Poll: Chicago schools will start to teach sex ed. in Kindergarten

[Ryotknife]

They can barely understand numbers and ABCs, and you want to lay something this heavy on them? Chicago seems to be on a DURR bend lately, I have even heard they are thinking about banning energy drinks.

If you want to teach kids something different at a young age, why not...oh i dont know...A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. Something that is actually best done at a young age.

 

[bananafishtoday]

Good on them. What they plan to teach ("the basics about anatomy, reproduction, healthy relationships and personal safety") seems perfectly age-appropriate. It's not like kids don't wonder "where babies come from." They aren't having kindergartners put condoms on bananas or anything. Not to mention that child sexual abuse often preys upon a child's ignorance--education may well enable more victims to come forward.

Also, I'm really happy that they'll be teaching LGBT vocab/issues. I had a lot of struggles with sexual preference/gender identity because I thought I was in some way "abnormal" and/or I lacked the vocab to describe the way I felt. Sorta... without knowing that these identities existed, I thought I was the only one, that there was something wrong with me, that I was fucked up on some level. Teaching this will go a long way toward validating the experiences of LGBT youth and destigmatizing these preferences/identities among straight/cis youth.

 

[Jamieson 90]

As long as it's age appropriate and they can actually understand it then I don't see a problem with this; so I can that falls under the "it depends on what they teach," option for the poll. I mean seriously it's not like they're going to be teaching kids sexual positions and how to pleasure their partners and stuff .....

 

[aba1]

Kids keep having sex younger and younger how do we solve this? Teach them how younger and younger... LOGIC!

facepalm...

 

[yeti585]

For the first time in Chicago, sex-ed instruction will cover sexual orientation and gender identity.

Hold up for a minute. We are going to be teaching kids something we as a species can't agree upon? The aim to prevent bullying is great, but there are a few things wrong with it. For one, everyone has different views upon these things; you may get someone who thinks different sexual orientations are okay, but does not believe in gender identity. Another thing is, it may not be effective. Kids make their own decisions, and that is a good thing. Yes, they will make some wrong decisions, but will learn to think for themselves.

 

[Dead Seerius]

Guys... Do you even remember what it was like when you were in Kindergarten?

Maybe I had a different experience from the rest of you, but in those days I was just busy with remembering the ABCs and making sure no one stole my crayons before I could finish my drawing of a fireman with purple hair! Why the hell is this a necessary time to tell kids about the reproductive cycle?

It's not that kids couldn't handle the information (although I'm sure many would be wondering what the hell the big deal is), but it just seems pointless. Let kids live a little before the school goes 'srys bsniz' on their education.

 

[an annoyed writer]

This actually sounds like a good idea. Best to educate them early so they don't make a big fuss about it later. The part about Gender Identity I personally like, since it makes people aware that people like me exist. The more that is done to educate these kids about us the better the future will be since fewer people make a fuss about us when they find out, and the easier it will be for the fight for our rights. I call this a win.

 

[ElectroJosh]

I voted for "depends on what they teach". The article said this:

"Under the new policy, the youngest students ? the kindergartners ? will learn the basics about anatomy, reproduction, healthy relationships and personal safety. Through the third grade, the sex-ed lessons will focus on the family, feelings and appropriate and inappropriate touching. In the fourth grade, students will start learning about puberty, and HIV. Discussions will emphasize that the virus cannot be transmitted through everyday contact such as shaking hands or sharing food."

If this is what they teach I would be more than happy. My parents taught me correct anatomical terms and basic reproduction around 5 and 6 plus ideas about safety. Very useful and probably helped me out on one occasion where an adult may (I don't know for sure) have been trying to behave inappropriately towards me.

I think accurate, age-appropriate information is very important especially around such a powerful thing as our sexuality. We can do with less sexual hang-ups in pretty much every society and a healthy dose of knowledge will go a long way towards that.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

Gives a whole new meaning to the book 'Sharing is Caring' that I read as a Kindergartener.

 

[Darken12]

I would go with the "lol Americans" option, but I'm not British, so I voted All For It. Sex-ed is extremely important, and it's about time we got around dispelling those myths that plague society.

