Teaching first-graders about gay love and fith-graders about SEX!!!!

Lucy - posted on 07/20/2010

Christa, your suggestion that we will regret fully educating our children about sex because they will be the ones who come home pregnant or with STD's is at best naive, and at worst rude and obtuse.

I and my siblings were fully informed from a young age. I have been with my partner for 14 years, since I was 16, and have never had an unwanted pregnancy or STD because my husband has been my only partner.

Comprehensive sex education, not having the facts hidden from me, ensured that I became a well informed, confident and tolerant young woman. This is what led to my decision not to have sex with any old tom dick or harry.

For developing young people, especially girls, knowledge is power.

Jaime - posted on 07/20/2010

"I don't know why you all want to force all your beliefs on other peoples kids"



Christa, we're not talking about something that may or may not exist. Sex is a fact of life and STD's and pregnancy are very real consequences of misinformation and lack of education. I don't think the schools are advocating for sexual practices among youth and teens, I think the point is to desensitize the issue so that it's not such a 'forbidden' subject. If students are aware of the full responsibility of sex, they are less likely to engage or at the very least they are likely to be fully and completely protected. Comprehensive sex education includes abstinence the last time I checked...but as education suggests, the FULL scope of understanding can only be met when one has ALL of the information. Someone's personal beliefs should never stand in the way of another person's right to learn and be informed...regardless of the subject at hand.

Krista - posted on 07/20/2010

I know that anecdotal evidence is not data, but thought I'd share my tale:

My mom was the school nurse at our high school. So any illusions she might have had about her own kids were quickly stripped away.

She saw "nice" girls from "nice", Christian families coming in to her office and crying, because they were pregnant, or because they had caught something. When Mom would ask them why they hadn't used birth control, the answer was invariably, "Because if my parents found out, they'd kill me!"

And the sad thing is, Mom knew most of those parents, and knew that they WOULD have raised holy hell if they'd found a condom or a packet of pills in their daughters' rooms .

So with us, her approach was two-fold. She said that she wanted us to wait until marriage, or at least until we were in a long-term, committed, adult relationship with someone we loved. BUT, she said that she knew that we were going to make our own decisions about this, and so she'd provide us with all of the facts so that we could make INFORMED decisions. So she hauled out her nursing textbooks and taught us all about pregnancy and childbirth, and about all of the STDs out there. She role-played with us to help us develop good replies for if a boyfriend was pressuring us into unprotected sex. And then she brought us to the doctor and got the Pill for us and bought us condoms. And she said, "I don't want you having sex. But I want even less to be a grandmother right now."

Neither my sister nor I ever had a pregnancy scare, nor an STD.

Like I said, take this story for what you will. But I really just cannot understand how we can expect our kids to make smart decisions if we're keeping them ignorant of most of the facts that go in to decisions like these.

Isobel - posted on 07/20/2010

This is the type of sex ed we had in school, and I was 18 when I lost my virginity and my brother was 20.

I think it would be wonderful if we could all count on parents to teach their children about sex in a mature, accurate manner...however, too many parents don't have the information themselves, nor the willingness or ability to speak frankly with their children.

Johnny - posted on 07/19/2010

ScienceDaily (Apr. 10, 2009) — Middle school youth are engaging in sexual intercourse as early as age 12, according to a study by researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health.

Results from this study are published in the April issue of Journal of School Health.

Christine Markham, Ph.D., assistant professor of behavioral science at the UT School of Public Health, and colleagues examined sexual risk behaviors among middle school students in a large southeastern U.S. urban public school district.

“This is one of the few school-based studies conducted with this age group to look at specific sexual practices in order to develop more effective prevention programs,” Markham said. “This study shows that although most seventh graders are not engaging in sexual risk behaviors, a small percentage are putting themselves at risk.”

In the study, Markham and colleagues defined sexual intercourse as vaginal, oral or anal sex. According to their research, by age 12, 12 percent of students had already engaged in vaginal sex, 7.9 percent in oral sex, 6.5 percent in anal sex and 4 percent in all three types of intercourse.

