Kindergarten sex ed becoming mandatory in England

Kindergarten sex ed becoming mandatory in England

www.freep.com

LONDON — Britain, with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Europe, is bringing sex education to all its schools — including kindergarten-age children.


“It’s vital that this information doesn’t come from playground rumor or the mixed messages from the media about sex,” Schools Minister Jim Knight said today, announcing that sex ed would be added to the national curriculum.

English schools now are required to teach basic lessons on reproduction as part of the science curriculum. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have separate education departments and standards. Only Scotland makes sex education voluntary.

(visit the link for the full news article)

I think kindergarten is too young to be learning about sex ed. If I recall correctly, I had the sex ed movie somewhere around 5th grade, and even then it discussed anatomy, not something a 5 yr old could comprehend.

Sex Ed is important, but I think they are starting way to young. If anything, it might make them more curious.

www.freep.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Well the article does say this.

Elementary schools can offer lessons in naming body parts, preparing for puberty and relationship feelings, Knight said. For the very young, sex ed will mainly be about self-awareness, he said.

“We are not talking about 5-year-old kids being taught sex,” he said. “What we’re talking about for key stage 1 (ages 5-7) is children knowing about themselves, their differences, their friendships and how to manage their feelings.”

Doesn't sound so bad to me. All depends on what they teach though. If they stick to what they mention in the quote I posted above it could be a good thing. What's wrong with teaching kids basic stuff like the names of parts of their bodies? I remember my mom having talks with me about this kind of stuff when I was young. Some parents wait until it's too late or don't at all. There are a lot of teen pregnancies and stds out there. Education is key.

[edit on 23-10-2008 by ZombieSlayer]

reply to post by Clark W. Griswold


WOW. What ever happened to the ABC's.. coloring pictures.. nap time.. learning about trees and sun and basic things like that?

Sex?

Really?

Kindergarten? That's nursery age, not what the Government is proposing.

In the UK, you start Primary school at 4. That is reception, then when you're 5 you go into Year 1. Not Kindergarten in the slightest.

Also, if you look at what has actually been proposed, nothing has been finalised yet and any lesson would be "age appropriate".

Also, it's not just "sex education", it's teaching them about relationships and how sex plays a role in that, instead of just the mechanics of sex which myself and others were taught when we were at school.

I doubt VERY much if they are going to give 5 year olds a full on sex lesson. Being part of the National Curriculum, it will build up each year on what was taught previously. It may start on marriage, relationships and what have you, then later on in the curriculum lead on to how sex plays a role.

Having said that, i had my first lesson at 9, yet I already knew the mechanics of it anyway. My parents also told me about it way before school did, as I was curious as to what gay meant, having just seen a TV report on Freddie Mercury at the time.

As long as it is managed correctly according to age, then I see no problem. Hopefully by the time the kids reach 14 they will have a much better understanding about relationships and sex, rather than go full pelt into nobbing each other just because they are curious and have just had a lesson on the "how" and not the "why".

EDIT: It isn't "mandatory" either. I wish people would read the truth about a story before spouting off.

Read some real journalism on the story.....

[edit on 23/10/08 by stumason]

[

Originally posted by Rockpuck
reply to post by Clark W. Griswold

 

WOW. What ever happened to the ABC's.. coloring pictures.. nap time.. learning about trees and sun and basic things like that?

Sex?

Really?

LOL
I mean seriously?...when i was in Kindergarten, we KNEW girls had cutties, and sex was something ewwwy that grown ups did, its really not a 5 yr olds concern...

Sex Ed was absolutely pointless. They don't teach you anything.

Maybe some of you have a higher opinion of it?

Not me, or anyone I know.

Stick to playing Doctor with your neighbors and watching softcore porn when your parents go to bed kids.

I was leery about the title but it sounds like they are actually approaching this rationally for once.

ALthough I can't say for sure since the curriculum isn't finalized, it looks like it's going to be more inclusive than bannana tricks. The line about mixed-media makes me hope that the lessons will address the reasons and situations why kids feel that they need to have sex, not just contraceptive methods. they go together, I think.

Originally posted by Lucid Lunacy

Stick to playing Doctor with your neighbors and watching softcore porn when your parents go to bed kids.

Dam you should be on Oprah!

Something's being overlooked here.

This isn't the government forcing the idea of sex into much too young of minds...This is a response to media and popular culture ALREADY forcing that upon the children.

At this stage in our evolution we're pretty much trying to fix all the problems we are still creating, but it's a losing battle.

I see no problem with this. It needs to be done to counteract the media. I am still aghast at the parents who are too embarrassed to say such words as "vagina" and "penis" and their children are taught other terms for their anatomy, yet they'll sit and watch Desperate Housewives or 90210 with the same children in the room and not think twice about it.

Also, don't forget the news articles from earlier this year of "child sex gangs" found to be operating at some school (in Australia if I'm not mistaken). Kids are seeing and doing far more these days then we ever did, and they're learnign it SOMEWHERE.

