Cleveland Public Schools Revising Sex Ed
 

I share this mainly because it could potentially be your school system next.


Cleveland schools revising sex ed
Program includes lessons on abstinence, contraception
Friday, October 20, 2006
Regina McEnery
Plain Dealer Reporter

Troubled by the city's high rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, Cleveland is backing both abstinence and contraception in a sweeping sex education curriculum change that appears to be unequaled in the state.

Cleveland schools already offer sex education to many of their middle and high school students. The schools are also required to teach HIV prevention. But the city wants to incorporate a program that will begin in kindergarten with age-appropriate lessons and continue through the high-risk high school years.

The effort, intended to reach all 58,000 students, is being financed by an $800,000 block grant from Cuyahoga County.

The classes, which begin soon, will address self-esteem and peer pressure as well as biology.

Children in grades K-3 will learn about how viruses work and appropriate and inappropriate touching.

Grades 4-6 will start learning about menstruation and other aspects of reproductive health.

In grades 7-12, the discussion shifts to interpersonal relationships, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy and respect for sexual orientation. Condom demonstrations are not planned.

Abortion will be explained and defined but not promoted, said Lita Townsend, responsible sexual behavior coordinator for the district.

Participation is voluntary, although public health and school personnel hope parents support the effort.

"One-third of all the HIV/AIDS cases in Ohio are in Cleveland," said Townsend. "Really, the best weapon we have right now is education."

Continue reading article here: http://www.cleveland.com/education/p...l=2&thispage=1

Is a comprehensive sex education curriculum an answer to higher STD rates and teenage pregnancy? Is kindergarten too young?

Did it say kindergarden? See this is where I would have the problem. I would prefer that I be the one in control of what and how my child learns about sex and so forth. I may not believe that some of these things are age appropriate for my child (based on their maturity and such) and not to mention how it is being taught and the type of discussions that take place.

I do hope they offer an "opt-out" option for those parents that feel such as I do. Because if I lived in Cleveland, my child would not be apart of thiss.

That program looks very good and while I'd want to monitor what my child is learning, it appears age appropriate.

Would you rather your child be HEARING about age-inappropriate things or DOING age-inappropriate things?

I agree. I think there should be an opt out option for parents, but I don't have a problem with it so far.

I think that what you are saying is valid, and I would not want my young children(when I get some) being taught something I don't believe in. However, there are probably some parents out there who don't care what their children learn at all. Those children can grow up with warped perceptions of what is healthy and appropriate. Cleveland's plan doesn't seem like it would be giving out "how to have sex" guides for elementary school children, but rather guiding them to be aware of the dangers out there. If I were a parent in that area, I would want a syllabus or copy of the curriculum so I know where my role would differ, if any, from that of the school district's.

I think that the program is great. The system should give parents a "trial run" before they actually inplement it in the schools especially to younger children. I actually think that telling children about touching and so forth at a young age is a good thing!! Pedifiles are praying on children and I would rather my child be informed by the two most important entities in their life..i.e. Parent's and School.

It does say participation is voluntary, so it may be more of an opt in than opt out.

It sounds like a good program actually. I wouldn't want my kindergartener (if I had one) hearing about viruses and inappropriate touch every single day because they NEED to learn how to read and write, but it is a good thing that they need to learn early on. Maybe these kids will be more apt to yell, "NO," or not believe a molester who claims I'll hurt your family if you don't do this. Plus, they need to understand early about the AIDS virus so they won't be ignorant like many of us were in the '80s and '90s. Whether some of you will admit it or not, some of our kids will attend classes with HIV positive kids, and they need to know they can exist together.

Like PhrozenGod01 said, some parents don't teach their children anything at all. My mom didn't attempt to talk to me about sex until I was 12. I wasn't doing anything, but I already had ideas in my head thanks to my older friends. Kids need the facts, not what their friends heard.

Good start, Cleveland!

Who is D. West from Maury Povich?

Whenever he does the "bad teens/I'm 12 and I want to have a baby right now," D West is a Black man (former military) who comes on the show and scares them straight by showing them the reality of being a teen mother or being a general bad azz. He also gives them a hug.

Oooooh that guy! I love him! I'm voting for him. :)

Darn, I woulda voted for him if I'd known.

You can vote for multiple options. :)

as a public health educator, I'm down for the revised sex ed program... I might not vote for the scare tactics/D. West, but I can see where he would have success...

But I can't vote again... it must be your mod powers :p

AHEM: If Sex Ed is to truly be taught, what is needed? (you can select more than one)

:)

Yeah but i can't go back in time! I voted for other :)

Kindergarden is way too young. you need to start at grade 7. that's the most effective way of getting the message through to the kids.

