Sex ed: Obama's initiative K-12 (need teacher's perspective)

[Chibibar]

Obama Supports Kindergarten Sex Ed « FOX News Radio

This is interesting, but I think 5 years old might be a bit young IMO. I personally work with faculty in community college level which is fine for teaching this stuff, but kinda iffy for kindergarten to 6th grade (i.e. elementary school level)

I know this stuff are suppose to be taught by parents, but some parents are not really teaching their kids much of anything (or rebellious kids either way) I notice a lot of technique and stuff have change over the years. I know that my parents would be in trouble if they were to raise me like they did back in the 80s.

I believe that 7-12 would be a good time to start since sadly, kids as young as 12-13 starting to have intercourse

 

[Fun Size]

I've seen this bit of spin before. My favorite part is the outrage over when they will teach that sex can include things other than genitalia, but leave out the part where they finish with "so you can catch all these nasty diseases that can potentially kill you those ways too". Remember, if you never tell a kid that touching someone else's junk is an option, they'll never think to do so on their own.

 

[Ross]

5 year olds do not need to know about male and female reproductive and sexual body parts.

However, basic things like "stranger danger" would be appropriate. Other than "make sure you don't get raped/abused," a kid can really wait until they're 10-12 to hear about the rest

 

[sixpackshaker]

If you don't tell a kid some of the basics at 8-10 you have screwed up. You mostly want them to know what is happening. So if some creep molests them, or a kid that has a head start in "the game" tries anything, the victim will be able to talk about it.

Thirteen is too late these days. Hell 13 has been too late to talk about sex, since sex was invented.

 

[Fun Size]

The thing is, and I'll admit it's been a while since I've seen the full thing, but when you look at what they're actually proposing, it's not a big deal. Am I thrilled with the idea of teaching kids about genitalia at five? I don't know - we teach them all about body parts at that age. They're not telling to have sex, or even how sex works. Just the names of the body parts. Should it matter? What makes it different from teaching them elbows or ears? Do we need to brand them as dirty at five?

 

[Troll]

First, let's point out that Obama has not personally approved this particular curriculum that's being proposed in Montana. He simply supports "age appropriate" sex education at all levels, which I think is reasonable and something most people here would support. Of course we may have differing ideas of what is and is not appropriate.

Second, the article you linked is so lazy and partisan it's borderline offensive. I especially love the claim that this new curriculum would teach "pro-gay sex education... to children as young as five years old." The reality is that the curriculum just teaches that marriage is "a commitment by two people.” Apparently by not vilifying homosexual couples, the school is now teaching pro-gay sex. Fucking bigots.

Third, from a teacher's perspective (though I teach high school and I'm not certified to teach below 7th grade), I think simple age-appropriate lessons are good for small kids. Simply teaching the names of body parts, which they are learning anyway, combined with lessons on not letting people touch their genitalia is perfectly fine. I wouldn't want kids learning about actual sex for a few more years, but I definitately don't want some sort of embargo on sex ed until an age when stupid conservatives feel more comfortable.

 

[Fun Size]

But if they know it's called a penis they'll CATCH TEH GAY!!!!!!!

(Am I doing this right? I'm new to it.)

 

[Troll]

EDIT: Apologies. My browser had a hiccup and created a double post.

 

[Chazwozel]

First, let's point out that Obama has not personally approved this particular curriculum that's being proposed in Montana. He simply supports "age appropriate" sex education at all levels, which I think is reasonable and something most people here would support. Of course we may have differing ideas of what is and is not appropriate.

Second, the article you linked is so lazy and partisan it's borderline offensive. I especially love the claim that this new curriculum would teach "pro-gay sex education... to children as young as five years old." The reality is that the curriculum just teaches that marriage is "a commitment by two people.” Apparently by not vilifying homosexual couples, the school is now teaching pro-gay sex. Fucking bigots.

Third, from a teacher's perspective (though I teach high school and I'm not certified to teach below 7th grade), I think simple age-appropriate lessons are good for small kids. Simply teaching the names of body parts, which they are learning anyway, combined with lessons on not letting people touch their genitalia is perfectly fine. I wouldn't want kids learning about actual sex for a few more years, but I definitately don't want some sort of embargo on sex ed until an age when stupid conservatives feel more comfortable.

I fully agree and endorse this post.

For the record, my daughter is 3 years old and she already knows that her "pee-pee" is her private area, no one is allowed to touch her there, and to tell us if someone has. My nephew is 6 and he knows the same drill in addition to what a penis is, what testicles are etc... It's part of his body! How can you not tell a kid what those parts are!?!? They're not evil parts, it's not sinful or wicked to be curious about your own body!

I distinctly remember in 5th grade (I suppose I was 10 or 11) we had the full "sex and puberty" course done in health class.

 

[Morphine]

I think it's a great idea. Kids growing up with taboos about their own bodies is horrible, they should know that a penis is called penis and a vagina is called vagina. Not "pee-pee" or "winnie" or whatever. Avoiding the name of something as natural and as simple as that will obviously make them think it's bad or dirty, a healthy sex life starts at a young age and a child that is not ashamed of his own body will take better care of himself.

