All the embarrassment of High School Health Class
(More from the lost posts series)
Last night, I had the delight of going to the local elementary school to review the materials that will be presented to our children in what passes for “Human Interaction” — or you’ll remember it called “Sex Ed.” Oh, but we’ve progressed so far and now we add to the fun of teaching our children about their changing bodies their roles in a society and global something or other. Frankly, my eyes glazed over about the time I realized that I was going to sit through the FOURTH grade films with a room full of my equally embarrassed parents.
Before I go forward, I have to say that I was stunned in the turn out of the review. When there was back to school night the largest room in the school was standing room only to listen to how the PTA raises money by selling wrapping paper no one needs. But when we actually get to discuss, review and try to decide if we think this is truly age appropiate, the presentation was for TWO schools and held in the library (which has three tables and 14 chairs). When I walked in I asked the school nurse if she was expecting a huge crowd and she giggled and said, “I’d be shocked if all these chairs are full.”
Now, I get that the information doesn’t change, so you can eliminate anyone who has older kids and aren’t new to the district. However, I was the ONLY kindergarten parent there. Let me let that sink in a moment. I know I’m not the only parent whose oldest kid is new to the school this year, but I was the only parent there from Duke’s grade. I’m glad to know we all have our priorities straight.
Back to the evening. Now remember the audience of this meeting, apparently they are the only parents who would consider not giving their permission to this course of study in our schools. The vast majority were concerned about the details, the information passed and the context given. Basically, they are in the group of “there’s biology and that’s fine, but you can’t talk about the rest without talking morality and what morality are you sharing?” This was a refreshing group. There was the small group of people who were “Don’t you dare talk to my children about this and I want to argue crowd.” And finally there was the group who just wanted to know what was coming for their kids’ grade so they could ‘pre-teach’ it. This was slightly refreshing — to see parents who care about and are involved in what their kids are taught.
Then out of the blue, the school nurse (who frankly missed her calling as a warden in a women’s prison) says, who wants to see the movie we show the 4th graders? Oh sure, that was going to be fun. The movie is called “Just around the Corner” and there is a version for boys and a girls (we saw both). The movies were slightly better production value but seriously they are horrible. Horrible in the since that they were boring, trite, and not at all interesting. I can only imagine that half the class is sound asleep by the end of the movie.
So, I was forced to wonder why has sex-ed not gotten any better in the modern day. Seriously, how hard is it to make a film about BIOLOGY and not make is a giggle fest as they dance around the actual biology in an effort to remind us every ten seconds, “If you have any questions, talk to an adult.”
One dad wanted to know why his 4th grade daughter was going to be told that her body was built to carry a baby. I was a little stunned by that one. But the thing that I found most disturbing is that I sat through 2 films and looked through the materials and not once was I told what the other stuff they were gong to teach the kids. Again, there’s the biology and there’s the other stuff — am I alone in thinking it is the “other stuff” that is more controversal?