Have you ever been in a health class in elementary school where the teacher starts off like this: “Good Evening students, today we will be discussing homosexual intercourse?" That just might be the case after the revised sex ed. curriculum is implemented. Here are some of the new additions that elementary students will learn about under the revised curriculum:In grade one, students will learn about the male and female genitalia using the correct terms such as: penis and vagina. In 1998 there was no mention of genitalia in the curriculum. In grade three students will learn of differences with regards to learning abilities, gender identity and sexual orientations. At age six students will learn about masturbation and at age 12 they will learn about oral and anal sex. Teachers will be able to freely discuss issues relating same-sex parents and homosexuality in general.
McGuinty, who supports the curriculum said that it is better to give youngsters the information they need in school programs rather than having them seek information on their own from unreliable sources.
In response, Dr. Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College, offered his opinion by stating, "This is so confusing to an eight-year-old ... these are children in the strongest sense of the word -- they're innocent, they're clean, they're beautiful -- and to corrupt them by imparting a question of gender identity is beyond the pale."
The new curriculum has also angered several parents who believe that children should not be learning such material at such a tender age. Many parents also argue that teaching children about topics such as masturbation and homosexuality is against their religion. Parents feel that they should have a say in terms of what their children are learning about sexuality.
Personally, I do not support the new curriculum for a number of reasons. Firstly, I do not understand what purpose this new curriculum serves. Why would a first or third grader need to know about such material in such detail? 8 year olds should not be worried about such issues. Sex ed should be taught at an age where students can understand the importance of it. A first or third grader would not take such matters seriously and would not understand the importance of the topic. Children are pure and innocent, and they should be able to maintain that innocence without adults having to corrupt their minds at an age where they do not know the ways of the world. Kids are also curious. If we teach children about such topics some will likely try having sex out of curiosity. Because teachers will openly be talking about sexual matters, students may be under the impression that having sex at a young age is acceptable, which can actually increase teen pregnancy. If children learn about concepts such as oral/anal sex, why should there be any viewer discretion when it comes to T.V shows or movies. Also, in most health classes teachers are careful not to preach abstinence; instead they talk about the safest ways to having sex.
I do not encourage that adults keep sexuality a “secret” from children, however, it should be taught an age where students are mature enough to understand the importance. In my previous health classes, none of the teachers really talked about homosexuality. The focus was mostly on sexual relations between heterosexual couples. I feel that teachers should teach about homosexuality because it eliminates ignorance and can help make homosexuals feel more integrated within society. Furthermore, parents should have a limited involvement in the curriculum. They should be able to voice their opinion, but should not be allowed to dictate what will or will not be taught. Sex ed should be treated like any other subject taught in school, and just like other subjects, it should be taught when students are mature enough to understand it.
(1) Are you in favor of curriculum that is being proposed? Why or why not?
(2) Do you believe that teachers should talk about homosexuality in health classes?
(3) Should parents have control over what children learn in terms of sexuality or should health classes be treated as any other subject taught in school?
OMG... my comp just froze and then redirected me to a new page and everything I just typed just poofed! T________T and I had a good page written out ~!!
ReplyDeleteOkay but anyways, I think I started off like this;
Hey Simmi,
I remember reading this article last year. The curriculum is not going to be implemented, http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2010/04/22/sex-ed.html. If you heard anything more recent though, let us know =)
I feel that a change in the sex ed plan in necessary so we don't have 12 year olds saying words like 'dick' and 'pussy' :\ It's too immature and derogatory.
Kids are picking up this stuff from the media, which has seemingly become more of a sexuality based entertainment in my opinion O_O (compared to the past couple of decades!). You can't hide your kids from it no matter how hard you try so why not give them access to the right information. I feel that teachers have a big role to play here because they are going to be doing the major clarifications for these confused kids. Parents shy away from this subject because they feel awkward, religion gets involved and things like that. Being human, kids are curious... they will google things up or watch porn or w/e and get misinformed.
However, I agree with you that there does need to be an age restriction. Kids are immature, and can be very opinionated so that might make the whole homosexualism teaching not a good idea.
Woah,.... not even half as good as my original but oh wells~!
*is necessary*
ReplyDeleteand can I use those two words in there like that :P...
aww mann, that sucks! lol
ReplyDeleteand thanks for the update, i wasn't aware that it will officially not be implemented,
But nevertheless, i'm glad that its not.