Markham said, “These findings are alarming because youth who start having sex before age 14 are much more likely to have multiple lifetime sexual partners, use alcohol or drugs before sex and have unprotected sex, all of which puts them at greater risk for getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or becoming pregnant.”

The study found one-third of sexually active students reported engaging in vaginal or anal sex without a condom within the past three months, and one-fourth had four or more partners. The more experienced students in all three types of intercourse were more likely to be male and African-American.

“We need to develop prevention programs that address the needs of students who are not yet sexually active in order to promote skills and attitudes to help them wait until they are older to have sex,” Markham said. “And we need to provide skills and knowledge related to condoms and contraception for youth who are already sexually active.”

The study recommends that sexually active students also need to receive accurate and factual information and services related to STDs and pregnancy testing, as well as skills for future abstention and risk reduction for those who intend to remain sexually active.

More than one-third of youth in the study reported engaging in precoital touching behaviors. Among the students who engaged in precoital behavior, 43 percent reported having engaged in sexual intercourse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80 percent of the 435,427 births to mothers ages 15 to 19 were the result of unintended pregnancies. According to the National Vital Statistics Report, birth rates among Hispanic and black teens remain higher than other racial/ethnic groups, including rates among those ages 10 to 14.

In 2000, youth between the ages of 15 and 24 accounted for 9.1 million or 48 percent of all new STD cases, according to a report by the CDC. Minority youth also are disproportionately affected. The CDC’s 2006 STD Surveillance Report stated that minority racial and ethnic populations had higher rates of STDs when compared to whites and, although black teens represent only 17 percent of U.S. teenagers, they account for 70 percent of HIV/AIDS cases reported among teens. “We need more research to develop effective interventions, in particular for youth of color living in underserved areas,” Markham said.

“A common misperception among adolescents is that oral or anal intercourse is not as risky for STD transmission,” said Markham. “But transmission of non-viral and viral STDs can occur through all three types of intercourse when condoms are not used.”



It is never too young to begin comprehensive sexual education for our children, unless we are more concerned with our personal discomfort than our children's physical & psychological health.

Amie - posted on 07/19/2010

Now Christa, no need to get mean and bash on other people's children just because they don't agree with you. Close enough to a personal attack too, you've just turned it onto everyone's mothering styles/beliefs and not any individual person.

Sorry for the late response though, I have only just gotten one email for this thread and it was the last post of Christa's. /:)

My children will not get STD's because they know safe sex practices, have the knowledge and readily correct their friends misconceptions. The same friends generally have parents who are not teaching them, pulling them out of the sex ed classes and generally all around think their kids are too young. Those same kids and the ones experimenting at school already and are "dating". I'm confident in my position because I am already here with my own children.

I would also like to know, like the other ladies have asked, where it is said that the parent sexual activities will come into play, where they will be teaching children different sexual positions and why teaching children the difference between gay and straight couples in grade one automatically means teaching them what gay sex is.

My son will be learning, just as our daughter did, about gay couples soon. Know what the education is? Gay couples are two men or two women who love each other. =O Oh the horror!

I think more parents need to take an active role and get the material and actually read it before making a snit. Misconceptions, such as the ones I've been reading here, could then be avoided. A summary is all well and good but it's just that, a summary. It does not got into full detail how they are teaching these lessons.

Johnny - posted on 07/19/2010

"Male teens who received sex education in school were 71 percent less likely — and similarly educated female teens were 59 percent less likely — to have sexual intercourse before age 15. Males who attended school, meanwhile, were 2.77 times more likely to rely upon birth control the first time they had intercourse if they had been in sex-education classes."

~Mueller TE, Gavin LE, Kulkarni A. The association between sex education and youth’s engagement in sexual intercourse, age at first intercourse, and birth control use at first sex. J Adolesc Health 42(1), 2008.

Christa - posted on 07/19/2010

Charlene, perhaps you should read my whole post before quoting me. I never said everyone has to agree with my beliefs I said leave it up to the parents.

I also don't think I ever said they are going to be in a bubble, I will teach my children about the inner working of sex and homosexuality when I feel they are ready for it. NOT based on some school curriculum. I don't know why you all want to force all your beliefs on other peoples kids, worry about yours I'll worry about mine. Let's see who's kids end up pregnant or with STD's. I’m confident it won’t be mine.

