MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ- Last week, the all-Republican Monmouth County Board of Commissioners approved a “resolution calling for the creation of a Parents Bill of Rights” for parents who have concerns about school education. This Monday, Monmouth Commissioner Director Tom Arnone announced, via the Monmouth County Government official Facebook page, that he would send along comments and concerns about education to the Governor – but only letters of opposition. Presumably, residents of Monmouth County who supported the Governor’s education policies are not also entitled to state support.

“Commissioner Director Arnone makes several misleading, disingenuous remarks in his statement, using language intended to fuel a concocted culture war already being waged at the expense of students and voters,” says NJ LGBTQ Democrats Chair Lauren Albrecht. “First, County Commissioners have no jurisdiction over schools. Second, intentionally conflating legislation with departmental guidance, and furthermore, incorrectly insinuating that parents did not previously have rights, paints Monmouth County residents as ignorant, which is unfair to all. Parents in New Jersey have always had the right to opt their child out of any part of curriculum they find objectionable. Most abhorrently, the statement gives credence to the idea that there is a nefarious or insidious content or intent in curriculum being taught in our highly-rated public schools by our dedicated educators–curriculum which has not changed much at all with any new legislation or guidance being released,” Albrecht stated, “Furthermore, the fact that this statement was issued in this form through Monmouth County official channels raises ethical and legal questions. Monmouth County Commissioners represent all the residents in the county – not just the ones that are opposed to Governor Murphy’s policies.

Finally, why would the Monmouth GOP oppose students learning proper terminology, fact and prevention measures that are proven to help kids stay safe? All research shows that when students have accurate information, they’re far less likely to be victims of abuse, and when topics such as anatomy, hygiene and mental health are “taboo,” children are far more vulnerable to disinformation and manipulation. All legislation passes through committee hearings (at which the public is always welcome to testify), committee voting, and votes in both houses of legislature. It seems like the Monmouth GOP is betting on Monmouth voters being misinformed in the lead-up to November, stoking this disinformation campaign and then offering to provide “solutions” to a nonexistent problem,” concluded Albrecht, “and that’s a disservice to their constituents.”