I have to agree with the fact that because of all the messages in the media, children who almost reach puberty may be a little confused about sexual concepts. However, i still feel that first or third graders do not need such exposure to sexual concepts and is morally wrong. Also, not all children are exposed to such material through media (if their parents regulate what they watch on tv etc...)
And if we teach them about sex at such a young age, it may be more likely that they watch shows based on sexual conepts, because their being taught about it in school. Why take away their innocence when you don't have to (at such a young age).
It is the parents' responsibilty to make sure to the best of their ability that their child does not view such media when they are so young. Obviously, there will come a time when a child has to grow up and learn the realities of life,which is usually during puberty, and that's when sex ed is most important and needed.
1)I am not in favour of the new proposed curriculum because it is a mature subject that is way too early for elementary kids to learn about. These children has not totally developed their body and it will affect their growth if they think too much about it. I believe it is better for the children to be kept away from sexual education, as they are too immature and that they will not understand the subject.
ReplyDelete2)I believe teachers should be able to talk about homosexuals during health classes because it is part of the health studies. Teachers can talk about the myths about homosexuals and teach the students what homosexuals truly is. I still think health classes should be for middle school and up, and not for elementary schools.
3)Firstly, I believe that parents have the right to know what their children is learning from schools and they should have the power to control over what their children learn in terms of sexuality if they feel strongly about it. Most parents are too embarrassed to talk to their children about things related to sex, therefore I find health classes teaching subjects relating to sexuality to be very useful for the students.
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ReplyDelete& sorry I forgot to add one more thing in my post. Because health classes are like any other subject in school, religion should not be taken into consideration. And if parents have a problem with what is being taught in terms of sexuality, then private/ religious schools are available. Or if it’s such a problem then maybe parents should take on the responsibility of teaching their children about such concepts, so that they can tell their children what they believe their children should know. If a child is attending a public school, then he or she, regardless of race/religion, should learn the same concepts as other students. The school board can not afford to accommodate the special needs of each and every race/religion since we live in such a multicultural society. There needs to be a level of universality in public schools.
ReplyDeleteSo that leads to my last question…
(4) Do you think religion should be taken into consideration when teaching sexual concepts in public schools?
I don’t agree with the curriculum that is being proposed in elementary schools because teaching young kids about things that are too mature for their understanding is just wrong. Also I agree with Simmi’s point, I think that sex ed should be taught to students that are mature enough to understand the importance of it. But teaching grade ones or grade three’s about sex is insane. These young kids shouldn’t be worried about sex, and by teaching them they might get a wrong impression about sex which might cause an increase in teen pregnancies in the future. In addition, I think that parents should have the control over what children learn in terms of sexuality, because these are their children and they might not agree with things that are being taught to their children in school, so parents should have an idea of what their children is being taught in terms of sexuality. For example in this article, most parents don’t agree with the curriculum that is being proposed to their young children, they find it to be confusing and corrupting children’s minds, and should not be proposed in elementary school.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I think that there should be health classes because they are important and some parents don’t have time to teach their children about things they should know or it really isn’t a topic where parents feel comfortable talking about it with their children. But parents should always be aware of what their children is learning in those health classes they are attending.
Finally, I definitely think that religion should be taken into consideration when teaching sexual concepts in public schools because there are some religions that are against some of the topics taught in public schools, for example homosexuality.
By teaching such things from grade 1, what are trying to do? Get girls pregnant at the age of 12? I know that sex-education is important but it shouldn’t even be introduced to children until they’re like 10 or 11 years old. I am tremendously against this curriculum as it’s just simply too soon. Everything that the children need to know has a time, if we just teach them everything before they are mature enough to understand it, I don’t know where the world be in the next 20, no not 20, 10 years! The place where I come from, India, sex education isn’t even taught. Teaching it is far behind, they don’t even mention in it schools. Girls and boys are forced to sit together as a punishment in some schools. Even in high class schools, if girls and boys start talking to each too much, their parents are being called and informed. And personally, it was fine. I didn’t NEED to know about the sex related things. Although, it is good that the students are being taught this, however I suggest that it should be starting from an appropriate age.
ReplyDeleteFor the second question, um yes they should be talking about homosexuality in the classes. When teaching about sexual intercourse between a male and female, they should not forget that homosexual people exist too. Now thinking about it, I don’t remember being taught the “safe sex” between homosexual people in my health class (that is after I came to Canada). I believe, if they start talking about homosexuality and homosexual people in reality, the amount of homophobic people might actually decrease. People who are gay/lesbian would not be afraid or embarrassed to come out of the closet. Cases like the one of Tyler Clementi wouldn’t be happening that often
When it comes to sex, I think that parents should have a say in when the children learn it. But at the same time, it is pretty unreasonable for half the students to learn about sex and the other half to not to. It’s funny how the school teaches its students how to have safe sex instead of teaching them to remain a virgin. I mean, let’s face the truth; not having sex is much safer than having sex and increasing your chances for getting pregnant at the age of fifteen or sixteen.