 

[Espy]

I hope their kindergarten teacher shows them how to properly use and apply a condom.

 

[GasBandit]

I got the full sex ed class thing done in 5th grade, I don't see any problems with it at about that age (9 to 11 or so).

 

[Espy]

Same here. I got no problems with people teaching kids basic body stuff either, but I would prefer parents do the teaching but we all know that ain't gonna happen (in general).

 

[Cajungal]

I think it's a great idea. Kids growing up with taboos about their own bodies is horrible, they should know that a penis is called penis and a vagina is called vagina. Not "pee-pee" or "winnie" or whatever. Avoiding the name of something as natural and as simple as that will obviously make them think it's bad or dirty, a healthy sex life starts at a young age and a child that is not ashamed of his own body will take better care of himself.

I'm also on board for getting kids comfortable with the real terms and not being ashamed of their bodies. That's how my niece was raised. She knows what a vagina is-- or in her case, a "ba-gina." :laugh: She also knows that the kiddie swings will tickle it if she keeps scooting forward against the buckle, so that's interesting when there are other families around....

 

[GasBandit]

 

[Chazwozel]

I think it's a great idea. Kids growing up with taboos about their own bodies is horrible, they should know that a penis is called penis and a vagina is called vagina. Not "pee-pee" or "winnie" or whatever. Avoiding the name of something as natural and as simple as that will obviously make them think it's bad or dirty, a healthy sex life starts at a young age and a child that is not ashamed of his own body will take better care of himself.

You're fucking deranged if you think my 3 year old should be referring to her vagina as such.

 

[Krisken]

 

[Dei]

The main reason I haven't told my 4 year old daughter the names of her parts is because she blurts out everything she knows to everyone she sees, and that is not a conversation I want to see her having on the playground. If she asked me what her parts were called though, I would probably tell her. Right now "private parts" works for her, and understanding that they are private parts actually helped break her streak of running around pantsless if she had an accident (/facepalm). My 8 year son however, has been referring to his privates as his penis for a long time, I think since potty training.

 

[Morphine]

The main reason I haven't told my 4 year old daughter the names of her parts is because she blurts out everything she knows to everyone she sees, and that is not a conversation I want to see her having on the playground. If she asked me what her parts were called though, I would probably tell her. Right now "private parts" works for her, and understanding that they are private parts actually helped break her streak of running around pantsless if she had an accident (/facepalm). My 8 year son however, has been referring to his privates as his penis for a long time, I think since potty training.

Once, I was walking through the supermarket with my lil' brother (who was like 3 or 4 at the time) sitting on the shopping cart and he asked me "An, do you have a penis?"
-"No, I don't have a penis"
-"Why not?"
-"Because women don't have penises, only men do"
-"Hmm... don't worry, we'll get you a penis"

Everyone in the aisle heard him. I laughed my ass off.

 

[Frank]

I think it's a great idea. Kids growing up with taboos about their own bodies is horrible, they should know that a penis is called penis and a vagina is called vagina. Not "pee-pee" or "winnie" or whatever. Avoiding the name of something as natural and as simple as that will obviously make them think it's bad or dirty, a healthy sex life starts at a young age and a child that is not ashamed of his own body will take better care of himself.

You're fucking deranged if you think my 3 year old should be referring to her vagina as such.[/QUOTE]

Now why is that?

I've always known my penis was called a penis. My parents never fucked around with calling it a pee-pee or wee wee spot or any such nonsense. Why does it bother you if your daughter calls her vagina such?

 

[tegid]

When I was 4 or 5 my best friend told me that what I had was called a penis and what she had was called a vagina. I think it's awful, no that she told me, but that I hadn't known earlier (Actully I didn't believe her for some reason).

Besides, chaz, knowing the name of something and calling it by that name are two different things.

 

[Chazwozel]

I think it's a great idea. Kids growing up with taboos about their own bodies is horrible, they should know that a penis is called penis and a vagina is called vagina. Not "pee-pee" or "winnie" or whatever. Avoiding the name of something as natural and as simple as that will obviously make them think it's bad or dirty, a healthy sex life starts at a young age and a child that is not ashamed of his own body will take better care of himself.

You're fucking deranged if you think my 3 year old should be referring to her vagina as such.[/QUOTE]



Now why is that?

I've always known my penis was called a penis. My parents never fucked around with calling it a pee-pee or wee wee spot or any such nonsense. Why does it bother you if your daughter calls her vagina such?[/QUOTE]

Because she's 3 years old. She doesn't need to know the proper name of since that's what she started calling it. I'm not going to correct her and give her the proper terminology because it doesn't matter at 3 years old. I was just offended at the original comment stating that it's wrong for children to state otherwise.

I usually dismiss parenting comments from people that don't have kids, but for some reason that just struck a chord with me.

