-
-
I would pull my kids and homeschool if sex ed became compulsory in kindy.
I about had a bird when in first grade my daughter came home talking about a day dedicated to soldiers and they discussed war at length in the classroom not only did I think it was inappropriate for her age but they didn't even give parents a warning that they'd be doing it so there could be some prep conversation at home. I want to say it was called like Red Day or something.....the curriculum was graphic and you can bet I addressed it the next day.
Same school thought it appropriate to hold lock down drills and discuss why they were necessary to her that year and when my son was in kindy.
I'm so glad we moved.
Controversial, sensitive or otherwise politically charged topics don't belong in elementary school classrooms. -
I completely agree that is a subject left to parents. After the elementary shooting the teacher was talking to the kids about it and my nephew and niece first and kindergarten didnt want to go to school for weeks. Be niece the first grader went into a deep depression and had to have consoling after hearing about the incident. I talked to the teacher about how inappropriate it was.Comment
-
From my understanding the kindergarten sex-ed is supposed to be more of a body part/sexual abuse awareness education.
I understand both sides of the argument. I can see not wanting y children exposed to anyone else's views on topics that are controversial. As someone who has very different beliefs than most people in my area, I wouldn't want my child learning someone else's beliefs as their first exposure.
I also know that a good deal of parents do not discuss these topics at all with their children, specifically sex. And I have been witness to the dangers of that too. As well as the consequences of abstinence only sex Ed, which was taught in my school system. So I can see the goal of educating children about those things.
I just don't know how I feel...Comment
-
I know that lock down drills have become mandatory practice, around here at least. What were the reasons given that they were necessary? I know when I was subbing, and if was a lockdown drill day, I would explain tot he kids (those in younger elementary grades) that we had to practice what to do in case there was a loose dog that they didn't want coming into the school, or a stranger that the principal had to make sure was safe, first. Those type of situations.Comment
-
I have no problem with a body part awareness/ abuse screening thing at all . As far as actual sex education- it's a bit early, but I doubt that they're going to be getting into in depth ' here's an oocyte, and this is a zygote' thing. Depends on the school system. I wouldn't want them pushing abstinence only education like they do in a lot of schools around here, nor telling them that gays are immoral or engage in risky behaviour because they're gay. Here we call body parts by their correct anatomical term & the kids have seen each other when the diaper is getting changed. My son proudly tells me that the dog has a vagina, Mommy has one too, & then starts naming all his body parts..Comment
-
I think sex ed should start in kindy - and earlier at home. We will begin sexual education with our daughter as early as age 2. My hubby and I are in line with the Dutch's take on sex/sex education - they have some of the lowest teen pregnancy and STD stats in the world and I fully believe it's because they start teaching about sex young.Comment
-
The problem with "leaving it to the parents" is that:
1) Some (not all, but some) parents are too embarrassed to talk with their kids about sex or think that their child is too young to understand. So they try to push it off until they absolutely have to talk about it which sometimes is after their child has already had sex (late teens, going off to college, or getting married) or are already pregnant/contracted an STD.
2) They themselves may not know all the answers and avoid the talk and then they relay on schools to make up for it or wait until the child asks (which if the child knows the parent is embarrassed they will be less likely to ask), but if it's not available in schools, their friends would definitely start "teaching" them what they know. Depending on their source of such information, it can be both good and bad (but usually bad with all the myths out there).
3) The parent themselves may have hang ups about sex (extremist religion based or past abuse based) and may shame the child into believing that sex is a sin or bad or that they are bad if they have sex (sometimes even if the message is targeted for "sex out of marriage" it still can make them feel guilty after marriage). If the child believes that they may have poor body image and intimacy issues, even if they don't believe that they may resent their parents for trying to oppress them and have promiscuous sex as a way to rebel.
4) Some children are in foster care and may have foster parents that are uncomfortable talking about it or confused about their role in talking to their foster children about sex, especially if the child's biological parents didn't discuss it or if the child's parents are still trying to get custody. In some states, the foster parents might even be afraid of getting in trouble for talking to a minor about sex (there are some states where you cannot even by "marital aids" until the age of 21, if at all).