Morally, religion should be taken into consideration while teaching about the sexual concepts, academically speaking, it shouldn’t be considered. If it was to be considered, then the word equality shouldn’t even exist. I mean, in some religion and customs sex is a normal thing to talk about and practise it; where as in other religions it is a sin to have sex before marriage.
1) No personally I am not in favor or such a curriculum. I completely agree with Simmi that sex education is an extremely important matter. Knowledge will help eliminate ignorance and may even help many of the choices students make in terms of their sexuality, although I feel like there is a time and place for everything. An 8 year old does not have the maturity to understand something so dramatic and may even implicate the message wrong by getting involved in sexual activity at such a young age. Many can argue and say well what is the right age? That honestly is up to one owns moral and ethical views on the subject, however, exposing a matter like this at such a young age will cause more confusion than understanding. I understand that the education system is trying to convey a good message and educate young children, but I don’t think this is the right way. Obviously every child matures at a different rate but it makes a lot more sense that kids in middle school rather than elementary start learning about sexual education. For many reasons because they start to mature, they enter puberty, and it’s an appropriate age to expose children to such a topic because they begin interoperate the media, there surroundings and everything else they are exposed to much more.
ReplyDelete2) Yes I think it is really important for teachers to talk about homosexuality. It is out there; it’s real and shouldn’t be eliminated in the curriculum. This may perhaps be the reason why there is so much discrimination, bullying, and down right wrong misconceptions about homosexuals. We can’t generalize a sexual orientation, but simply educate others on what it is so that as a society we are more accepting and tolerating people. Yes, of course there are many including me who don’t agree with homosexuality for numerous reasons, although it is my job to be considerate and human towards all. Most importantly it’s simply none of our business! Therefore it is really important for us to be educated about the matter so we can put a stop to the confusion and hate against homosexuality.
3) I understand that parents certainly have the right to know what their kids on learning, especially with a matter like sex. Although I know that many parents are against it and maybe just for parents there should be some sort of awareness about how important it is. Parents may not like the idea of children learning about sexual studies, although the truth is that you can’t control what your children are exposed to. You can try to protect them from the “evil” it is, but if there exposed to it, especially in a co-ed like environment than there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Sex isn’t evil; the problem is no one takes the time to really understand how it should be taught. For example, Religiously in Islam, it’s not bad at all although it’s forbidden before marriage. Although if parents try to conceal that information in hopes that if they never learn it they will never know what it is, that’s wrong. In fact at an appropriate age children should start learning about sex, again I repeat at an appropriate age (depending on when they mature), and also be taught the consequence that follows with having a sexual life. That way kids understand what it is and can begin to think about what the right thing to do is. Not educating kids can lead to “experimenting”, and when complications including pregnancy get involved, the situation can get out of hands. In conclusion, parents it really is an important issue and educating your kids about such a topic that’s already widely exposed to them everyday will help them. Health classes should be taught like any other subject in school.
In my opinion if this curriculum is applied to any school it will actually confuse children instead of clarify their questions ( P.S. always if they had any about such topic).
ReplyDeleteFrom personal experience as I was young and innocent when it would come to sexual education or topics of such matter, I was extremely embraced. I would just feel uncomfortable when adults would pronounce the word “sex” or “dick”. I think this is an unconscious mechanism of self-defense to preserve your innocence. Kind a like human conscience that prevents form killing and stealing form others. Every thing has a right time and a right place. Firstly I don’t think an elementary school should be a place where to discuss such matter. Second parents would always prevent their children form getting to know such topic, because they try to preserve their children’s integrity. As a parent that I might be in the years to come, I would strongly be opposed to my children to know about this stuff that soon, I would want my children to still be genuine and innocent when he comes out of 5th grade. I’m not saying that I would want my children to not know or talk about the topic or I would prevent them form knowing they would learn eventually anyways there is always mass media and sooner or later they will have children as well.
Teaching such curriculum to children on grade 1 to 3 is just like teaching them quantum mechanics or advance calculus.
There is a reason to everything but it doesn’t mean that you are supposed to know it.