Charlene - posted on 07/19/2010

A proposed sex education program that teaches fifth-graders the different ways people have intercourse

The wording of this really bugs me. It's like they purposely worded it so that people would blow up because they think it means teaching the sexual positions, like Kama Sutra. It's not. It means oral/anal sex.

I don't have a problem with this program. I think people are totally naive and ignorant if they think that teaching kids about oral/anal sex will make them go out and do it. The purpose of teaching about them is not to give a green light on them, but to teach that they are just as risky when it comes to STD's.

They do not need to know how people have sex, that can be incorporated into the STD education you get in high school when it’s more applicable. No 10/11 year old needs to be thinking about oral/anal sex at all.

Seriously? When I was entering middle school, there were already many girls and boys in my grade who were experimenting with these things, and this was less than 10 years ago.. I can only imagine it's getting worse. High school is TOO LATE to be talking about STD prevention. It needs to start at puberty, when the hormones start running rampant.

But there doesn't need to be talk about any parents sexual activities. Kids in first grade are not thinking about sex much less their parents having sex.

I must have missed where it says that they are going to be talking about parents sexual activities??? It says they are going to be teaching about different structures, not what goes on in the bedrooms of those families.

@Jaime if you would like to give your children Kama Sutra lessons at a young age be my guest

Again.. I must have missed where they said Kama Sutra would be taught.

but I don't think being taught that sex is sacred and should remain between a married heterosexual couple as a limitation

This is not everyone's belief and I think the 'morals' of sex should be up to the parents to teach.

The idea of sex as a casual thing and it's normal to watch porn or have sex with whoever is why we have STD and teen pregnancy problems. NOT because we aren't teaching them about positions and other perversions.

It's not like schools are telling kids it's okay to be promiscuous, but it's a reality that some kids AREN'T going to wait and it's best for them to be protected. In order to be protected, they need ALL the facts.

And Sex. Ed. is NOT the reason for the STD and teen pregnancy problems. A lack of education IS though.

K - posted on 07/19/2010

I learned about sex in grade 5, I don't get what the big issue is. The fact is that there are all kinds of love in the world, and kids should learn about it from a young age, it could possibly help prevent prejudice and hate as they grow older. The more they learn that it is normal, the more it will be accepted.

Jaime - posted on 07/19/2010

Well frig...don't mind me as I roll around in my big ol' bubble then!

Rosie - posted on 07/19/2010

no jamie, if you want us to explain it to you like a first grader, apparantly you shouldn't know what love is when it involves homosexuals....gqtm!

Jaime - posted on 07/19/2010

Can someone please explain this to me like I'm a first grader? because clearly I don't understand the distinction between gay love and non-gay love...I must be missing something! I thought love was a separate, abstract emotion? Wow, I must live in a freaking bubble if I'm wrong then.

Teresa - posted on 07/19/2010

10% of the population may be LBGT, but I only personally know 2 people that are gay and I haven't seen either of them in years. Although I did just recently become Facebook friends w/ one of them. We went to school together, but I haven't had opportunity to run into her since my girls were itty bitty.

Jenny - posted on 07/19/2010

You can teach a child about the biology of sex while still teaching morality. None of the parents here are saying we should let the kids have a free for all. The Grade 1 stuff is just on family differences, not what gay sex is. There's no problem with that.

10% of the population is estimated to be LBGT so if there's wasn't at least gay student or a gay parent in ALL of our kid's classrooms it would be surprising.

The stuff later on is to let them know what sex actually is. If you are stressing to your child to wait until marriage to have sex, it would be in their best interest to let them know what that actually means. Many kids do not think oral or anal sex is actually sex and it "doesn't count". If you don't give out the facts, other kids will be more able to talk them into something unsafe. So little Janie may remain "a virgin" on her wedding day but suffering from HIV or other STI from anal sex. It is VERY common.

