New school supply: condoms in 1st grade

Tammy - posted on 07/12/2010

First grade is a bit ridiculous! And not letting the parents have a say in the matter I do believe might be against the law. I do think parents should teach their kids about safe sex, but definitely not at age 6!! I have four kids that are past first grade, and not in any of their first grade classes has there been a problem with sex!!! I know that if any of my kids came home with condoms and said "look what my teacher gave me" I would be at that school so fast! This whole thing is crazy. Really....the parents cant "opt out" ???? I have to sign a permission slip for my child to go to an aquarium, but not to get a condom? Im glad I dont live in P-town!

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

I am more shocked at what the new wants to children. have there children ever recevied condoms at there school before. This need to be report so that this doesn't
happen to children all over the world. This is child abuse.

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

wHAT ARE THEY DO IN NEW YORK CITY, IN THE BRONX., IN QUEENS IN STATEN ISLAND, IN HARLEM, IN EVERY OTHER PLACES THAT YOU DON'T SEEM TO BE MENTION. HOW LONGHAS THIS CIRCLE OF MOMS BE IN BUSINESS.

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

WHY DO YOU KEEP ASK ME THE SAME QUESTION I TRY HARD NO TO CUSS ON THIS. I HAVE EDUCATION. AND I CARE ABOUT CHILDREN. I HAVE NIECE AND NEPHEW STILL IN SCHOOL AND I WOULD NOT LIKE TO KNOW THAT ANYONE IS GIVE THEM CONDOM AND TEACH THEM WHAT THEY DON'T KNEW TO KNOW AT THAT EARLY IN AGE.

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

no THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. WHAT ARE THEY REAL SAY TO YOUR CHILDREN, IT ALRIGHT TO GET BUSY WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS AND BE GOOD FOR NOTHING CHILDREN AND JUST LET HISTORY KEEP ON REPEAT IT SELF. THEY NOT TEACH MOST OF THE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL ANYTHING NOW.

Bevelynn - posted on 07/12/2010

What are they talking about. Children need not know about this yet, Children of a high grade they all ready know so much now. I so glad that I grew up back in 1955, I glad I stay a child until it was time for me to grow up.NO I DON'T AGREE WITH GIVE CHILDREN CONDOMS AT EARLY AGE. WHAT THEY TRYING TO DO MAKE BABIES HAVE MORE BABIES, THEY ALREADY GOT ENOUGH DOLLS DOING ALL KIND OF THINGS. STOP ALREADY.

Jenny - posted on 07/12/2010

I can assure you Grade 1's are indeed talking about sex but they don't know what the hell they are talking about which is where the problem is. Keep in mind many of these kids have computers in their bedrooms, unsupervised, and they know how to use them. They have older siblings. They see media. Sex IS on their radar. We have to get over the ick factor and be honest with them so we can keep them safe. I don't want parents burying their heads in the sand and it leading to one of "your" kids giving mine a disease or knocking her up. I'm glad more schools are taking the initiative to get the information out there. Judging by pregnancy and STI rates, it's pretty obvious parents are failing miserably at it.

Becky - posted on 07/11/2010

OMG, not the SEX word! Why is it so taboo? And I'm tired of bad parenting always being the scapegoat when something bad happens. The girls who got pregnant early, we don't know their situation. We don't know then, nor do we know the parents. How many of us know what are kids are doing every single second? And I don't remember who stated their kids didn't know what sex was until they were 11, 12ish. I'm sure they knew, they didn't want you to know they knew.
I'm rambling now, but back to the young kids getting pregnant. Just a thought....maybe if they were tought the commitment of sex and how it works, at an early age they wouldn't have gotten pregnant?

K - posted on 07/11/2010

I think the first grade is a little strange... but in later public school years I think it might be a good idea. I really don't think having a condom encourages kids to have sex. If anything it encourages them to open it up, investigate, and turn it into a water balloon. We had condoms available to us in Grade 8, and it certainly didn't promote sex, or make any of us want to have sex. I didn't even really think about sex until I was in high school--but if I DID think about it, it would certainly be a good thing to have available.