1) I'm agree with Ryan that it's too early for elementary students to learn about sex because they are immature and they don't get the point about why are they studying. For elementary students to think about sex at their age isn’t good for them, maybe it puts some wrong impression on their mind.
ReplyDelete2) I believe teachers should teach about homo sexuality in their health class but their should be some level like they should start teaching it after 5th grade, at least basic things. I believe its not good for elementary students but after some age you should know what's good and what's bad.
3) I believe that health classes should be treated as any other subject taught in school because by learning about health many students do learn about many new things that happen to their body, but a health subject should be open to students for who are at least in grade 5.
1. Abhishek comes up with a good point about students being immature and they don't get the point about what they are studying. The proposed curiculum for elementary schools is not acceptable at all. Learning about sex is a good thing but it should be taught at a point when people get matured enough to learn about it.
ReplyDelete2. As far as I think, teachers can talk about homosexuality. This brings me again to the point that it should'nt be taught at an early age.
3. Parents should keep an eye of what their child is learning. But, as far as health classes are concerned, they should be on a regular basis.
OMG! I can't believe it was even thought of to implement this curriculum :-o
ReplyDeleteI am totally against it because children at a young age should not be exposed to such things as when we are young we like to experience stuff for ourselves. We would not want children running around talking about sex, the male and female genitalia, etc. As Dr. Charles McVety mentioned "...they're innocent, they're clean, they're beautiful..." is absolutely true and to keep them that way they should not be taught about sex education until they are at an age where they would not want to experience rather just absorb information and keep till they actually need it.
Teachers of a more mature class talking about homosexuality, from my perspective, would not be considered bad. However, if homosexuality is being taught in a class where kids are still immature then I would be against it. Children at a young age are told by their parents what is right and what is wrong. If this is mentioned to them and they go to tell their parents what they learn then first of all I'm sure their parents would be against it and second of all they might either tell their child that it's ok if an individual is homosexual or it's not good if an individual is homosexual. This would of course lead to children having there mind set in a certain way.
I strongly disagree with parents having control over what children learn in terms of sexuality because parents always have fear for their child, that s/he might turn out this way, that way, it's going to impact her/him negatively/positively, etc. It will be hard for the parents to spark up that conversation with their child if they have no knowledge about it. The child will have to learn about sex education some day but not at a young age as this article mentioned! The parents should be tension free about what their child is learning and they way they are being taught. I do believe, though, that the parents should have control over what age this information should be taught to their child.
1) I am not in favour of the curriculum that is proposed because it will corrupt the young minds, which are primarily clean and innocent. There is no need for them to learn about sex education at such a young age, whether about homosexuality or heterosexuality, it does not matter. Their social role is to "play" and "have fun" at that age. They should be matured enough before they are to receive sexual education. By learning about sex and such matured content, some of them would be confused, actually most of them, and there is a possibility that some might go on the wrong track. If it were my children, I would be strict regarding the matter, possibly talk to the teacher about why they would teach such mature and delicate matters to the young, lovable citizens. Do not get the wrong impression that I am saying no to sex education at all, but I am suggesting that there should be a certain age and limit before they start learning about sex and sexuality.
ReplyDelete2) Well the reality is that there are many homosexuals in our world, therefore it is okay for the teachers to talk about homosexuality. As I keep saying though, there should be a limit as to how much the teachers can talk about the matter in class. It would reasonable to let the students know what homosexuals feel and give them a brief idea about homosexuality, but more than that is not required. Most students mock homosexuals and belittle them. They should be taught how to respect different people with different sexual orientations first.
3) Parents should have some control over what children learn in terms of sexuality. I would not want my children to learn about sexuality till grade 8 or 9. The reason being they do not have to have "official" knowledge on such a matter, whereas they will most probably get to know about it through media or socialization. The media as Sadaf has pointed out, is more "diverse" these days and sexuality has become a joke as it is portrayed everywhere. Some children, teenagers have no values.
