McLean County Times

Rep. Dan Caulkins urges parents to stand up against the sex education bill passed by J. B. Pritzker.

In a Sunday Facebook post, Caulkins took aim at J.B. Pritzker regarding the sex education bill passed in August 2021, saying that the bill is despicable as it teaches sex ed to kindergarten students.

"In case you need another reason to vote for Darren Bailey this November.... Gov. J.B. Pritzker said when signing the legislation into law that it “will help keep our children safe.” The law, among other things, requires teaching sex ed to kindergarten students. This sex-ed curriculum is despicable and has no place in our classrooms. Parents need to stand up against this nonsense, call their school board officials, and demand that they opt-out. School Districts all across Illinois are opting out of this law. #FirePritzker," said Caulkins.

Caulkins was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. A Republican, their legislative experience includes serving on the Public Utilities and Prescription Drug Affordability. Caulkins is a state representative who resides in Decatur, according to the Illinois House.

In his Facebook post, Caulkins shared a link to a Center Square story explaining that Awake Illinois reported many school districts in the state had opted out of the sex education curriculum passed and signed into law in August 2021. "According to the organization Awake Illinois, a majority of Illinois school districts appear to be opting out. Some have adopted the curriculum. Some of the larger school districts that have done so include Rockford, Evanston, Mundelein and East St. Louis. Illinois is the first state to adopt the National Sex Education Standards. The New York state legislature also introduced a proposal to align their state sex education standards with the national modal, but the legislation has stalled in committee."

The bill has been controversial for Republicans who see it bill as indoctrinating youths and teaching kindergarten students about sex. The bill lays out that "Course material and instruction may not reflect or promote bias against any person on the basis of the person's race, ethnicity, language, cultural background, citizenship, religion, HIV status, family structure, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or sexual behavior. Course material and instruction are not allowed to use gender stereotypes and must be inclusive of and may not be insensitive or unresponsive to the needs of survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual violence. Also, course material and instruction must be free of religious doctrine, according to the bill text from the Illinois General Assembly."