Being from Las Vegas my Facebook feed is filled with its news and stories. Currently the big talk is about the school districts proposal to change sex education. The Clark County School District in Southern Nevada are looking at the proposal for Kindergarten to 12th grade. The school board refers its source based on the National Guideline for Comprehensive Sexuality Education. In this book it breaks it down for the age groups and what would be taught at their level. As young as age 5 they propose to be teaching children about sexuality.
The Las Vegas Review Journal says that "The district long taught abstinence-only courses until 2004, revering to and abstinence-based education since then that continues to focus on abstinence while exposing students to contraceptives and safe-sex practices if they decide to have sex." In a changing world were the younger generations are being exposed to such topics, I didn't start hearing or learning them until a later age. It seems now that it is being revealed even to younger ages due to an ever changing world. Hence the reason why the school district is contemplating on teaching children these things now. The parents were outraged on the thought of teaching their children these complicated topics at such a young age. The school board says that they are looking to get feedback from the public with their opinions on the subject. Superintendent Skorkowsky says "As we go through this, we will hone down to the things the community really thinks are important to be put in school. We have to make sure that is medically accurate, that it's fact-based and it's age appropriate."
There is a need for a change to provide children with some factual truth but also a need to buffer the unnecessary until a matured age. I believe that the parents are the sole responsibility of teaching their children about the birds and the bees. Whereas the schools education can give them the science and medical terminology with sex education. Although parents can not filter everything that their children see or hear, there is that need to educate them.
In a way I see this as being both cogent and fallacious. It is cogent because nowadays children are being exposed to such topics and would need to be taught to on the matter. However it is fallacious in a way that teachers do not need to be teaching children in kindergarten and elementary school all there is about sexuality. A majority of the topics should be done by the parents themselves.
I believe it is very cogent. Yes, I agree that kindergarten may be an early age to explain everything about the birds and the bees but with the society we are living in kindergarten certainly isn't too young to explain why some students have two moms or two dads hence some sex ed. We are making assumptions based on little facts. To what extent is the education? I will always believe this topic is best taught at home by parents with their own agenda but have learned through experience that doesn't always happen. Interesting post! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVegas is a diverse place and it is most likely children are exposed to things at an earlier age. If the decision is made to implement this program then you have to wonder how much follow up will occur in the home. Having lived there for many years and witnessed parent participation in education the number will be very low leaving children to interpret information on there own or with friends. Good info.
ReplyDeleteI also say this argument is cogent. However, children don't need to be learning about sex ed. at five years old. It is fine to teach a child about non-traditional families, but anything beyond that is unnecessary at such a young age. I don't know about Clark County School District, but in Utah they start sex ed. in the fifth grade when they have the maturation program. I even dare say that they could move these programs up to the fourth grade, since most kids are maturing sooner. The maturation program is necessary to teach kids about puberty and what to expect with their changing bodies, but anything taught before the 4th-5th grade is way too soon for a child to learn anything about sex ed. Especially, since most children probably won't get the follow up to the conversation at home that they would need.
ReplyDeleteYour report is cogent in my opinion and I agree with @Karen's comments. I'm curious exactly what they teach a 5 year old and hope that it is sensible and agreeable to most parents. A great example of why parents need to be engaged in their children's education.
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