1. National Conference of State Legislature provides state policies on sex education in schools. Each state is listed separately.
Reference
NCPS. (2012). Guttmacher Institute. State Policies on Sex Education in Schools. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/state-policies-on-sex-education-in-schools.aspx
Reference
NCPS. (2012). Guttmacher Institute. State Policies on Sex Education in Schools. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/state-policies-on-sex-education-in-schools.aspx
2. Suggested Standards for Sexual Education in Elementary Schools provides guidelines for what should be taught at each grade level.
Reference
Education.com. (2012). Education.com., Inc. There's no place like home for sex education: 6th grade. Retrieved from
Reference
Education.com. (2012). Education.com., Inc. There's no place like home for sex education: 6th grade. Retrieved from
3. Montgomery County Public Schools has Grade 8 Comprehensive Health Education curriculum approved by the Board of Education. The booklet states, "Teachers are directed to present the information in bold italic print as direct lecture and they are not to provide additional information, interpretation, or examples." In other words, teachers cannot add information or refuse to present certain parts.
Reference
Department of Education. (2005). Montgomery County Public Schools. Grade 8 Health Education Curriculum - Revised. Field Test – Spring 2005, Teacher’s Edition. Retrieved from
Reference
Department of Education. (2005). Montgomery County Public Schools. Grade 8 Health Education Curriculum - Revised. Field Test – Spring 2005, Teacher’s Edition. Retrieved from
4. Planned Parenthood provides information for teaching "medically accurate sexual education." The websites states: "Comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education covers the wide array of topics that affect sexuality and sexual health. It is grounded in evidence-based, peer-reviewed science. Its goal is to promote health and well-being in a way that is developmentally appropriate." The information is based on research, not educator's interpretations.
Reference
Planned Parenthood. (2012). Planned Parenthood. Tools for Educators. Retrieved from
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/resources/implementing-sex-education-23516.htm
5. According to the University of Georgia, "States that offer abstinence-only education in public schools do not yield more abstinent students or less pregnancies" (p1). However, if a student is abstinent, that student does not have to worry about STDs or pregnancies. Many students are not told how to avoid peer pressure or the need to engage in sexual activity if they are not ready. Parents hope their children know their values, but when they are in school, those values may be challenged.
Reference
Rudow, H. (2011). Counseling Today. Teaching abstinence does not lead to abstinence. Retrieved fromhttp://ct.counseling.org/2011/11/teaching-abstinence-in-schools-does-not-lead-to-abstinence/
5. According to the University of Georgia, "States that offer abstinence-only education in public schools do not yield more abstinent students or less pregnancies" (p1). However, if a student is abstinent, that student does not have to worry about STDs or pregnancies. Many students are not told how to avoid peer pressure or the need to engage in sexual activity if they are not ready. Parents hope their children know their values, but when they are in school, those values may be challenged.
Reference
Rudow, H. (2011). Counseling Today. Teaching abstinence does not lead to abstinence. Retrieved fromhttp://ct.counseling.org/2011/11/teaching-abstinence-in-schools-does-not-lead-to-abstinence/
6. Circle of Moms provides information for parents about sex education. It also includes a forum where parents and educators can ask questions and dialogue about sexual education and STDs.
Reference
Sugar, Inc. (2012). Circle of moms, motherhood, shared, and simplified. Should sex education be taught in public schools? why or why not? Retrieved from
http://www.circleofmoms.com/young-moms-aged-20-30/should-sex-education-be-taught-in-public-schools-why-or-why-not-440700
7. RH Reality provides comprehensive information on various topics related to sexual education. Lauren Bull, a sexual educator, states, " Every American will see that the real meaning of 'moral values' is protecting our youth. We will all want to equip them with the knowledge and tools to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections." Her articles addresses two issues related to sexual education: that young people are engaging in sex at a younger age, and what happens when children do not listen.
Reference
Bull, L. (2008). RH Reality Check. Sexual Education in the Real World. Retrieved from
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/01/09/sex-ed-in-the-real-world
7. RH Reality provides comprehensive information on various topics related to sexual education. Lauren Bull, a sexual educator, states, " Every American will see that the real meaning of 'moral values' is protecting our youth. We will all want to equip them with the knowledge and tools to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections." Her articles addresses two issues related to sexual education: that young people are engaging in sex at a younger age, and what happens when children do not listen.
