"Education Code (EC) 51933 (Outside Source) specifies that school districts are not required to provide comprehensive sexual health education..."
(http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/sexeducation.asp)
In addition, the state of California requires teachers to "emphasis abstinence" when teaching sex education. With these two stipulations it just seems that there is a huge potential for very important information to be left out.
"In accordance with EC Section 51933, in grades seven through twelve sex education classes shall also teach about:
o abstinence from sexual activity
o STDs, including their transmission, treatment, and prevention and information about the effectiveness and safety of all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved methods reducing the risk of contracting STDs
o the effectiveness and safety of all contraceptive methods approved by the FDA
o the California law allowing parents to surrender newborn babies to hospitals or other designated sites without legal penalty. "
Problem #1. Studies consistently show that the effectiveness rate of condom usage dramatically increases with education on how to properly use them. You cannot just hand out condoms and tell young people to use them, they need the know how.
Problem #2. I see nothing about peer pressure and dating relationships. Grades 7-12 is prime dating ages, why are we not teaching young people what kinds of behavior to look out for and be aware of? I know of so many high school relationships, including my own, that were abusive, manipulative and/or destructive.
to be continued......
Tottenham vs Leeds United
3 years ago
Hey Lisa:
ReplyDeleteFrom an 8th grade teacher's point of view...we do teach about dating, peer pressure and relationships. Along with those items we discuss how a baby is conceived and how it develops and the birthing process. We also discuss the responsibilities that go along with becoming a parent. We do not discuss sexual relationships period... only how a sperm and egg meet and form into a cute little baby (simply stated)! The high school takes on sex education! Thank heavens!
We are currently pushing our district to get more updated materials as our curriculum is from the early 80's.
Just a few facts and thoughts...I love thought provoking blogs! Nice work!
Hi Lisa! I love your blog and all of the fun family/friend links! Please keep me involved in the data collection, I love participating.
ReplyDeleteI agree jr.high-hs could do more to educate teens in relationships. No one teaching how to recognize an abusive relationship-- and we all know that high school kids don't talk to their parents about relationships. The more honest discussions available to teens, the better!