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TJs Things

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Out of the frying pan.

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by

tjsthings

in

Okay, some of you will recall that tonight I had a meeting with the school board representation concerning the unit of health and wellness concerning puberty. I had hoped that they would just say, “We’re going to tell the boys that they are growing hair under their arms, getting deeper voices, and that they’ll need deodorant and an athletic supporter.” No. such. luck. I knew I was in trouble when I got hold of the curriculum and saw the detailed body drawings. I just thought my nine year old was not old enough for this. Yes, he knows about all of the body parts, but they talk about night emissions (wet dreams), erections, and ejaculation. Top that off with a film that shows growing, fuzzy genitals, sperm and eggs, and hormones run amok, and well, you have a night to remember for the parent of any nine year old boy. To top things off, this is in preparation for FEDERAL MANDATORY AIDS PREVENTION GUIDELINES. That’s right. Fifth graders are taking it to the next level learning about AIDS prevention at the ages of 10 and 11. My husband and I will be having the first of many, many talks with my son, but I am seriously considering opting him out of the curriculum provided by the district.

The extremely disturbing part of this was that hundreds of parents got the letter that I got. Yet I was in a room with maybe 25 parents. Do people have that kind of blind faith in the public school system? Did people even read that letter? I have to wonder. I wouldn’t want someone talking to my child about his growth and development without having a clue about what is going on. Oh well. I’m off to work on my talking points.

8 responses to “Out of the frying pan.”

  1. Diva (in Demand) Avatar
    Diva (in Demand)

    While I understand your concern with him being too young to learn some of the material that they’re presenting I am going to applaud them for choosing to educate the children. You gotta remember that these “children” are getting exposed at a younger age. Yes you don’t have to worry about yours but all those parents that didn’t show up? and the ones that may not explain or talk to their kids? Those poor kids are at even a bigger risk for who knows what.

    That being said, did you question the training that the teachers would be receiving? Do they know how to explain that to kids or is it going to be the PE teacher stumbling through a 6 week talk and sweating cause he’s embarrassed to use technical terms?

    Reply
  2. Diva (in Demand) Avatar
    Diva (in Demand)

    While I understand your concern with him being too young to learn some of the material that they’re presenting I am going to applaud them for choosing to educate the children. You gotta remember that these “children” are getting exposed at a younger age. Yes you don’t have to worry about yours but all those parents that didn’t show up? and the ones that may not explain or talk to their kids? Those poor kids are at even a bigger risk for who knows what.

    That being said, did you question the training that the teachers would be receiving? Do they know how to explain that to kids or is it going to be the PE teacher stumbling through a 6 week talk and sweating cause he’s embarrassed to use technical terms?

    Reply
  3. Berry Avatar
    Berry

    As an educator (and former kid)I think they are targeting them at the right age. Talk to most men. They started having sex around the age of 10 years old. I know some girls who were messing with 16 year old boys when they around 10 years old. Kids need to know that sex can equal HIV and HIV equals AIDS. We just worried about STDs when I was a kid. Now they worry about losing their life from having sex with the wrong person. From what I understand the research on sex education shows that it doesn’t harm and cause kids to go out and do it. Think of it this way, when you know better you do better. Kids need reinforcement. If he learns it at home great but it if it reinforced in school that is all the better.

    Reply
  4. Berry Avatar
    Berry

    As an educator (and former kid)I think they are targeting them at the right age. Talk to most men. They started having sex around the age of 10 years old. I know some girls who were messing with 16 year old boys when they around 10 years old. Kids need to know that sex can equal HIV and HIV equals AIDS. We just worried about STDs when I was a kid. Now they worry about losing their life from having sex with the wrong person. From what I understand the research on sex education shows that it doesn’t harm and cause kids to go out and do it. Think of it this way, when you know better you do better. Kids need reinforcement. If he learns it at home great but it if it reinforced in school that is all the better.

    Reply
  5. TJ Avatar
    TJ

    Y’all, I just remember in my HIV/AIDS awareness counseling days being astounded at people who had started having sex at 12. I know that 10 year olds doing this is becoming more common (a sad commentary on the state of affairs), but oh my goodness. 🙂

    We went into VERY CLEAR detail of what training the teachers had received in preparation for the course. Y’all know I went through the teacher’s course notes page by page. I even watched the film that they will be presenting. They go through a thorough training of what the information they are to present and the guidelines of the schoolboard.

    I don’t know how I feel about the fact that their representative told me that they don’t talk about contraception in fifth grade, when that will be the required HIV/AIDS prevention component (upon raised eyebrow questioning this statement later evolved to they disclose that condoms prevent AIDS, but don’t demonstrate them in class – can’t wait to see that film).

    Reply
  6. TJ Avatar
    TJ

    Y’all, I just remember in my HIV/AIDS awareness counseling days being astounded at people who had started having sex at 12. I know that 10 year olds doing this is becoming more common (a sad commentary on the state of affairs), but oh my goodness. 🙂

    We went into VERY CLEAR detail of what training the teachers had received in preparation for the course. Y’all know I went through the teacher’s course notes page by page. I even watched the film that they will be presenting. They go through a thorough training of what the information they are to present and the guidelines of the schoolboard.

    I don’t know how I feel about the fact that their representative told me that they don’t talk about contraception in fifth grade, when that will be the required HIV/AIDS prevention component (upon raised eyebrow questioning this statement later evolved to they disclose that condoms prevent AIDS, but don’t demonstrate them in class – can’t wait to see that film).

    Reply
  7. melette Avatar
    melette

    Wow. I agree with diva in that it’s good they are attempting to educate the children. I do understand your concern. Nine years old is kinda young.

    Reply
  8. melette Avatar
    melette

    Wow. I agree with diva in that it’s good they are attempting to educate the children. I do understand your concern. Nine years old is kinda young.

    Reply

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