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Helena schools' draft sex-ed document causing controversy
Posted: Jul 8, 2010 10:02 AM by Marnee Banks (KXLH-Helena)
Updated: Jul 8, 2010 10:21 AM
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- Helena schools' draft sex-ed document causing controversy
A new health curriculum under consideration in Helena Public Schools is causing quite a controversy.
The document covers everything from nutrition to injury prevention, but the section titled "Human Sexuality" is drawing the most concern.
It lays out sex education topics for each grade, K through 12. In the first grade, children would be taught that human beings can love people of the same gender; in second grade, kids are taught not to make fun of people by calling them "gay" or "queer."
By fifth grade, they are taught there are several types of intercourse, and by the sixth grade, the draft document states that students should, "Understand that sexual intercourse includes but is not limited to vaginal, oral, or anal penetration; using the penis, fingers, tongue or objects."
Helena resident Noah Genger noted, "There are some things that are more controversial in nature, that are more personal, and also for most people religious views, and I think the school went a little too far in drafting when they crossed those lines."
Another Helena resident, Carol Carpenter, said, "It is a health curriculum, it is not just a sex ed curriculum, and there are some wonderful points in it. The areas that some people have concerns with are areas that can be discussed in the home. I don't think that it should be thrown out or totally voided because of a few language issues."
The school board will hear public comment on the issue at their regularly-scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 13th; all area residents are welcome to attend.
Click here to read the entire document (PDF).
What do you think - are the topics suitable for the grades indicated, or do you think they are inappropriate? Leave a comment below, or visit the KXLH Facebook page to let us know what you think.
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Timekeeper at Jul 11th 2010 1:06 AM
Way to go Tammy.
Do NOT let them fill your child's mind with this trash.
And people wonder why there is so much deviant behavior.
Most of this "so called" curriculum has no place being taught in any grade. It's indoctrination... Say No - Say Hell No!
TG at Jul 8th 2010 3:08 PM
This is crazy. They do that at my kids school. They would be taken out. That is up to the parents. If they can not teach them sex ed then they have a problem and should not be a patent.
Eric at Jul 8th 2010 8:57 PM
I see both sides of this argument. Yet if these subjects are presented in a scientific and unbiased manner neither condoning nor criticizing I believe children at those ages have the capacity to understand. To publicly diminish the ability of students learning is counter productive and creates a astigmatism when it come to any subject. It is time to leave behind petty discriminatory behavior and leave it up to the children to form their own point of view. Present them with all of the risks (Anal Cancer) and all of the Sexually Transmitted Deceases out there. Yet I do also understand that the frontal lobe dose not fully develop until the mid to late 20's in most cases. Where as the frontal lobe is the region of the brain that allows us to overcome our emotional response's to different stimuli with logical reasoning. Even with all of the information out there there is the responsibility of the parents to maintain proper supervision of their children. Know where they are and who they are with talk to the ask them questions. Know their friends teachers and people who interact with them. Take interest do not try to dominate them or they will resent you. Do not try to be their friend. Children from an early age Deify their parents if you do not know some thing tell them so. Do not use that favorite phrase "Because I said so." Good luck to you all and I hope my comment brings you a different way to look at this.
JOey at Jul 11th 2010 3:24 PM
HMmm... last time I checked 5th graders although intelligent still have difficulty grasping "adult" concepts. For goodness sakes less than half of them have even began to start puberty.
So you really think a 5th grader is going to say... "Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't have anal sex because I could cause cancer?"
Why the hell does a 5th grader need to know about ANAL SEX???!!!
Do we expect elementary students to be engaged in such practice?
What about abstinence? Does the health code even teach that?
How bout we let parents talk to kids and stop introducing concepts that are better left to discuss later on in life.
I'm not saying ignore sex ed, but tone it down.
How many children are now going to become curious since they are now introduced to these concepts earlier and start experimenting way to early in life.
For goodness sakes leaves these types of topics for high school.
mxk5150 at Jul 11th 2010 4:02 PM
The thing that is pathetic, is that most people will complain about wht is presented without even reading the document. This person is crying about how wrong it is and then asks whether or not they even teach abstinence. READ THE DOCUMENT!!!
"UNDERSTAND THAT SEXUAL ABSTINENCE MEANS CHOOSING NOT TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY"
That was included in the PDF file that was included in the article. Please educate yourself before you go off on a rampage. I am sure that it just easier for you to follow the righwing media propaganda.