 818 law requires children as young as eight to be subjected to lessons on sexual education.  The law was billed as a way to standardize state and federal sexual education standards.

At the time it was passed, critics lined up against SB 818 saying the legislation goes too far. 

“On paper it sounds so noble, but in practice it's extremely worrisome and when you look at the materials that has been proposed, it is, from parents’ perspective, grooming,” Awake Illinois Shannon Adcock said according to The Center Square. “It is sexual grooming of children.”