Jane - posted on 07/19/2010

Wouldn't matter to me one way or the other. My children were always educated on everything with regards to sex prior to ever learning it in school. So many parents live in a bubble and think this bubble will help their children stay innocent. What this really creates is uneducated pregnant teens or prejudice people walking around thinking that homosexuals are sinners and CHOOSE that life style rather than it being biological.

I'm all for education!!!!!

Christa - posted on 07/19/2010

You can see it that way . . . I see it as a sad sad reality that our society is losing it's morals more and more everyday. You apparently see some "limitation" in my responses but I don't think being taught that sex is sacred and should remain between a married heterosexual couple as a limitation, but you are entitled your opinions. :( The idea of sex as a casual thing and it's normal to watch porn or have sex with whoever is why we have STD and teen pregnancy problems. NOT because we aren't teaching them about positions and other perversions.

Jaime - posted on 07/19/2010

As far as I can see the primary focus of teaching erotic art is to explore the historical significance of sexual arousal (and not just the physical arousal) through famous artists. Erotic art is rooted in pornography and instead of sweeping it under the rug...you know since it's on every news stand on every corner, why not shed some light on the commodification of sexuality as it relates strongly to low self-esteem and poor self-image. And furthermore, what's wrong with kids openly discussing history in school...why, because it is tied to sexuality? News flash...sex is a part of many people's lives and has been for centuries...people should learn to appreciate it, not be ashamed of it.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erotic_art



Biology and reproductive processes is the basis for how everything works independently, but that's like having all the pieces of a bike laid out in front of you, being shown how it fits together but then 'good luck figuring out how to ride it without falling off and getting hurt'. This new sex education curriculum is not going to show students how to have sex in the sense that they will walk into a classroom where two people are engaging in intercourse...they are going to teach students that when you have sex, this is EVERYTHING you need to know and be prepared for...I see this as a positive step in pro-active health care.



Christa, you were never taught more than "the biology of our bodies and reproductive processes" and this limitation is very evident in your responses. It's unfortunate that you feel that comprehensive sex education is garbage because the overall consensus in this thread alone is that what is being proposed is a very promising step in the direction of significantly reducing the std and unwanted pregnancy rates...not to mention a serious boost toward positive body image and learning to love you first before anyone else.

Christa - posted on 07/19/2010

@Jaime if you would like to give your children Kama Sutra lessons at a young age be my guest, but beyond the biology of our bodies and the reproductive processes the rest is garbage. I was never taught more then that in school and I've never had a problem with the way I treat my body so perhaps your personal observations stem from another cause.

Jaime - posted on 07/19/2010

Well if pro-active sexual education is garbage...then I guess it would explain perfectly why a large percentage of the population treat their bodies like shit!



p.s. Gay is the 'norm' everywhere...apparently it's just not the norm for everyone to understand that.

Susanne - posted on 07/19/2010

Gay couples are not the norm in my area and 10 % of my sons class isnt likely to turn out to be gay not around here unless of course they are all still in the closet. My sons have been told that some men prefer other men and the same with women thats as much as they need to know i dont think going into details about how they go about having sex with each other is in their interests at all.

Christa - posted on 07/19/2010

After Cathy's comment I guess I need to clarify. I agree with teaching them about different families. 2 parents, one parent, grandparents, etc. But there doesn't need to be talk about any parents sexual activities. Kids in first grade are not thinking about sex much less their parents having sex. So I would have to see exactly what was planning to be taught. IF it remains about different family structures, then I have no problem with it.

@Laura, my stepchildren just finished the 1st and 5th grades in MT which is where this is all happening so please refrain from talking to me like I have no idea about children this age since this is more relevant to my stepchildren’s and my life then to most of you. I've actually passed this along to their mother so she can get involved and make sure they aren't subjected to this garbage.

Jackie - posted on 07/19/2010

I agree - as I said I am TOTALLY FOR sex ed. ( I don't know if any of those comments were directed towards me because my previous comment) I just seem to think that there is a time for everything. I also think it needs to be age appropriate. Call me crazy, but first grade is not the age I want the school system to teach my kid what people do behind closed doors. If she asks me, I would tell her. I would be truthful. 5th - 6th grade, maybe then you can introduce the SEX topic and STD's and that kind of thing.

