New bill would push anti-abortion beliefs, create 'culture of life' [View all]

A bill that would require Ohio public schools to teach students about fetal development, pregnancy and abortion is drawing fire from critics who say some Republican lawmakers are trying to push their anti-abortion beliefs onto children.

House Bill 90, introduced by Rep. Niraj Antini, R-Miamisburg, would require third- through 12th-grade students to be taught in science and health classes about “the humanity of the unborn child” and given information about prenatal health. Instructional materials would be developed by the Ohio Department of Health.

Calling the proposal “counterproductive and harmful,” Gary Daniels, a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, told the House Health Committee on Tuesday, “It is not meant to legitimately accomplish anything productive in Ohio but is, instead, only useful to satisfy a small segment of voters.”

Supporters “want to commandeer multiple state agencies and all public schools to deliver slanted, incorrect, harmful and unscientific information across the state,” Daniels said.

Read more: https://www.cantonrep.com/news/20190604/new-bill-would-push-anti-abortion-beliefs-create-culture-of-life