Reference
Bull, L. (2008). RH Reality Check. Sexual Education in the Real World. Retrieved from
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/01/09/sex-ed-in-the-real-world
In referance to the sexual information resources blog, In my true opinion the government should take an immediate step in and do some drastic changes to the youth population today, no matter how much the younger generation is taught sexual education majority percentage does not follow because they feel it cannot happen to them, teen pregnancy, STD's until it is to late, I think in every high school there should be a course for every semester that goes in depth detail about STD'S, preventative measures and the real blunt truth about the facts, instead of scaring our younger generation with pictures of herpes or genital warts, it is obviously not accomplishing much and the younger generation of sexuaL PROMiscuity is rising. The government should step in for the following reasons, the rising welfare debt for the people who can not afford birth control and continue to have children, yes there are programs to help but truth be told people can become lazy, dont have means of transportation , whatever the excuse may be and this is why our government so far in debt, this blog goes into a whole other research of the government control and welfare elimination.
ReplyDeleteBrittany,
DeleteYou say , “In my true opinion the government should take an immediate step in and do some drastic changes to the youth population today,” however, you also say, “this blog goes into a whole other research of the government control and welfare elimination.” I believe in self-responsibility and self-determination. Adults must be more involved in the information their children receive, but many do not. Schools are doing the best they can, but parents have the greatest influence on their children’s behavior.
I do not teach sex education, but when I was in high school during the 1960s, that’s the same information I got: scary pictures of diseases from STDs. But I think our dialogue may help to change the way schools approach this topic. I believe knowledge is power. When young people focus and pay attention, they know what to do. The challenge is getting their attention and presenting it in a way they can understand. This is a learning process for all of us.
Wao! This is a very intense topic, moral values and peer presure, we definitively need to do something about this matter but not only schools have to talk to the students we as parents have the responsability to talk to our kids at home.I understand that maybe some parents feel shy or don't feel confortable talking about this to theire kids, if this is the case get information on who to talk to them, why wait for them to hear about this from someone else. I think home is were everything start.
ReplyDeleteMaria,
DeleteI agree with you. I also believe that parents have to do more. However, many parents are busy working to provide and keep their families together.
How can parents (especially young parents)manage their time to make sure their children don't go the wrong way?
I looked over all the links and thought they all had very good and helpful information. I liked the one about Montgomery County Public Schools Grade 8 Comprehensive Health Education curriculum booklet. I found it to be very informative. It broke everything down and it didn't just talk about sex. It went from Dealing with Stress to Reducing Unhealthy and Unpleasant Situations in Daily Life to even talking about Stereotyping and Generalizations Regarding Sexual Identity. Now and days teens are having sex way before they should and there are too many teen pregnancies going on. I believe that the "sex talk" is something important that really does need to happen at home; even if it is being given in school as well. That way it means something to the teen coming from someone they care about. I'm about to prepare myself to give that talk to my younger sister. I don't know if my mom has talked to her yet but I feel like I should also have "the talk" with her. So thank you for this information. It came to me right on time!
ReplyDeleteLeslie,
DeleteI'm glad you found this information to be helpful. I also think it’s a great idea for you to talk to your sister. Sometimes parents are very strict with the oldest and by the time the youngest child becomes a teen, they may be tired. (I don’t know if this is the case; I’m just guessing here.)
But if you do give “the sex talk” to your younger sister, make sure your information is valid and proven. Many young people are getting misinformation from their older brother or sister.
Regardless if a child learns Sex Ed in school by a teacher or from a brochure they receive from their physician at a health clinic or goes as far to look it up on the web. It's the parents responsibility to stress the importance of Sex and what Abstinence truly means. I also think that if you are going through puberty not only do you learn about your changes but also the opposite sex. Education is the key and the more you know about the opposite sex you will have a better understanding from both point of views. Today's society has no limits when it involves sex appeal, epically for teens. The clothing that some of theses young girls ware today make me feel uncomfortable. The girls when I was going to school were more conservative than they are to day. I believe the biggest problem when it comes to kids having sex and being educated is that the parents today are kids themselves. We have kids teaching kids, moms are grandmothers before they are thirty. In all my years who thought if you were pregnant and in your teens you could be famous we'll now you can on MTV. These young teens are being glorified and making a name for themselves and making a huge payday on top of it. Instead of these reality shows being made to be a learning experiment it's becoming a fad. I realize if society excepts something no matter what it is then its ok, it use to be frowned upon but society has allowed it. I have a 4 year old daughter and a 12 year old boy and I have already made sure if my daughter says something in appropriate I make sure she knows. As for my son I always have time to discuss what ever is on his mind. If a child doesn't know then he can't be blamed later on, only the parent will be left to blame. IT STARTS AT HOME!!!
ReplyDelete