Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Feb 28, 2013 18:22:45 GMT -5
link I don't have kids but I don't think I'd like this. I'd prefer to handle it myself first then they can be further educated when age appropriate. Or is that age appropriate? "The Chicago Board of Education voted Thursday to expand sex education in public schools to meet state and national guidelines and curb skyrocketing rates of sexually transmitted disease. The new measure will be divided into sections: family-life education in kindergarten through fourth grade and complete sexual health education in fifth grade through high school, DNA Info Chicago reports.
Currently, sexual education in Chicago public schools begins in the fifth grade. Last year, United States health groups released recommendations advising public elementary schools to hold discussions about healthy relationships and appropriate touching that the organizations hope will be provide a sequential foundation for future sex ed courses. Dr. Stephanie Whyte, chief health officer for Chicago Public Schools, presented evidence at the school board meeting that showed an alarming rate of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage sexual activity in the city, as well as data that shows students aren't being fully educated about sexual intercourse.
According to Whyte, Cook County — the second most populous county in the United States and which includes Chicago — ranks first nationally for rates of syphilis and gonorrhea, and second for chlamydia. Teenagers made up more than a third of Chicago's gonorrhea and chlamydia cases in 2011. Whyte added that more than half of all Chicago public high school students admitted to having sex in high school, 12 percent before the age of 13. Nationally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chlamydia rates for teenagers and young adults continue to increase.
More than a quarter of Chicago students also said they'd never been taught about HIV. Calling the furthering of sex education a "public health imperative," Whyte said "it can no longer be limited to a few minutes over a few grade levels." According to a district news release, younger learners will be taught about inappropriate touching and feelings. Students in the fourth grade will learn about puberty and HIV. In fifth grade, classes will be taught about reproduction, contraception and the prevention of HIV/AIDS, among other diseases. Discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation will also be added for the first time. Whyte said parents would have the right to opt out of the courses, and would be apprised of all sexual education lessons. "Parents are primary," she said. Chicago parents expressed concern and anger following the board's decision. "I just don't think it's appropriate," Melissa Diebold, a parent with children in the district, told MyFoxChicago.com. "They have no concept of anything like that at that stage in life.""
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Feb 28, 2013 18:25:31 GMT -5
NO.
All I read was the heading on the post.
What the hell ever happened to letting kids be kids?
What an effed up world we've made for our kids.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Feb 28, 2013 18:25:44 GMT -5
In our K, we had a "Safe Touch" program. It basically consisted of teaching Kers that the parts of their bodies that are covered by a swimsuit are not to be touched by others or only by a parent helping them with hygiene as in a bath or being examined by a doctor. That is about all those kids that age can absorb and i thought that was very reasonable.
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Feb 28, 2013 19:34:18 GMT -5
In our K, we had a "Safe Touch" program. It basically consisted of teaching Kers that the parts of their bodies that are covered by a swimsuit are not to be touched by others or only by a parent helping them with hygiene as in a bath or being examined by a doctor. That is about all those kids that age can absorb and i thought that was very reasonable. This is what our school does too. Maybe that's what they consider sex ed in Kindy?
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Feb 28, 2013 19:39:27 GMT -5
That doesn't sound awful to me. We had the puberty class in fifth grade, and sex ed, birth control, etc. in sixth, and that was more than 15 years ago. It seems age appropriate - doesn't puberty happen around age 9-10 these days? It's not like they're teaching first graders to put a condom on a
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susanb
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Post by susanb on Feb 28, 2013 19:51:25 GMT -5
NPR had a great piece on how teaching kids anatomically correct names helps to protect them from sexual abuse.
They gave the story of one kid who complained to his mother that he didn't like it when his uncle touched his elbow. His mother thought it was weird, but didn't realize sexual abuse was going on. Since his nuclear family was uncomfortable with genitals, they had no family term for his.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2013 20:01:51 GMT -5
I worked in educational publishing for kids and teens for 23 years. About 15 years ago my company started including an annual age-appropriate "freebie" about this with their publications, starting at age 7 (second grade here). There were 2 or 3 different age-appropriate versions. It was always a HUGE success.
The "youngest" (7+) version was basically what people now call "safe touch". I'm not at all surprised that 15 years later what used to be said to 7YOs has "trickled down" to 5YOs (kindergarden).
This said, I am assuming that the message for the kindergarden crowd IS indeed "safe touch".
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Feb 28, 2013 20:48:29 GMT -5
Well, i recently found out that my school no longer offered ANY type of Sex Ed to 5th and 6th graders. I was mortified. So, i went to the School Board meeting and brought it to their attention. The School Board did not know the program was dropped! Nobody seemed to know what happened to it or why. Anyway, after investigating, the School Board reinstated the program and sent me a Thank You letter and i got some kudos from the community.
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quince
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Post by quince on Feb 28, 2013 20:58:44 GMT -5
Parents have the right to be informed and opt out- what's there to be upset about?