Sex-ed needs to start from kindergarten, not just for the "basic anatomy" thing, but children absolutely MUST be taught the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching. It is absolutely crucial. From then on, it'd be ideal if they got to puberty already knowing what to expect and with sufficient knowledge to avoid pregnancy, STDs and other potentially harmful consequences of sex.

EDIT:

This actually sounds like a good idea. Best to educate them early so they don't make a big fuss about it later. The part about Gender Identity I personally like, since it makes people aware that people like me exist. The more that is done to educate these kids about us the better the future will be since fewer people make a fuss about us when they find out, and the easier it will be for the fight for our rights. I call this a win.

Also this. So much this. Not only Gender Identity, but it would actually be extremely good if LGBTIQA+ issues were taught as part of sex-ed. Teaching kids that it's okay and no big deal to be gay, bisexual, asexual, straight or anything in between, and that trans*, genderqueer and intersexed people exist and ought to be tolerated instead of assaulted, might actually change future generations for the better.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

I don't see a problem with this. Speaking from experience (my mom never hid this sort of information from young me) kids that age probably won't understand a thing about what is being taught anyway.

I'm kinda with you there. I was never told about menstruation, or even where girls peed from. I had to deduce all that stuff myself when I was around 12.

I remember I was watching an episode of Malcolm in the Middle, and the joke was Malcolm's mom saying "Do you know what a period is?" Malcolm making a shocked face, and cutting to a commercial. I was like "NO! I DON'T! FUCKING TELL ME, TV SHOW! PLEASE! I WANT TO KNOW! ALL THE OTHER KIDS ARE LAUGHING AT ME AND WON'T TELL ME!"

I used to think babies came out of the girl's belly-button after watching the Denace the Menace movie. Boys only had belly-buttons so they didn't look weird.

So yeah, I'm all for this as long as they don't get too far into it.
Still chose option 4 though.

 

[Reyold]

Depends. There's really not sense in teaching the in and outs of sexual intercourse, but stuff like good touch/bad touch makes plenty of sense.

 

[Musette]

The headline is definitely made to try and create false controversy, but reading the article, I definitely find myself approving of the changes to their sex ed system. The fact that it will span a long period of time sounds like the program has potential to normalize sex, especially compared to the mixed messages in the media concerning the topic. It would be nice to see sex be treated as less of a taboo topic that needs to be dropped like a bombshell at the last second before puberty and more like a natural part of human life that happens to be pretty diverse.

The inclusion of discussion of gender and sexual identities is also particularly exciting if you ask me. I don't remember specifically having sex ed or not (I remember being told about puberty in 5th grade and STI's in 9th grade, but I never took high school PE, so I don't think I ever really had a sex ed experience in high school, and it left me pretty ignorant for years before I started researching the GSM on a somewhat academic curiosity), so I can't comment on the current systems where I live, but I feel that broadening the discussion to include non-heterosexual and non-cisgendered identities could potentially save LGBTQ+ youth from experiencing confusion or shame that often occurs without having proper information about their sexual and/or gender identities.

I'm generally optimistic about these changes, so I really hope that this system doesn't fall on its face in execution. It's refreshing to see changes to the sex education system in general, so hopefully these changes are for the better.

EDIT:

Also this. So much this. Not only Gender Identity, but it would actually be extremely good if LGBTIQA+ issues were taught as part of sex-ed. Teaching kids that it's okay and no big deal to be gay, bisexual, asexual, straight or anything in between, and that trans*, genderqueer and intersexed people exist and ought to be tolerated instead of assaulted, might actually change future generations for the better.

I agree so much with this sentiment. Being asexual, just simply knowing that my orientation was even an option would have made a world of a difference. (I spent most of my life calling myself "straight by default" as a result of only knowing of hetero, homo, and bisexuality.) Sexuality and gender are two incredibly complex topics, and when people focus on making such identities binary, people end up forced into little boxes they don't really fit comfortably in at all. I could see discussion of the LGBTQ opening people up to understand lesser known identities (even if they do not focus on the other letters of the alphabet soup.)

 

[RJ 17]

I'm going to laugh if this ends up backfiring and in about 30 years there's suddenly a massive, uncontrollable outbreak of pedophiles.