Good Day! - posted on 07/10/2010

That school was in an incredibly poor, crime ridden, area commonly known for prostitution.

I feel lucky to live in a somewhat "sheltered" community. The school I eventually found a job in was nothing like that. I taught fourth grade and I had one student I believe was active. But for the most part, kids in my area are innocent to these sort of things. But we have to keep in mind what kids elsewhere are exposed to.

Sherri - posted on 07/10/2010

I can't even imagine our high school doesn't even have 1 single pregnant teen in it. The things that happen elsewhere blow my mind. I guess kids here are a lot more sheltered and kept young longer.

Good Day! - posted on 07/10/2010

I get that condoms are not just being handed out, and that kids have to ask to receive them. I mostly agree with Jess, BUT

I agree with Sara D that it is disrespectful to parents for the school not to notify the parents. I would certainly want to know if my elementary aged child had asked for a condom, so that I could deal with the situation at home.

Perhaps instead of setting an age where students are allowed to receive condoms, the school needs to set an age where students can receive them without the parents being notified. Say, around middle school. Something is terribly wrong if an elementary aged student asks for a condom and it is the parents' prerogative to know. Actually, if a very young student asks for a condom, child protective services should probably be called on the parents, but that's another issue.

I'm glad that the school is doing something, and that people are at least talking about it, because it is an issue that needs to be addressed. I agree that elementary students shouldn't know what sex is, but the reality is that many of them do. And many of them are active. I could tell you some horror stories from the school I student taught in. First graders receiving blow jobs, third graders caught in the bathroom...yeah, something needs to be done.

LaCi - posted on 07/10/2010

lmao.

Okay seriously, if anyone thinks the availability of condoms to all students-which is what this really is- is somehow going to make a 6 year old sexually active... theres something really wrong here.

The point was to not set a limit of the age at which the students can get condoms, not to hand out sacks of lube to first graders and tell them to have fun.

I do, absolutely, think a first grader should know what sex is. I don't remember ever NOT knowing, because my mother told me everything before my first memories.

I support the distribution of condoms to all students, because you don't know at what age one student in the entire school may wind up doing it. It's about protecting that single student who won't fit into our typical sex expectations. There was a single girl in my class in the 5th grade who claimed to have been having sex. Would it be better to offer her a condom or pretend it never happens? It happens, even if seldom.

Sherri - posted on 07/10/2010

I would go through the friggin roof!! Neither one of oldest kids didn't even know what sex was until 12 yrs old when I sat them both down and explained it. They knew of the word sex but didn't know how to do it. I say not before high school. For those kids pregnant at 11, 12, 13 SHAME on their parents .

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 07/10/2010

I understand that some parents don't want to do the sex talk or just don't care, but I do. My husband and I will be the ones that cover that with our children and you better believe that I would want to know if my 1st grader was wanting to have sex. There could be tons of other issues going on that are causing that. The fact that they don't let parents opt out is completely disrespectful.

Tanya - posted on 07/10/2010

Just to add to this I remember talking about sex in kindergarten. I also saw my first penis in third grade during a game of truth or dare.

I think it helps to end all the demonization of condoms. I know that a lot of people think that sex before marriage is wrong and I would love for my kids to wait as long as possible. I just think that if we introduce them to condoms at and earlier age they won't be so afraid and embarrassed to buy them later on.

Amber - posted on 07/09/2010

First graders shouldn't know what sex is....but some of them will. There was a 10 year old girl pregnant the next town over from mine (yep, that's 4th grade!!). So, while ideally this should never have to happen, lots of children are being exposed to sex at a very young age.
If they were handing them out to every student, I would be opposed to it. But if the children actually have to go ask for them, then I feel its not that bad.
I agree with Jess....do you really want to deny your child protection if they are going to do it anyway?