I think discussing inappropriate touch is incredibly appropriate- and I vaguely remember that I had some sex ed starting in 4th grade. I felt that in school sex ed was very comprehensive, and although I'm very grateful that my mother was also very informative, I know not everyone has that- a lot of people tend to have their heads in the sand about sex.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2013 21:01:33 GMT -5
I think that's great Shooby!
To be honest I'm of two minds about this. I too think it should be the parents' responsibility, in an ideal world.
But, the world is NOT ideal. Read what Swamp posted recently (sorry I can't remember which thread). She posted about kids who were sexually abused growing up, who then leave their own kids with their abusers. Then their kids get abused by the same people that abused them (grandpa, uncle, whatever).
One woman told the judge, "but how else are my kids supposed to learn about s.ex?" (I'm quoting/paraphrasing Swamp here.)
When you see comments like that, it seems more understandable that the "government" attempts to intervene.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Feb 28, 2013 21:04:48 GMT -5
My kids pediatrician has gone over "good touch bad touch" with the kids since they were about 3. It think it is appropriate to talk about that in kindergarten.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Feb 28, 2013 21:11:03 GMT -5
There is an "opt out" for parents who don't want their kids to participate. But, there is nothing wrong with presenting age appropriate factual and informative information. I do believe that in younger grades like 5th and 6th, that boys and girls should be taught seperately for comfort and modesty issues of the students.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Feb 28, 2013 21:22:22 GMT -5
I didn't read the article, but our pediatrician starts with good/bad touches at age 4. We also teach our kid anatomically correct names for parts.
We have kids of both genders. My 5 year old girl is quite aware her brother has a penis. My 9 year old boy today sn_____ed when it was mentioned that we were having chicken breasts for dinner.
Two of my kids are old enough to remember siblings were coming. In fact, when my DS was 3, he asked where babies come from. I think he was 5 when he wanted to know what his "inappropriate balls" were for..When my middle child was 4, she wanted to know how, exactly babies come out. She thought there was a button we all push. I was all like, "I wish"
The only tv my kids are allowed to watch are PBS kids and netflix. They don't watch tv other than family-friendly movies at their friends house. They've never accidentally walked in on DH and I. In short, they've been extremely sheltered in what we expose them too, in terms of media and at others' houses. They are still able to figure some things out and have questions at a young age. We are pretty open and honest about the human body.
I also think sex ed in schools is taught much too late. In our neck of the woods, middle school kids engage in oral sex.
HIV is really serious in the black community. I would prefer parents teach their kids about sex. If that's not going to happen, I'd rather pay for more sex ed if it prevents a few cases of HIV. HIV meds still aren't all that cheap.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2013 23:46:33 GMT -5
If they come in contact with priests, it would seem wise.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Mar 1, 2013 0:53:44 GMT -5
Holy crap - I know I am from the "old" country and all - but I can't believe this is for real.
My oldest is almost 5 and no, our pediatrician hasn't mentioned ANYTHING about any kind of "touch" - safe or not. He is not in K - so I have no idea what they do there.
That being said - I am teaching them that if they don't want to be touched - they have the right to say "no" - even if it's me wanting to kiss them or their grandma giving them a hug. I am a HUGE believer that lovingly or not, people shouldn't go around touching each other without the other person's consent, bc the way I look at it - there is no such thing as "good" touch if I don't want it.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Mar 1, 2013 8:00:42 GMT -5
That doesn't sound awful to me. We had the puberty class in fifth grade, and sex ed, birth control, etc. in sixth, and that was more than 15 years ago. It seems age appropriate - doesn't puberty happen around age 9-10 these days? It's not like they're teaching first graders to put a condom on a
Puberty has always started at 9-10. I don't know why everyone's suddenly thinking it didn't. My kids school does exactly the same thing basically. The no one is allowed to touch you in kindergarten and "The Talk" in 4th grade seperately for girls and boys. Starting in 6th grade they do more actual sex ed. It is mostly STD's. My DD told me she got it, they don't want them to have sex after the 3rd year in a row.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Mar 1, 2013 8:22:19 GMT -5
I'm torn on this. If the kindy is safe touching stuff, I'm ok with that. DD is in 4k/Jr. kindy and so far I'm not aware of anything on this being taught.
But I also want my kids wrapped up in a cocoon and safe and allowed to be kids.
I went to Catholic schools. I had an extremely basic talk on periods around 5th grade and then nothing else. So I want my kids to have more info than I did.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Mar 1, 2013 9:27:43 GMT -5
I am also torn on this subject. Most information should come from parents who can help instill their values in the kids, but I know this doesn't work for all.
My kids went to a private Baptist school. They were taught "Don't do it until married" and I think their education in this area from school was very lacking. The message didn't get through to all, since there were some teen pregnancies, which got the kids kicked out of school.
But this topic always reminds me of the time my son came home in first grade and said "I know what sex is." (He was in public school at the time). After my initial schock I asked him what it was and he said "It is whether you are a girl or boy" GOOD ANSWER! Maybe we had just filled out those parent contact forms that has Sex M / F on them.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 1, 2013 9:33:44 GMT -5
Just the girls, or the baby daddies too?