1) Most teens ask their parents a lot of questions related to the things they see around them or feel. Other teens don’t even bother to confront their parents about the questions they have in mind; they just try that stuff to see how it is operates. I’m strongly in favor of the curriculum being proposed because it helps reduce pre-matured death. The bodies of children specifically, girls are now developing or making some adjustment at such a childhood age to withstand future situations such as giving birth, menstruation etc (these changes takes place when they are adolescents). If these children happen to have sex at a young age or in their teens and by any chance get pregnant, they are most likely to die because their bodies don’t have the right organ to securely withstand such a situation- pregnancy. Through the sex education; the learning of the human parts and other related topics, these girls or even boys learn a lot about their bodies (i.e. they learn about the bodies of the opposite sex). This may strongly influence the lives of these children by making them aware of the dangers associated to unprotected or pre-matured sex. 2) Teachers should talk about homosexually to make students realize despite an individual being a homosexual or gay, doesn’t make him different from the rest of the class or in society. The clarification of such an issue could at least minimize the death rate of countries such as Canada, due to the way the media views such individuals. This could help make these homosexuals with God given talents make do use of them for the beneficial of the country. Since we leave in a democratic, freedom of speech country, people should be able to express themselves freely without being afraid or mocked at because of their appearance; thus, them being gay.
ReplyDelete3)Parents should have control over what their children learn in terms of sexuality to help strengthen the cordial relationship between parents and their children. To further my argument, I made an investigation on the Toronto Public Library. Current analysis out-lines that young people really take into account, the opinion of their parents concerning difficult issues such as sex compared to any other person. A research conducted in June 2000 by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy shows that thirty-seven percent of teens said their parents influenced their sexual decision-making more than any other people. Another analysis indicated that most teens didn’t receive any form of conversation from their parents regarding sex which led to them being school drop-outs due to them having a baby. A good example is, a teen and parent interview I watched on the Tyra Banks Show. A teen who had HIV/AIDS while she was still in middle school claims her parents did not educate her about sex or the dangers associated to it. They never had family discussions. There's no argument that some children are eager to get their parents' supervision on sex related issues, but parents don't always offer it because they feel they are rather exposing their children to sex or encouraging their kids rather to get involved in sex. Through one on one conversations between a parent and a child on sex related issues, the parent gets to know what the child has in mind and may try to educate the child on the how to control his or her feelings toward the opposite sex. Through such a conversation, the child may turn to his or her parent for advice, if he or she is having a problem rather than turning to a friend or an unknown person who may influence him or her negatively.
1) Most children ask their parents a lot of questions related to the things they see around them or feel; when they are between the ages of five and so on. Other teens don’t even bother to confront their parents about the questions they have in mind; they just try that stuff to see how it is operates. I’m strongly in favor of the curriculum being proposed because it helps reduce pre-matured death. The bodies of children specifically, girls are now developing or making some adjustment at such a childhood age to withstand future situations such as giving birth, menstruation etc (these changes takes place when they are adolescents). If these children happen to have sex at a young age or in their teens and by any chance get pregnant, they are most likely to die because their bodies don’t have the right organ to securely withstand such a situation- pregnancy. Through the sex education; the learning of the human parts and other related topics, these girls or even boys learn a lot about their bodies (i.e. they learn about the bodies of the opposite sex). This may strongly influence the lives of these children by making them aware of the dangers associated to unprotected or pre-matured sex.
ReplyDelete2) Teachers should talk about homosexually to make students realize despite an individual being a homosexual or gay, doesn’t make him different from the rest of the class or in society. The clarification of such an issue could at least minimize the death rate of countries such as Canada, due to the way the media views such individuals. This could help make these homosexuals with God given talents make do use of them for the beneficial of the country. Since we leave in a democratic, freedom of speech country, people should be able to express themselves freely without being afraid or mocked at because of their appearance; thus, them being gay.
3) Parents should have control over what their children learn in terms of sexuality to help strengthen the cordial relationship in their family. To further my argument, I made an investigation on the Toronto Public Library. Current analysis out-lines that young people really take into account, the opinion of their parents concerning difficult issues such as sex compared to any other person. A research conducted in June 2000 by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy shows that thirty-seven percent of teens said their parents influenced their sexual decision-making more than any other people. Another analysis indicated that most teens didn’t receive any form of conversation from their parents regarding sex which led to them being school drop-outs due to them having a baby. A good example is, a teen and parent interview I watched on the Tyra Banks Show. A teen who had HIV/AIDS while she was still in middle school claims her parents did not educate her about sex or the dangers associated to it. They never had family discussions. There's no argument that some children are eager to get their parents' supervision on sex related issues, but parents don't always offer it because they feel they are rather exposing their children to sex or encouraging their kids rather to get involved in sex. Through one on one conversations between a parent and a child on sex related issues, the parent gets to know what the child has in mind and may try to educate the child on the how to control his or her feelings toward the opposite sex. Through such a conversation, the child may turn to his or her parent for advice, if he or she is having a problem rather than turning to a friend or an unknown person who may influence him or her negatively.