Dalton First Graders Taught Lesson on Masturbation

While the class reportedly took place last fall, parents of Dalton first graders have now started “bombarding” the elite private school with complaints about an explicit lesson involving a cartoon about masturbation, the NY Post reports.

The lesson was taught by Justine Ang Fonte – who was recently called out for teaching a similarly graphic lesson to high schoolers at Columbia Prep on the Upper West Side. Bringing this to the attention of the public seems to have emboldened more parents of the $55,000 UES private school to speak out.

Fonte’s lessons for first graders also include gender assignment at birth, gender identity and gender expression.

Other lessons are focused on consent, and reportedly, kids are told they shouldn’t let their parents and grandparents touch them without consent.

“Kids have no less than five classes on gender identity — this is pure indoctrination,” a Dalton mother told the Post. “This person should absolutely not be teaching children. Ironically, she teaches kids about ‘consent’ yet she has never gotten consent from parents about the sexually explicit, and age-inappropriate material about transgender to first-graders.”

Another private school parent told the publication “We were horrified to learn this was shown to our first-grade 6- and 7-year-old kids without our knowledge or consent. But it’s so hard to fight back because you’ll get canceled and your child will suffer.”

Dalton representatives said that at the time of the lesson, complaints were few and far between, and those who did complain had misinterpreted the content of the class.

A school spokesperson also sent this statement to the Post:

“As part of Dalton’s comprehensive Health curriculum for students, a lesson on Gender & Bodies included two evidence-based and age-appropriate videos approved for students 4 years and older. These videos align with nationally recognized methodologies and standards. We consistently review our Health curriculum, making sure that the content is developmentally appropriate and, if necessary, we adapt our curriculum accordingly. We will continue to listen carefully to parent feedback, respond thoughtfully to community concerns, and develop lessons that are in the best interest of our students, respect our community’s values, and correspond with best practices.”