Sex education for middle schoolers

My first concern here is that they gave him a sheet of paper with what sounds like terms and such that beyond his understanding.  Sex Ed is great, and I'm all for it, but it has to be "taught" in such a way as the child can understand and relate to.  Obviously, this was too much too soon for him because he didn't "know what it's all about."

I imagine the other kids who don't have a close relationship with their parents would just toss the sheet of paper without a second thought.  If it's not relevent to their lives, they aren't going to pay any attention.

I'm trying to think back to 6th grade and I'm having a little trouble remembering if I knew of anyone who was sexually active.  I heard stories about the 8th graders, but I can't recall any of my friends talking about sex except in the abstract.  But, we moved the summer after, and I heard stories about fellow 7th graders.  Of course, this was way back before AIDS was considered a threat to anyone who wasn't a gay male (1982-83).

I think you were right to contact the principal.  It's too bad he gave you a non-answer, though.  Perhaps this is something to take up with the School Board?

Michele,

Objectively: Was your son harmed by receiving this information? What is the downside?

Subjectively: I had sex education in the 6th grade. It didn't hurt me nor did it cause me to want to start having sex (I thought the whole thing sounded disgusting and perverse).

Who cares what we think, though. This is your son. What do YOU think?

Maybe they do this at the middle school age to capture the kids who might be dropping out during their high school years? Sex ed for potential high school dropouts? Give them vital information before they're gone? I dunno.

In 7th grade they put all the girls in a 'health' class and made us feel on a breast model/mannequin to teach us how to check ourselves for breast lumps. I hated it!

Sex ed is what they teach city kids. Rural kids - those that grew up on a farm - could probably teach these classes!

I agree with you DonTracey, but there is a concern here that many parents are as ignorent as the childern, perhaps worse off as the misconceptions can be worse. For my child, I insist on any sex education being my duty and I am fine with that. The fact is, a JV football coach teaching health is not who I want teaching my child about this type of thing. However, as a society there is some duty to educate children when the parents don't or are incapable of doing it. Teen pregnancy, incurable and fatal diseases and life altering decisions are being made from a complete lack of understanding, and this problem, in my opinion, is at least partially of abstinance only education.

An observation: I don't see the more conservative folks out there saying that religion should be a family only topic... Is the point here that sex should be taught by the family and religion by society? Seems a little backwards as sex is universal and religion varies quite a bit.

Why? 

How can you teach human biology without discussing human reproduction and the function of the sex organs?

It is the mission of education to produce responsible citizens. Responsible citizens are responsible with their powerful, creative organs. Shouldn't they learn what these organs are and how they operate?

What about the children of ignorant parents? Sexually repressed parents who are too emotionally stunted to have informative, helpful discussions with their kids? We're supposed to leave kids at the mercy of ignorant parents or parents who are unwilling to teach their kids? I don't think so.

Don, I fully understand that you want to greatly influence how your kids perceive the sex act and that you may want to mold their sexuality within the context of your religious beliefs.

However, as a matter of arming kids with knowledge about their bodies, it's cheating kids to keep this information from them.

Don, I think your list is too thorough, too extensive. I think kids should be taught about human sexual reproduction and sexual anatomy within a Biology class (this is already done with frogs and other animals). I don't believe the middle school should be teaching sexuality (hetero/homo/bi) or sex acts or decisions (oral, anal, abstinence, celibacy, chastisty). Intercourse, pregnancy, miscarriages and orgasm (actually, ejaculation) belong in the Biology curriculum. STD's should be taught within the context of teaching about diseases (Biology?) and how they are spread.

The school boards, which is a great reason for parents to be involved. Go to school board meetings. Talk to your rep. Get on the PTA. Only if you're involved can you be part of the decision-making process. But regardless of what the schools are or aren't teaching, it's up to parents to temper what goes on in the classroom with their own feelings and experiences with the subject.

Like Jim is saying, teach your children about the wahoo!  He can provide you with pics. if you need them to educate your children!

Michele, you would be surprised to learn what kids are doing at age 13 and 14. At my 20 year HS reunion one of the guys told me that he first had intercourse with his cheerleader girlfriend at age 13. I was shocked (I was a good-two shoes). Evidently, he was not alone. Kids will have sex at an early age. Shocking, but true.

Nationally, the teen pregnancy rates have increased after the Bush Administration started the abstinance only programs. It's good kids know where they can get condoms, no questions asked.

FWIW, I'm really glad my parents weren't notified when I had sex ed classes; they probably would have pulled me from them.

Agreed.