There always seems to be a raging debate between parents when it comes to sex education for their children. It seems odd that any parents would be relying upon their local school district to educate their children, but some parents feel it’s ok to hand their responsibility over to people working in the local school.
You know your child the best, it’s your responsibility. There is no reason for the people working in your school to do what is the responsibility of the parents.
Parents are fighting to make a choice on whether their child should wear a mask. They should also be refusing to let some stranger teach their child about sex education.
Children need to be educated on your values, and the truth about sex. There are plenty of resources out there that can help you tackle this important subject. Home-school parents do it all of the time.
Related: Tennessee Considers Ban on Schools Teaching LGBTQ Lifestyles But Why Stop There?
Children may be ready for some information at different ages. You have the ability to pull back if you see your child is uncomfortable or not ready for some of the information. When your child is in a classroom, they are not given that kind of respect. They are forced to listen to the material that will be covered, even if it’s uncomfortable. You can revisit these topics as they mature.
So what is meant by sexualizing children vs. teaching them basic facts and information?
Some of the programs or materials offered to children in school now have a distinct message that sexualizes children. A perfect example comes from “Pizza and Consent.” The title may not seem offensive, but parents in Enfield Connecticut had a different reaction after the damage was done to their children.
In National Review’s “Connecticut School Asked Eighth Graders to List Sexual Preferences during Lesson on Consent,” they reported that:
…parents are outraged after a health class assignment asked eighth graders to list their sexual likes and dislikes and boundaries, according to a new report.
Documents obtained by the nonprofit group Parents Defending Education show students were subjected to a lesson called “Pizza & Consent” that told students, “we can use pizza as a metaphor for sex!”
There is a difference between educating your child on the biology of sex, and sexualizing children.
They go on to report:
The assignment features a blank pizza with space to share pizza preferences “in relation to sex.” Pizza toppings were likened to sexual likes and dislikes. The assignment used “kissing” and “giving oral” as examples of toppings students could choose for their pizza.
The push to sexualize children oftentimes comes from nefarious individuals. When this kind of material shows up in your local school district, that is a red flag that the people in charge of your children do not have their best interest at heart–especially in light of the number of teachers who’ve been charged with sexual assault.
There are guides for parents on how to develop, in their children, a healthy perspective regarding their bodies and sexuality. If you need resources there are plenty to choose from. When is the right time to tell your children about sex, and how do you cover the sensitive topics? There are books to help guide you on that.
The goal is to develop a healthy dialogue with your children, knowing when to explain the details of sex, and helping them prepare for the physical changes that happen during puberty. This is an opportunity to talk about dating, and encouraging abstinence. You get to introduce morals and values into the discussion.
Look for resources within your religious community. Theology of the Body for Teens helps teens understand the importance of treating each other with dignity and respect. Compare that to the programs used in some schools that seek to sexualize children. For the parents in Connecticut, it’s too late– the damage is done.
Kids are subjected to so much sexualization in the media, the last thing we need is for the adults in their life to push it on them.
One parent, after reading about what happened in CT had this to say, “….These teachers/administrations are crossing the line into the pedo realm and some should be arrested for talking about this stuff with minors. Creepy! ”
A school should be a safe place for children. This kind of sexualization of children is not safe or healthy. And while kids may not always listen to their parents, at least you’ve equipped them with the best information possible. When schools sexualize children, they help groom them for predators, and push an unhealthy lifestyle.
This is your job, do it.
