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Sex Ed in School
My 13 year just handed me a letter from his school in regards to the health course he is required to take this semester in 8th grade. It states what they will be covering in this course related to human sexuality and it states, as qouted "During this course, we will cover topics related to human sexuality, including puberty, growth and development, HIV/AIDS, and contraception's ineffectiveness in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases as compared to abstinence." When I read that I had to reread it because it didn't sound right. The letter goes on to state that if we have any concerns or objections to our child participating in this topic to please notify his health teacher and they will provide alternate assignments during this time. At the bottom of the letter there is a spot for the principal of the school to sign and the health teacher to sign, but niether one signed it.
I was personally outraged! I was told the same thing by my mom when I went through puberty and ended up pregnant at 18 years old. Contraception does work; not educating about it negates it's effectiveness.
I showed the letter to my husband and he was outraged as well and said he was going to go down to the school and ask them why it wasn't signed by the principal or health teacher and demand that someone sign it. Not that that would change anything. Let me count the ways I dislike Texas schools!
I'm not sure how to handle this. Should I request that he not participate in this topic during class or just let him participate and try to fix whatever nonsense they tell him, at home?
Tags: Contraception, Ed, Puberty, Sex
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ks on -
I wouldn't let my kid participate in that, and I would tell the principal, the teacher, the school board, and anybody else who would listen (or who has to listen) exactly why. I would raise a high holy stink about that kind of anti-science, faith based, stupid bullshit in a public school. Probably wouldn't do any good, being Texas and all, but everybody would know all about my outrage.
I'm getting royally pissed off on your behalf.
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Permalink Reply by wookie on -
I would let my kid to participate (because some information will be valuable to him) but I would still raise a big stink, and try to undo the damage at home.
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Permalink Reply by mightyninjamom on -
Jeebus Violet...this isn't looking good for what we're going to encounter either! I think whether you let him participate depends on a couple of things - does he tend to go to you for advice? As in, does he tend to believe the first thing he's told, or does he double check with you? Because if he's fairly impressionable, he may still doubt that contraceptives work if that's what he's told by an authority figure, even if you tell him they do work after the class.
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Permalink Reply by kommishoner on -
Ah, abstinence-only education - providing a state-by-state correlation to high teen pregnancy rates since goodness knows when.
I'd let him go. Sometimes those programs have good communication skills/saying no without feeling awkward curriculum. You'll have to substitute with other stuff, obviously, and you'll want to take a look at the curriculum ahead of time to make sure they're not all shamey about abstinence. But who knows, maybe he'll get one of those programs where they promote stuff like dry-humping. :)
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Permalink Reply by Boring User Name on -
I'm glad to see people outraged on the liberal side! Conservatives brought this upon us because they were the ones who complained and then fought for changes. And it's time to fight back.
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Permalink Reply by Mamawho on
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I wouldn't let my kid participate, and I'd tell her why. Because kids talk. She'd tell everyone that her parents said etc. etc. And I'd hold on for hell to break loose. I'd not say anything disparaging about the teacher, because they're bound to teach that crap, but I'd certainly unload about the curriculum and explain the reasons that curriculum is in place. I'd write a letter to the school explaining that my child wouldn't be participating because I object on the basis of conscience. I could not, in good conscience, allow my child to be lied to, especially about something as important as sexual health.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Mama on -
What Mamawho said. Yup.
Our boys went to a Catholic elementary school, so we knew that church teachings did not match our philosophy - and so did our boys.
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Permalink Reply by guinnessgoddess on -
What Mamawho said, for sure.
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Permalink Reply by FarOutSprouts on -
I won't allow my kids to be given sex ed in school. The sex ed program in my town/state violate my personal beliefs. I am very comfortable talking to my kids about sex from day one....literally. I feel if they are old enough and capable of asking questions, they are old enough for age appropriate answers!
Now, when it comes to "male sex/puberty changes" like erections, I will let my hubby discuss that with my boys....I obviously have no experience or way to personally relate to things like that and I would be creeped out if my opposite gender parent discussed things like that with me! :D
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Permalink Reply by Joe Mama on
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FarOut - you would be surprised at the questions you will answer with a far amount of comfort. My boys have asked me LOTS of questions that I would not have thought I could handle, but if I pushed it off until my husband was around then it would make it a much bigger deal then I wanted it to be. If I keep it straightforward then it tends to go well. My boys are now 15 and 12 and we are still quite open compared to the stereotypical mother-son relationship.
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Permalink Reply by FarOutSprouts on
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Joe Mama:
I hear what you are saying and am not arguing with you......however, I didn't have brothers. Ironically, 4 of my 6 kids are boys. I prefer sons and make no bones about it. But my dad was a very private person (I actually thought he slept in his suits because I never saw him in anything else). Mom loved to talk about irreverant things, but "male sex issues" were clearly off the table because it made everyone in the house turn green.
One day I walked into the living room....it was evening but not late....and my 10 yr old was masturbating on the couch. I nearly had a cow. I told my fiance to go talk to him. Now he masturbates in the bathroom :). I told him there is nothing bad about it, but no one else wants to see it. I have grown children, but it's still hard to accept the last two are growing up.....
As long as it's not about ejacualtion or erections, I'm game to the questions :P
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