 

[Dei]

Of course, not to mention at that age, the part that little girls would actually be curious about is not actually called a vagina, it's the clitoris and the labia, but I digress.

 

[tegid]

Ahhh that's alright then. Very reasonable. From your answer it seemed to me that 'vagina' was a dirty word which should never be said by 3 yeard olds, which seemed absurd. I'll blame my English for the reading comprehension fail.

 

[Chazwozel]

I just wish people without kids would shut the fuck up with the parenting advice. You don't know how it is until you have one of your own. Period.

 

[Cajungal]

The main reason I haven't told my 4 year old daughter the names of her parts is because she blurts out everything she knows to everyone she sees, and that is not a conversation I want to see her having on the playground. If she asked me what her parts were called though, I would probably tell her. Right now "private parts" works for her, and understanding that they are private parts actually helped break her streak of running around pantsless if she had an accident (/facepalm). My 8 year son however, has been referring to his privates as his penis for a long time, I think since potty training.

Once, I was walking through the supermarket with my lil' brother (who was like 3 or 4 at the time) sitting on the shopping cart and he asked me "An, do you have a penis?"
-"No, I don't have a penis"
-"Why not?"
-"Because women don't have penises, only men do"
-"Hmm... don't worry, we'll get you a penis"

Everyone in the aisle heard him. I laughed my ass off.[/QUOTE]

:laugh:

 

[Morphine]

Yes, Chaz, the fact that I have worked with children since I was 15 puts me in no position to have an opinion on this, you are very right and I should never open my mouth when it comes to children because I'm not a parent no matter what other experience I might have.

 

[tegid]

I just wish people without kids would shut the fuck up with the parenting advice. You don't know how it is until you have one of your own. Period.

It's not advice but opinions.

 

[Chazwozel]

Yes, Chaz, the fact that I have worked with children since I was 15 puts me in no position to have an opinion on this, you are very right and I should never open my mouth when it comes to children because I'm not a parent no matter what other experience I might have.

No, really, you don't have an opinion on the matter. I don't care how much experience you have with kids. You may like the kids you work with, even love them, but in no way shape or form does that equal you to their parents own concerns for them.

It's like that one South Park episode: You don't get it.

 

[tegid]

She can still have an opinion. Maybe you know better, maybe she can't give advice to you because she doesn't get it or whatever, but she can have an opinion.
(You are telling people what to do about things all the time, and you probably don't really 'get' their situations, so how about that)

 

[Frank]

I think it's a great idea. Kids growing up with taboos about their own bodies is horrible, they should know that a penis is called penis and a vagina is called vagina. Not "pee-pee" or "winnie" or whatever. Avoiding the name of something as natural and as simple as that will obviously make them think it's bad or dirty, a healthy sex life starts at a young age and a child that is not ashamed of his own body will take better care of himself.

You're fucking deranged if you think my 3 year old should be referring to her vagina as such.[/QUOTE]



Now why is that?

I've always known my penis was called a penis. My parents never fucked around with calling it a pee-pee or wee wee spot or any such nonsense. Why does it bother you if your daughter calls her vagina such?[/QUOTE]

Because she's 3 years old. She doesn't need to know the proper name of since that's what she started calling it. I'm not going to correct her and give her the proper terminology because it doesn't matter at 3 years old. I was just offended at the original comment stating that it's wrong for children to state otherwise.

I usually dismiss parenting comments from people that don't have kids, but for some reason that just struck a chord with me.
[/QUOTE]

Cool, I gotcha, like I said, just curious is all.

 

[Chazwozel]

She can still have an opinion. Maybe you know better, maybe she can't give advice to you because she doesn't get it or whatever, but she can have an opinion.
(You are telling people what to do about things all the time, and you probably don't really 'get' their situations, so how about that)

Opinions mean dick if when it comes to certain things. Parenting is one of them. Everything you think you know about kids about raising them gets blown out of the water when you have your own. Trust me, I used to be one of those guys who thought they knew how to raise a proper child before I had kids, and I had experience with nephews etc... as well.

The same is true with many things. When I was an undergraduate student, I had experience in biochemistry; I thought I knew it all. My opinions on science and research were dramatically altered when I entered into the graduate level. It was something I didn't 'get' until I experienced it for myself. Having opinions without the actual experience is a teenage state of mind.

 

[Morphine]

My opinion was not about parenting. It was about what I have seen with children in general.
Apparently I can't have an opinion on anything that has to do with children because I'm not a parent... yeah.
Nor do teachers, at least not those who don't have children of their own, they know nothing.

 

[Chazwozel]

My opinion was not about parenting. It was about what I have seen with children in general.
Apparently I can't have an opinion on anything that has to do with children because I'm not a parent... yeah.
Nor do teachers, at least not those who don't have children of their own, they know nothing.

They don't when it comes to parenting.

 

[sixpackshaker]

So Chaz, are people not supposed to form opinions or get educated on child rearing principles before having kids? I guess they need to stumble into it like a bunch of redneck parents.