I think at the very least in kindergarten children should be aware of "stranger danger" (that always reminds me of the 'Mad TV' Stewart skit where he says "Stranger, stranger! Stay away from my danger!" every time someone he didn't know approached him). Anyway, some parents maybe misinformed and think that they only have to worry about it for little girls, but don't understand that boys can be sexually abuse victims too. The child should be aware of areas that adults (other then for medical reasons) shouldn't touch them and where they shouldn't touch their friends (respecting personal space), this can easily be done with a doll in a bathing suit. And some parents think that "Oh my partner, our family, our friends (...) and I am always with my child, so that would never happen to them". But family members, friends, and other people the child knows/recognizes are more likely to harm them then a stranger because 1) they have access to the child and 2) they have the child and the guardian's trust.
I remember once watching an episode of Oprah when they were talking about keeping kids safe from pedophiles and they said that it often doesn't happen all at once and many pedophiles condition the child to gain their trust, so the child won't tell anyone- it can actually take months for the offender to make a move. But if the child knows before hand what is not okay, they are less likely to follow along with it, less likely to believe their lies, and are more likely to tell an adult what happened.Comment
-
I can attest to that. Where I live schools teach very litte abstinence only sex Ed. The only school sex Ed I ever had was being told "if you don't want to get pregnant, dont have sex". There was never any education about contraception, except giving (what I beleive to be deemphasized statistics on the effectiveness of forms of birth control).
The teen pregnancy rates are astounding where I live. And my personal opinion is that we have such a high unmarrried unplanned young mother pregnancy rate is extraordinarily high. I really think when a society teaches that the only way that you can avoid gettin pregnant is to not have sex, I think that mentality stays with people and they are very distrustful of birth control and figure "well, it doesn't work, so why bother ?".
That is just my personal feelings on the issue. I know they aren't PC, but just from what I have seen with my graduating class - there has to be something going on. So so so so many unplanned pregnancies, can't be a coincidence.Comment
-
Our local schools don't do or say anything about 9/11. Period.
They opted out of the early sex Ed program. They do provide it for upper elementary with parental permission.
The only thing I don't like about our school is they have these weekly "counseling session". It entails a "counselor" bringing each class of kids in and asking them questions, in depth, about their home life and things that happen at home. We aren't talking about kids they are worried about. We are talking about ALL children.
I have a problem with this, because I think some things are simply private. And not their business. And I'm worrying why they need to know such detailed home information about all children.
A few years ago, I went up there to see if I could opt my kids out. They said no. So I called my attorney and he found a way to opt them out
.
Needless to say, I'm in FULL support of them checking on the home life and calling CPS in the case of any suspected or known abuse. But I don't believe it's their business about every object of my home life.Comment
-
i agree with little miss muffet & starburst. I didn't want to direct quote both of you, so just mentioning that I agree..
Comment
-
Oh my goodness! We home school and generally always have. Meaning my kids sometimes attend for things like music or gym.
My dd was about 7 when we let her go for music and gym...so she was there about an hour. While she was there, I would go across the street, and get coffee while hubby watched the daycare kiddos.
One day, I picked her up and she was literally white as a ghost, shaking and in tears. The school had a "lockdown drill" and she was just beginning to get what it was about. No warning to parents, nothing.
The child had nightmares for three months.
The school excused this behavior by saying they explain in school, so parents don't "need" to know. Otherwise the drills won't be a surprise. :confused: Sorry. I need a heads up. My child isn't getting your "preparation" and I don't know that I want her to get it. Ugh!!Comment
-
This is us as well. IMO it seems really odd that we (as a society) are overly conservative/protective when it comes to actually educating our youth about sex and relationships but yet everywhere else you seem to look anymore its just a bunch of oversexualized situations or innuendos 
Comment
Tweet
Comment