Yeah but they're not talking about just sex, it's basically a health class
K-3 is viruses and prevention of abuse
4-6 learns about puberty stuff
7 up learns about sex.

I checked all of the above including other. Children need to be educated on ALL forms of sexual activity.

At Warrensville, we had sex education in 6th grade in Interpersonal Skills class. Our parents had to attend the curriculum meeting prior to the first class and sign off on what we would be learning. That was in 1987 before AIDS really registered with me, in the age of MY innocence. Then in 12th grade I took an elective, Family Living that did demonstrate how to put on a condom as well as showed us graphic images of various STDs on body parts. Not just don't have sex, you will get herpes but this is what herpes looks like on the penis or vagina.

If I was a parent now, I would start talking to my child about their bodies and no one being allowed to touch them around the age of 4 or 5 on a level they can handle.

Cleveland Public Schools is a huge district and I believe that is very much needed in a lot of our school districts today. A lot of kids only hear "Don't come home pregnant" as a form of sex ed. My mom talked to me and told me a lot even when I wasn't trying to hear it.

Kids are having sex before the 7th grade. Kids give blow jobs these days like most people give hugs.

A key component of any sex ed is respect of yourself, your body, and boundaries as well as self esteem. Too many people have their self esteem wrapped up in the size of their reproductive organs.

Now just because I do not want my child sexually educated by a public school doesn't mean that WE (him/her and myself) won't be having these types of conversation. I just prefer to be the one to make that choice.

In general I don't think its a bad program...I just know that I would want the option of to participate or not (which it has). Especially if I felt that some of the material was not age appropriate (or maturity-level appropriate).

I think this a BRILLIANT idea!!! ESPECIALLY that the program is age-appropriate. I really like the kindergarten/elementary aspect of the program. Little ones need to know good/bad touch. It is so important. It's so sad when you hear about "Uncle" Johnny or a family friend, etc....

When I was in middle school in the late 80's/early 90's we went to the McMillan Health Center and learned all about sex ed/ body development, etc. And this was going to Catholic school. I must admit that I understand a parent's desire to opt their child out of the lectures though. Some may see it as misguided, but I think if you feel you can do a better job, go for it!! Also it shows that your an active participant in your kid's life.

As someone who works in science/health care arena, I also think that it's imperative that children know the proper names for their body parts. Just like we teach them arm and leg we need to teach them penis and vagina. These are not dirty words. I think the real problem is that even though our society is so sexualized it's also very much puritan.

I don't know, it's just one of my pet peeves when an 8-yr old still says wee-wee or pee-pee instead of penis. People say that kids pick up all kinds of stuff from the playground but I'd rather tell my kids what's up than get it from someother kid in the schoolyard.... There is nothing wrong with empowering your child with knowledge.

I totally agree.... I have a 4 year old and I talk to her about people touching her ANYWHERE - even her family, friends or classmates.

At this point in time we cannont AFFORD not to have conversations earlier than we could imagine our parents having with us - kids today don't grow up like i did - we just are that way anymore.............

I agree with at least having this program on a trial basis. I hear parents all the time saying they don't want their young children taking sex education classes in school, BUT, I think people need to realize that times are different now. When I was in grade school, many, many years ago, we didn't have teenage pregnancy issues. I remember one girl getting pregnant when I was in Junior High, and everyone was shocked. She was literally the ONLY girl pregnant in the school at that time. Now, seeing a pregnant child in school is not as shocking as it was back then, because it is unfortunately, becoming too common.

The hurtful truth is, kids are starting to have sex VERY early. I have seen girls as young as 12 years old, who are pregnant. I have heard of girls and boys, as young as 8-9 years old having sex. I applaude Cleveland for stepping up and implementing this program. I'm not saying that because I am from, and currently reside in Cleveland. I'm saying that because I think our communities need to step up and take more responsibility for what is happening to our children. We can't keep turning our heads, hoping our children won't be exposed to it.

I would review the syllabus and only have my child attend certain classes. They would not be attending a class to teach them respect for anyone's sexual proclivities or habits. That should not be a specified aspect of leducation. Children should be taught to show respect to people as a general principle.

As usual America is backwards when it comes to sociology and morality. Instead of respecting children enough to slow down the culture, we are rushing them to catch them up to it.

At one time, it was great to be a child and it wasn't that long ago.

Perro Loco, Which portion of the syllabus are you refering to? I'm not sure if you are speaking about sexual orientation or general health awareness.

All, I think its a great idea. I agree that a lot of kids aren't getting anything at home, and its good that this will prevent them from slipping through the cracks. The info seems extremely age appropriate, so I say go for it. I voted for testimonials w.individuals living w/STDs or teenage pregnancy. The only reason I didn't include the item regarding pics of infected body parts, is that I don't want kids to think that a person can't be infected if they don't have visible signs.