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Mar 1, 2013 9:37:51 GMT -5
Just the girls, or the baby daddies too? You're such a trouble maker!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2013 9:43:40 GMT -5
well the girls were the only ones sinning, so....
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 1, 2013 9:44:27 GMT -5
Just the girls, or the baby daddies too? You're such a trouble maker! What?! I'm just asking a reasonable question..........
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Mar 1, 2013 9:45:44 GMT -5
I think people hear "Sex Ed" and assume it is a discussion about intercourse.
The type of program they are describing is completely appropriate for that age. Kids need to know there's a difference between boys & girls. A lady at our church was commenting that her four little girls didn't know what boy parts were because they didn't have brothers & had never seen a little boy be changed. When I was growing up that was how we learned. Mom would explain to us that boys are different than girls when my little brothers came around and we noticed the difference when she was changing diapers. It was no big deal. But to someone who has grown up as an only child or in a home with children of only one sex then it might be an issue.
Learning about sex (male v female) is completely different than learning about intercourse. Of course I don't think the latter should be taught to 5 yr olds, but they should know what appropriate touching is and what is not.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Mar 1, 2013 9:52:06 GMT -5
I think people hear "Sex Ed" and assume it is a discussion about intercourse. The type of program they are describing is completely appropriate for that age. Kids need to know there's a difference between boys & girls. A lady at our church was commenting that her four little girls didn't know what boy parts were because they didn't have brothers & had never seen a little boy be changed. When I was growing up that was how we learned. Mom would explain to us that boys are different than girls when my little brothers came around and we noticed the difference when she was changing diapers. It was no big deal. But to someone who has grown up as an only child or in a home with children of only one sex then it might be an issue. Learning about sex (male v female) is completely different than learning about intercourse. Of course I don't think the latter should be taught to 5 yr olds, but they should know what appropriate touching is and what is not. Exactly. DH's cousin's daughter (one of two girls) asked what "those" were when I was chaning my son. Gramma (DH's aunt) got all uptight. I just said "boy parts." The little girl went away happy with the explaination.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2013 10:19:17 GMT -5
Holy crap - I know I am from the "old" country and all - but I can't believe this is for real. My oldest is almost 5 and no, our pediatrician hasn't mentioned ANYTHING about any kind of "touch" - safe or not. He is not in K - so I have no idea what they do there. That being said - I am teaching them that if they don't want to be touched - they have the right to say "no" - even if it's me wanting to kiss them or their grandma giving them a hug. I am a HUGE believer that lovingly or not, people shouldn't go around touching each other without the other person's consent, bc the way I look at it - there is no such thing as "good" touch if I don't want it. Same here! The pediatrician hasn't brought up "good touching/bad touching" with them ever, but I tell them all the time they are allowed to tell ANYONE (even a grown up) that they don't want them touching them.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Mar 1, 2013 10:32:28 GMT -5
I remember my son coming home from school at a young ago and telling us about bad touch and where people aren't supposed to touch him and who he should tell if someone touched him inappropriately. He then reassured us that no one had ever "bad touched" him. We talked about it from time to time and would remind him that even if someone told him not to tell us that he should still tell us so we could help him. He had the "our changing bodies" talk in 5th and 6th grade. Sex ed in health in 7th and 8th grade too.
I was disappointed that the school barely funds that section. DS told us the teacher had to buy the bananas and condoms herself so she only had enough to demonstart putting a condom on a banana once for each class period. They do sex ed units as part of PE in high school and they have a self defense section too in which they teach girls where to kick boys and what to do if someone is attacking them.
No I don't think the schools need to be teaching kindergarteners about the missionary position but teaching them about bad touch and that is important.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Mar 1, 2013 10:42:53 GMT -5
Just the girls, or the baby daddies too? While the subject of this article has nothing to do with this thread per se, Swamp's comment reminded me of a news article I read yesterday. A 29-year-old woman was fired from her administrative position at a college because she was unmarried and pregnant. Her engaging in pre-martial sex and resulting pregnancy violated the rules for students and college personnel alike. That issue is between the woman and the school. But after the woman was terminated, the college offered a position to the fired teacher's fiancé, knowing full well he was the father-to-be of the fired woman's baby.
Pathetic double standards.
Woman Sues College Over Termination for Pre-Marital Sex
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Mar 1, 2013 11:15:00 GMT -5
[/span]
It doesn't like they are going to show them porn, or go over the gory details. There are plenty of things that are appropriate to talk about with kids that age. I don't know what their exact curriculum they are going to cover is, but I'm pretty sure that when they create it, they keep in mind that these kids are 5 years old. I imagine this is a tough discussion, as some of these kids in this particular area may have mothers who aren't even old enough to buy beer legally.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2013 11:17:28 GMT -5
Parenting without alcohol??!?! INCONCEIVABLE!!!
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Mar 1, 2013 11:18:17 GMT -5
No shit!
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