Jaime - posted on 07/19/2010

Amie...I hate to break it to you but a period is something that comes at the end of a sentence---DUH!

Amie - posted on 07/19/2010

Laura's got a point. The older children get, the worse it gets.

Our oldest is going into the 5th grade. The knowledge (or mistaken knowledge I should say) these kids have is horrifying. As Julie said, a lot of them don't consider sexual acts sex so they think it would be OK. It's not.

My children have the knowledge because we've taught them, are still teaching them. It's not just about sex but it's about their bodies. They need to be aware of them and what can happen. Teaching STD safety is an aspect of that but you CAN get STD's not only from vaginal sex. You can get them from anal and oral sex. With the proper knowledge my kids are prepared.

In an age where most of her classmates are dating, she is one of the few who remain single. She has no interest and is adamant she does not want to date. She's on a short leash so I do know who her friends are where she is at all times. (I'm a hover parent and won't apologize for it)

There are many days I lament to my husband that I'm too young to deal with this stuff. I feel that I am. I'm 28 raising a preteen, who's full of hormones and drives me mad. I also know though that she knows she can come to me with any question or concern and she will get an answer. She will not get judgment or told she's wrong. She will be given facts and my opinion. I'm also very open and accepting though, of all people.

Our son has been getting talks for the last 2 years. He'll be 6 in September. He doesn't (just likeour oldest didn't) go around blabbing everything to other children. We are fully aware there are people who believe their children don't need to know this. However at the same time, we have told them even though they can not bring it up, if someone is ever spreading misinformation they can correct them. They have had to too, it's amazing what some kids "figure out" on their own with out proper guidance from their parents. I've told this one before on CoM's but the absolute worst was when our oldest had to correct a classmate on what a period is. She thought it was when you started puberty and grew hair under your arms. Obviously that is not the case, her parents should have corrected her but they didn't. So our child did. I don't know what her parents issue was but they never kicked up a fuss. I do think it was because they'd rather not deal with it and let their kids "figure it out on their own".

Jaime - posted on 07/19/2010

Are you freaking kidding me? Pro-active sexual education? I mean it's just such an awful concept to want to arm our children with knowledge and help them feel secure about their bodies so they won't go bumpin' uglies n' gettin' all diseased and pregnant n' stuff... WHAT is this world coming to?

Lucy - posted on 07/19/2010

It seems to me totally irrelevant whether you agree with same sex relationships. They are a fact of life and therefore should be part of the curriculum when dealing with love, sex and relationships.

By teaching children about the many elements of the society in which they live schools are not saying "hey kids, do this!" they are simply saying "this is how it is for some people". You can't hide 10% of the population from your kids forever, however much you might disagree with their sexual preference.

@ Susanne- The fact that statistically 10% of the kids in the class will turn out to be gay is exactly why it should be on the syllabus at an early stage. Most gay people begin to realise they are in some way "different" from many of their friends as they approach puberty, as young as 8 and 9. If these children AND their peers have already been properly educated about same sex relationships, they are going to have a much easier adolescence and journey into adulthood.

Jackie - posted on 07/19/2010

I haven't read any responses yet but here's what I have to say.



If you are going to teach somebody about sexual orientation - you have to teach them what SEX IS first! And nobody, and I mean NOBODY, better teach my first grader ANYTHING about sex! I dont even want to her to hear the WORD sex until she's 30. j/k but no, seriously.



I am all for sex ed 110%. I do not, however; thinks appropriate to teach exactly how to do it. It's supposed to come natural. We dont need a handbook. I also think that's it's okay to teach about body parts and where it's inappropriate for somebody to touch him/her. My kid does not need to know what Anal sex is or what a BJ is. Uh-uh, I dont think so!

Teresa - posted on 07/19/2010

My kids are going into 4th grade Laura. Is that old enough to know they won't bully anyone that is different?

ME - posted on 07/19/2010

As a previous victim of bullies...I am totally pro information/knowledge, and completely anti bully!

Isobel - posted on 07/19/2010

I think that if you wait till highschool to start ANY kind of sex ed, it would be like starting calculus in highschool without having tought them basic math all the way through.



