Arizona Supt. Horne sides with Supreme Court on ‘offensive’ sexual content ruling

PHOENIX – Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is siding with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows parents to take their children out of class if the material goes against their religious beliefs.

Horne said the parents should have the final say if their children are taught material relating to sexual content.

“I think it’s perfectly proper to teach students the biology of reproduction at an appropriate age, but there’s been a trend recently toward inappropriate sexual classes at younger and younger ages. And I think it’s offensive and it’s most inappropriate,” he said.

The ruling was made Friday morning in a case about a LGBTQ+ book introduced in a Maryland school district.

Horne added he is focusing on getting a more academic focus back in the classrooms, and this decision helps with that.

“If you want to be inclusive, include all the students in teaching them reading, writing, math, science, social studies and the arts. That’s what you’re supposed to be teaching, not sexuality,” he said.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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