What is it with some public schools and their insistance on implementing sex ed programs that push a too-young, too-early curriculum? This from Helena, Montana via the local news station KRTV (emphasis added):
Helena Schools Draft Sex Ed Document Causing Controversy
A new health curriculum under consideration in Helena Public Schools is causing quite a controversy.
The document covers everything from nutrition to injury prevention, but the section titled "Human Sexuality" is drawing the most concern.
It lays out sex education topics for each grade, K through 12. In the first grade, children would be taught that human beings can love people of the same gender; in second grade, kids are taught not to make fun of people by calling them "gay" or "queer."
By fifth grade, they are taught there are several types of intercourse, and by the sixth grade, the draft document states that students should, "Understand that sexual intercourse includes but is not limited to vaginal, oral, or anal penetration; using the penis, fingers, tongue or objects."
Helena resident Noah Genger noted, "There are some things that are more controversial in nature, that are more personal, and also for most people religious views, and I think the school went a little too far in drafting when they crossed those lines."
Another Helena resident, Carol Carpenter, said, "It is a health curriculum, it is not just a sex ed curriculum, and there are some wonderful points in it. The areas that some people have concerns with are areas that can be discussed in the home. I don't think that it should be thrown out or totally voided because of a few language issues." ["A few language issues?!?" We're not talking semantics or syntax here, lady!!!]
The school board will hear public comment on the issue at their regularly-scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 13th; all area residents are welcome to attend.
Click here to read the entire document (PDF).
In reading through the PDF from the school district, and in addition to those points made already in the news article, these things caught my eye:
- I'm surprised that the high school curriculum does include discussion of the psychological effects of abortion ... an issue frequently overlooked these days;
- Self-defense techniques are to be taught to high schoolers in case of sexual assault. So, not only do teachers have to have such sensitive discussions about "different forms of penetration", but then they also have to teach the most vulnerable striking spots on the human body?
- I guess timing is good for coinciding the 5th grade "penetration" lecture with discussion of STDs.
- Another category in the document is "Substance Use & Non-Use." What about "abuse?"
- Here's another great category: "Individual Responsibility." It gets into environmental concerns.
- I applaud discussions of such topics as media influence, love, healthy relationships, positive and negative peer pressure, difficulties teen parents face,
- I had to chuckle at the "Emphasize that no one has the right to impose their values on others" on p. 39. I guess that doesn't apply if you're a teacher.
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