You need to start with the building blocks, and yes that means in the first grade you tell them that some families have two moms, two dads etc, that's it, that's all, that's the extent of what they teach grade ones about same sex relationships.



And whether you agree with those families or not, they DO exist and therefore our children should learn about them.



And I know your children are VERY young Christa, but I think once you get into the ages where children bully and are bullied you will find that women who think you need to be thin to be pretty produce children who bully fat kids, parents who think that people on welfare are lazy produce children who bully poor kids...your future rearing of your children is still theory. If you think that you tell them bullying is wrong and therefore they will never do it you are mistaken.

Krista - posted on 07/19/2010

and no i dont want my sons knowing about gay sex either. I really dont see why any child needs to know about that unless they are gay themselves.

Um, because unless you plan on keeping your kids locked in the house for the rest of their lives, they probably WILL see a gay couple at some point out in public. The couple might even be holding hands or kissing! The horrors! So, you can either let your kid know ahead of time that most of the time, women and men love each other, but sometimes men and men, or women and women, love each other in a romantic way. You can explain this in a nice calm setting and answer the kid's questions, which very well MIGHT include a question on sexual matters.

Or, you can tell yourself that there's no need to tell your child that, and when he sees this out in public and asks about it, he might get an answer from someone besides you -- and it might not be presented in the way that you would have wanted.

LaCi - posted on 07/19/2010

"If you tried to go into detail about sex she'd freak out. WHERE this came from I dunno. Telling her something is supposed to go into her ass? I think she might kick you in the face."

LOL, isn't that everyones first reaction when they learn about things going into butts? ;x

I agree though, if that were being taught to 5 year olds I would probably be concerned, I wouldn't tell him unless he asked or until he already had a fair amount of knowledge about sex. I'm alright with it in 5th grade though.

Kelly - posted on 07/19/2010

Well, I figured they wouldn't be teaching them different positions and such, but it does seem they would have to go into some amount of detail to explain the different forms of sexual exploration. The children know where the parts are located on each other's bodies and on their own, so when the teacher explains vaginal penetration by the penis, as opposed to penetration by the hand for example, the children are going to figure out the positions.

I just feel like that is more information than a child needs at that age. I do feel that children should get that information, along with informations about the transfer of various STD's and ineffectiveness of different forms of birth control, but I think 8th or 9th grade (12-15 years old) would be a more appropriate time to teach it.

I feel like giving them too much information too young tempts them more to explore and experiment on their own. That, of course is my own idea, I don't think there is research out there that supports that, but it just seems like it would have that effect to me....

Julie - posted on 07/19/2010

Kids are having sexual relationships that they do not think "count" as sex and getting STDs. It makes sense to teach them in an age-appropriate manner so they have information, not misinformation.

When I was in public school, we didn't learn about sex at all until high school, and that is too late.

In a perfect world "our" kids aren't the sexually active ones at 12 or younger, but pretending that is reality only sets them up for problems.

Regarding first-graders and same-sex relationships, I think it all depends on how the information is presented. If it is age appropriate, I don't see any problem with it. I support gay marriage and I wouldn't mind "letting" my child learn that sometimes kids have 2 daddies, 2 mommies, one of each, only one parent, only grandparents, etc ...

A family is more than 1 mom, 1 dad and 1.67 children living in the suburbs.

Susanne - posted on 07/19/2010

Body parts i can agree with and puberty, safe sex etc but i dont agree with anal sex and oral sex being taught to ten year olds and no i dont want my sons knowing about gay sex either. I really dont see why any child needs to know about that unless they are gay themselves.

Sunny - posted on 07/19/2010

Im all for it.

Cathy - posted on 07/19/2010

I don't have an issue with "the gay love" part being taught in the sense that kids learn that some children have a mummy and a daddy, some just a mummy, some just a daddy, some kids have two lots of parents and some have 2 dads or 2 mums. Family dynamics have changed a lot in the past 20 years and I think every child should feel normal in whatever circumstances they are being raised. I'm not sure how much else a first grader could comprehend on this issue. No problem with correct anatomical terms being used to describe body parts.

