Controversial former Dalton teacher explains sex education lessons that have drawn criticism

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NEW YORK CITY – Manhattan teacher criticized by parents for sexual health classes at some prestigious New York City schools said she teaches students about body layout and consent, not explicit acts described in newspaper articles.

In terms of sex education, an already sensitive subject, educator Justine Ang Fonte seemed to master it well. She spent nine years at the prestigious Dalton School in Manhattan, including seven as Director of Health and Wellness.

But it was a presentation given to 11th graders at another prep school that caught the attention of the New York Post, citing anonymous complaints from parents. The topic was literacy and porn consent, and one class, she said, was well received by students.

This was to remind us that the porn industry is an industry of entertainment, not education, says Fonte. And with increasing exposure rates, we wanted them to understand that this isn’t meant to be an instruction manual on how their bodies work.

A week later, another article from The Post, again featuring reports of anonymous and rabid parents, this time at Dalton School, angry at what they considered to be masturbation videos being shown to first graders.

The cartoon for preschoolers and produced by AMAZE.ORG featured characters of children asking questions about their private parts, with an animated adult character explaining what the parts are called and their different functions.

Fonte said the videos are meant to give children body awareness.

It was a lesson in body parts and knowing that they are private and meant to really empower them with bodily agency, Fonte said.

Nonetheless, commentators picked up on the story. Soon, Fonte received hateful and even threatening messages in his school inbox and on social media.

She has since resigned from Dalton School, believing her bosses have not supported her amid criticism and condemnation.

Announcing her resignation, school principal Jim Best wrote in June: Throughout her tenure at Dalton, Justine Ang Fonte has helped develop an exemplary K-12 health and wellness program. year. Dalton – our faculty, staff, administration and administrators – continue to strongly support this program and those who teach it.

But Fonte said she believes the school and its administrators haven’t done enough to make her work feel valued or to make her feel safe as a result of what she considers to be only ‘a handful of parents.

Fonte said she is not discouraged in her mission to educate young people on a subject that some might consider taboo, but for her it is an important topic in helping young people navigate complicated feelings in a complex world.

Health is a human right, Fonte said. And it’s unfair that we don’t all have equal access to experience it.

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