 

[BOOM headshot65]

Guys... Do you even remember what it was like when you were in Kindergarten?

Maybe I had a different experience from the rest of you, but in those days I was just busy with remembering the ABCs and making sure no one stole my crayons before I could finish my drawing of a fireman with purple hair! Why the hell is this a necessary time to tell kids about the reproductive cycle?

It's not that kids couldn't handle the information (although I'm sure many would be wondering what the hell the big deal is), but it just seems pointless. Let kids live a little before the school goes 'srys bsniz' on their education.

No, I wasnt like that. I was drawing 8-wheel drive pickup trucks with all the wheels on one side of the truck driving past sunflowers 300ft tall. If not doing that, I was over in the corner of the playground imitating whatever animal I saw or knew about, be it a dog, cat, squirell, bird, or cow (I have Asperger, shut up), or reading books on farming and cars/trucks/trains. About the only time I acted older than my age was in my manners, my speech, and that time I got a stick stuck in my wrist and rahter than go and see the nurse, I just yanked it out and went on my merry way (me: "Its not bleeding, and it doesnt hurt. Thus I didnt get hurt. Now I shall run around with my hands out like I am an airplane. WEEEEEE!!) Actually, I should clarify. That was me in 1-3 grade. Kindergarden was about the same though.

Of course, I have always wanted no part of Sex Ed anyway. In my school, 7th grade was Sex Ed for one quarter of the school year, but you had the option to opt out and take an extra Gym class instead. Me: "Lets see: Take Sex Ed, or take the class I absolutly dispise because I hate exurcising, I get bullied there sometimes, I hate the music the teacher plays, and the only thing I am good at is dodgeball.........Gym Class it is!" However, there was no opt out from 9th grade one, but that was only a single unit on STD's, and the rest was drug use (it was a general health class). I remember all of the drug stuff, but what do I remember about Sex Ed?:

"The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought from Feb. 19-March 25 1945. It is the bloodiest battle in Marine Corp History and the island of Iwo Jima is consider the first island invaded by the Americans to be scared soil for the Japanese. The Americans wanted to disable the Japanese fighter base on the Island and use it as an emergancy landing zone for damage B-29 bombers on their way back from raids over Japan..............(continued with all but sex related topics, usually military related)"

My parents had similar luck trying to teach me. They were the only ones to get it done with "the talk", but it only worked once. The first time: "Ok *makes up mind to wait until married to have sex*" Second time:"*groan* Didnt you already tell me this?" and it just going down hill from there , to the point my mom tried it again for the n-th time, I flat out told her "OK, I GET IT!!! STOP TALKING ABOUT IT! I AM JUST WAITING UNTIL I AM MARRIED!! Man alive....." And I said that at 19. You know, the age that the joke is that you are a hormonal wreck looking for your next sexy time.

OT: What that overly long flashback of my childhood and going on until last week was for is to agree with Mr. SanAndreasSmoke's statement that this might be a bit to early. Although, I would add on the option of opt-ing out for the people like me that trying to push that will just result in problems rather than learning anything.

 

[Mcupobob]

First thing I though when I saw this thread! Thought it had to be a joke. Ehh honestly not to upset about. As long as its the basics you know.

Though my mom told me upfront where babies came from when I was 4, then again she isn't exactly parent of the year.

 

[Jadak]

I'd say too young, but not because of any sill hang-ups, just because I don't it'll really accomplish much at that age. Don't waste the time until they're at least close to puberty.

 

[DarthFennec]

I don't really care one way or the other. I don't see a problem with it at least. I never really understood why people make such a big deal about sex ed and all. I mean, we don't freak out about "our children are too young to be learning about trigonometry in Kindergarten!" or anything like that, so why is this any different? The only thing I can think of is, maybe people are afraid that if they teach children about sex, they'll turn into pedophiles or something. Which is ridiculous, but I've never come across a better reason ...

 

[crimson sickle2]

I went with too early, not because it's inappropriate, but because at that point the kindergartener's either won't understand or they won't pay attention. It will most likely cause the kids to see the class as even more of a chore than it already is, they'll learn the basics and then just tune the rest out. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out, to say the least. I'm wondering when the kids will act a little awkward with the opposite sex, if at all.