Teaching fifth-graders all there is to know about sexual intercourse. I would hope that the schools provide all the information to parents regarding exactly HOW they will be teaching it. My worry is teach a kid how and they will do. Parents need full details of what is being taught in these classes so they can talk about it with there kids properly on a moral basis not just mechanical. It does seem a little young. I remember being extremely uncomfortable in sex education classes at 11 years old, not sure I wanted to know any more details. But times have changed ...

Christa - posted on 07/18/2010

@LaCi, I would approach it the same way I would approach my child doing any other unacceptable behavior. Love them, but steer them in the right direction.

I get that all of you feel this is an acceptable behavior, but I don't. Something like this should not be put into a child’s curriculum, especially at such a young age. Do we need to also tell them about parents that swing or parents that have an open marriage? No we don't. You approach your children how you want and let others approach their children as they want. Sex ed should remain only the biology of it and leave the other details to the parents discretion. Other then the biology of it, sex is a moral issue and needs to be left to the parents to instill the appropriate morals to their kids.

ME - posted on 07/18/2010

That part is addressed to 5th graders Sharon...first graders would be far to young to hear it!

Sharon - posted on 07/18/2010

I'd need to hear how they intend to present it, but honestly? My daughter just got out of the first grade. If you tried to go into detail about sex she'd freak out. WHERE this came from I dunno. Telling her something is supposed to go into her ass? I think she might kick you in the face.

I figured out anal sex without being told in the first grade. I think my kids can too.

Same sex parents - btdt. That part I don't care about. Tell 'em.

LaCi - posted on 07/18/2010

"I never said anything about treating kids with same sex parents poorly. Bullying is also not tolerated in my home. But I will teach my children what are unexcepted behaviors and no school will teach them otherwise. Period."

How would you react if one of your children told you they were gay? Do you think that making it "unacceptable" you are somehow preventing it from happening?

Teresa - posted on 07/18/2010

I would have to hear exactly what and how it is being taught to know if I have a problem w/ it. I'm pretty sure my views on homosexuality have been shared on this forum. My girls didn't know about it in first grade. I'm not going to get into any arguments on this one, but I teach my kids love and acceptance of all people... but NOT acceptance of all behaviors. It's really not an issue we've personally run into yet w/ them though.

Iris - posted on 07/18/2010

I have no problem with this.

Sapphire - posted on 07/18/2010

I have no problem with this curriculum. We are a tolerant family and have several close friends in loving/committed homosexual long-term relationships. I want my son to know that there is nothing wrong whatsoever WHO you love, as long as you are treated kindly and with respect. As far as naming body parts, well that's a no brainer. Including oral and anal sex is important as well because the kids really DON'T think that giving a blowjob is a big deal! You should hear some of the conversations about the misconceptions middle school kids have about sex and you wonder WHY the parents aren't doing the parenting part and teaching their kids about sexuality other than puberty!

Christa - posted on 07/18/2010

I never said anything about treating kids with same sex parents poorly. Bullying is also not tolerated in my home. But I will teach my children what are unexcepted behaviors and no school will teach them otherwise. Period.

ME - posted on 07/18/2010

I am all for this...My son knows the words penis and vagina as well as nipples, and he's two...I see nothing wrong with teaching those words and their physical locations to 5 year olds; as many others have said, "knowledge is a good thing"...I also think that it's great that the children of same-sex couples will not be left out of gender education courses! I know it must be hard for all of my (same-sex couple) friends to explain to their kids why some people hate them and mistreat them, or just as bad - ignore their existence entirely...It would be nice to know that all children are being introduced to the FACT that all families are created equal, and that no one deserves to be the victim of abuse or intolerance...I would be thrilled if this came to my childrens' school!

Jessica - posted on 07/18/2010

I'm all for it. Jenny pretty much said it best in all her posts of this subject. Education and knowledge = Good , Intolerance and ignorance = Pathetic

Jenny - posted on 07/18/2010

I will never condone the teaching of intolerance. Nobody has the right to do that, not even parents.

Isobel - posted on 07/18/2010

Well...I suppose it's nice to know that the tradition of bullying children with gay parents will not end with this generation...huzzah!