Ashley - posted on 07/09/2010

I think that is ridiculous you don't give a first grade kid a condom..they shouldn't have any idea what sex even is at that age...

Alejandra - posted on 07/09/2010

I think that it is ok, but 1st graders cmon, that is ridiculous. This is another reason why i want my kids to be home schooled. I think right about the age that girls have periods is when kids should be given condoms. I know its diff for everyone but maybe 4th grade is ok. Its is pretty hard to determine what age now days. Im all for safe sex. I just don't think 1st graders need to have condoms handed out to them.

Terrie - posted on 07/09/2010

I picked my 3yr old son up from daycare 2 weeks ago & he said "momma, watch this!" he got down on the floor & started "humping" the floor & then said "this is what boys do to girls"............

now I think 1st grade is the perfect age to start teaching this stuff..... sadly in our home we are having to have the talk at a VERY early age!

(we changed daycares & he hasn't done it since then)

Meghan - posted on 07/09/2010

I think everyone should read what Jess has written!

Amy - posted on 07/09/2010

wow, that's horrible you can't opt out! I'm all for teaching safe sex but to a 1st grader?!?!?

It would make since for high school or *MAYBE* middle school (If there's evidence that kids are sexualy active at that age, I'm not sure).

Teresa - posted on 07/09/2010

Jess makes a very good point!

Tracey - posted on 07/09/2010

i think that this is crazy. if my daughter came home with a condom (she is 5) i would be pissed and it would take everything i have to keep my husband from going off on the school. there has to be an age limit to this. i got the sex talk and about our bodies in the 5th grade. yeah i think that schools need to talk to the kids about safety to help prevent unwanted teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases because some parents wont have the birds and the bees talk with there children. some parents push to hard and it causes the child to rebel and do the one thing they are told to wait on and then some parents don't care and the child does what ever they want. but in elementary school the last thing on a child's mind should be about having sex.

Meghan - posted on 07/09/2010

I agree Jess!

Jess - posted on 07/09/2010

I think the key point here is that the children have to ask for the condoms and when they get one, they also get the sex talk !

I don't think any 6 year old would be asking for a condom.... I think it would be different if they were in a fishbowl in the classroom to take as a free for all.

I'm sure its more aimed for the older school students but if you tried to enforce an age.... which one do you pick ?

As for the "Opt Out"..... what kind of parent would want to stop their child from having access to condoms. I mean if they have the guts to go ask a teacher for a condom then they have the guts to go and have sex protected or not. If you stop them accessing a free resource than your just leaving them open to STD'S and unplanned pregnancies. I completely agree with the school ignoring parent's requests.

If a parent really doesn't want their child to being having sex than they need to in still that into their children.

Danielle - posted on 07/08/2010

My son is starting First grade in the fall...You wanna see someone pissed? Let him come home with a condom. Every damn body in that place will know who I am!!

Tanya - posted on 07/08/2010

yes i agree its bad parenting.

*Lisa* - posted on 07/08/2010

I also knew a girl pregnant in the last year of primary school (12 years old, had baby at 13). But I still think it's not necessary to give them to primary school students because it may give them the idea that it's ok to do it at that age.

Jodi - posted on 07/08/2010

Tanya, that's sick. Makes you ask where the heck are the parents? I personally think that this is grounds for removing the kids from the care of their parents because it is grounds for neglect.

Jodi - posted on 07/08/2010

Good God. I have no problems with it in high school, but honestly.....if they handed one to my kids when they were in 1st grade, they would thinkl they were getting free balloons and bring it home to be blown up. This is ridiculous.

Tanya - posted on 07/08/2010

When I was in 7th grade we has one girl that was pregnant in our grade and two 6th graders pregnant. My friend took her third grader to the doctor and he asked if she was sexually active. I am not against this.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 07/08/2010

My thoughts EXACTLY, Brandy! If they wanted to do this for high school students then that's one thing, but elementary?? It seems like it would encourage younger students to have sex.

Brandy - posted on 07/08/2010

WTF!!??