Originally posted by Layla
Also, don't forget the news articles from earlier this year of "child sex gangs" found to be operating at some school (in Australia if I'm not mistaken). Kids are seeing and doing far more these days then we ever did, and they're learnign it SOMEWHERE.

kids are definetley experiencing more at a younger age than the prior generation for sure, and "where" is where ever like before - television in general is a big substitute, but you can only wonder what exactly would be taught in a school in regards to sex to fit the mind of 4-5 yr old..

I say if the schools are so concerned, then the schools just ask for a statement from the parents stating that a parent HAS discussed the subject with the child.

An even worse situation occurred in Cali when a teacher wanted to have a "Coming Out Day" in her kindergarten class without informing the parents.

No wonder they are trying to pass Prop 8 against gay marriage. What will they want if that gets voted down. It's a very slippery slope IMO.

Originally posted by seabisquit
No wonder they are trying to pass Prop 8 against gay marriage. What will they want if that gets voted down. It's a very slippery slope IMO.

They (the gay community) want nothing else...

This isn't their Bill.

They can currently Marry. So what 'else' are they doing right now? What slope are they slipping down right now?

Nothing.

They can Marry. That's what they want. But many people have issues with that hence this Bill. Nothing new...

[edit on 24-10-2008 by Lucid Lunacy]

what really annoys me is that there are a lot of people out there who agree in this and who obviously do not have children, our rights as parents/ guardians are being stripped away all the time, it is not for the goverment to decide whether my children will learn this, it is soley my decision, they are discussing whether we will be able to withdraw our kids from these classes (probably not), they cant even balance the books of our economy and now they are poking their effing noses into the mental development of my/our children, i for one will be making a stand against this and will be protesting vehmently from the roof tops if need be, ....it just goes to show how little rights we have and how akin we are to cattle......can children of 7 years old be trusted with the knowledge of what a bunny and a willy are for? i always thought that children could not be accountable for their actions....stupid people our goverment

I live in Holland teen Pregnancy is almost non existent here. And you know Sex Ed is almost non existent as well. We had two biology lessons about the subject that's it. The only thing they said is wear a condom and they showed some pictures of diseases. In Holland we tend not to make e big deal about sex. How retarded does someone have to be too teach sex ed to little children. It won't work 5 year old children shouldn't even know what sex is they shouldn't even be thinking about it. If they do think about it then their is something terrible wrong with British society.
It's like the war on drugs in Holland where marijuana is legal poeple use much less than in the US where it's illegal.
The more you fight something the more it will bite back and again teaching about sex in kindergarten is disgusting.

reply to post by THELONIO

7 years old be trusted with the knowledge of what a bunny and a willy are for

^This is why sex education should be mandatory^


Just like they can be trusted to know what a brain or a heart are for children can be trusted to understand the function of a penis and a vagina.

The rights of parents being stripped away? Please. It is a parent's duty and responsibility to educate their children. Clearly, in the UK a lot of of parents have shirked that responsibility. I ,for one ,am glad someone will teach them what "bunnies" and "willys" are for and what the consequences of their misuse can be.

What the holy crap,sex education to 5 years olds???? Where's the world going??????

I mean yes it should be taught but a 5 year is not interrested in sex or 'sex education' and will not be having sex with other kids at that age.Its too flippin early for them to know about these things.Atleast let them get to puberty or secondary school for Gods Sake!!!!!

This is just absalutely mind blowing,really don't know whether to laugh or cry over this.

Sex advisor:Hey kids this is how you put a condom on your penis when you get an erection*puts it onto a dildo*..

Kids:WOW thas a BIG tinkle n wat meanz ercton???

Sex advisor:Hmmm Welll mmm... Dangit!!!!!!!








[edit on 24-10-2008 by t0ken]

Originally posted by THELONIO
can children of 7 years old be trusted with the knowledge of what a bunny and a willy are for?

Thank you SO MUCH for proving my point. A bunny and a willy?? Seriously? It's a VAGINA and a PENIS. I have children. I have FOUR CHILDREN. Let's say in your little world "Uncle Joe" decides he wants to have a little play with your daughter. Let's say your daughter, distraught, wants to let someone know. She tells her teacher, or your neighbor or whomever "Uncle Joe pet my Bunny". Will that get anything done? Children NEED TO KNOW about their anatomy and what is and isn't appropriate use for it. Yes, a 7 year old CAN be trust with the KNOWLEDGE of what a penis and vagina are for. They don't need to know at that age all about the mechanics of sex, but they do need to know what they are called, and who should or should not be allowed to see their parts, or touch their parts and should be taught not to be afraid to tell anyone if someone DOES try to get them to use their parts in an inappropriate manner.

Perhaps we should just stick with the birds and the bees. But then they don't get it.

We could resort to the storks.