A proposed bill in Ohio aims to mandate public schools to show a video on fetal development to students starting from the third grade. This initiative, known as Ohio House Bill 485 or the “Enact Baby Olivia Act,” has garnered support from doctors, anti-abortion advocates, and some parents, though it has also faced significant criticism.
State Representative Melanie Miller, a Republican from Ashland, introduced the bill, which would require schools to present a three-minute video titled “Meet Baby Olivia.” This video, produced by the organization Live Action, promotes anti-abortion views and depicts fertilization and fetal growth. Proponents argue that the video provides essential scientific information about human development, while critics contend it misrepresents medical facts.
During a recent meeting of the Ohio House Education Committee, Dr. Bill Lile, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, testified in favor of the bill, asserting that “the Baby Olivia educational video provides clear, scientific, and visually compelling evidence of fetal development.” He emphasized that the video conveys the humanity of developing fetuses, describing them as “living, growing human beings.”
Opponents of the bill, including Planned Parenthood, have labeled the “Baby Olivia” video as “inaccurate, misleading, and manipulative.” They argue that the video inaccurately portrays critical aspects of fetal development, such as claiming a heartbeat can be detected at six weeks when, in fact, a heart is not yet formed. The organization asserts that medical professionals do not count the age of an embryo from conception, as suggested in the video.
The bill stipulates that the video or an alternative ultrasound video, also three minutes long, must be shown annually from third grade through twelfth grade, commencing with the 2026-27 school year. This requirement raises concerns among some lawmakers regarding its appropriateness across different age groups.
State Representative Sean Brennan, a Democrat from Parma and a former educator, questioned the educational value of showing the same video to both third graders and high school seniors. He suggested that allowing flexibility for districts to tailor content based on students’ developmental stages might be more beneficial.
Additionally, State Representative Gayle Manning, a Republican with extensive teaching experience, expressed reservations about presenting such material to young children. She noted that many third graders might not grasp the video’s content and emphasized the importance of parental involvement in discussions about fetal development.
Advocates for the bill, including Kate Makra, President of the Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, argue that teaching children about human life from conception is essential. Makra pointed out that the current Ohio science curriculum covers reproduction in animals and plants but omits human prenatal development. She believes that introducing such topics in schools could help address issues like unplanned pregnancies.
Former Ohio State Representative Jena Powell also spoke in support of the bill, asserting that it serves an educational purpose rather than a political one. She reflected on her own experience with ultrasound images, stating that such visuals could enhance students’ understanding of biology and the implications of their choices.
Similar legislation has been proposed in over 20 states, with several, including Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, Tennessee, Iowa, and Indiana, enacting comparable laws. As the debate continues in Ohio, the implications of the proposed bill could set a precedent for how fetal development is taught in schools across the United States.
