Health class

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
Health class
9
Fri, 03-09-2007 - 10:33pm

This is the semester that dd15's school does "sex ed". I think she's pretty knowledgeable but it's good to get the basics straight. From what I can tell, it's being run well, with an atmosphere that is comfortable and factual.

The funny part came tonight. She said "we've come to the conclusion that our health teacher is obsessed with disease. Every thing she tells us about ends with how we can get an STD from doing it" My DH and I started to laugh - that's a parent's dream - scare the SH*T out of them to get them to put off sex. This moment made me think of daddio, who would have a great comeback for that remark!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2003
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Fri, 03-09-2007 - 11:54pm
She's having sex ed classes at fifteen?! Wouldn't she have gotten them alot earlier? My kids starting sex ed when they were in 5th or 6th grade.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 7:41am

LOL Reminds me of when J took sex ed in health class many moons ago! Came home one night and said "I think if you have sex, your pecker will fall off!" When I got to the bottom of that statement I discovered that they were spending a whole lot of time on STDs and how you get them.

We have sex ed as STDs and such as freshmen, but they do start with less indepth sex ed at about 7th grade. We have a very strong "abstinence only" parent group here, so teachers really have to be careful what they say in class. What I find very interesting is that the two families who's parents were the strongest in the abstinence only program 7 or 8 years ago have had to deal with multiple teen pregnancies while the kids are/were still in high school.

Rose

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 9:33am
Here they have a puberty presentation in the fall of 5th grade - boys in one room, girls in the other.
Pam
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 10:51am
I should have checked with my DD - they've had "health" before - and some of the basics - but this is the first class with PHOTOGRAPHS LOLOL
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2006
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 11:12am
I thought age "15" was very, very late too! My DD had her "Sex Ed" class last year, in 7th Grade. I am forever grateful that the teachers teach all that stuff as I would be way too embarrassed to discuss it with her.
I too, think the teachers purposely scare the kids so they wouldn't want to do it ASAP.
I remember when I had it too, it was in the 7th or 8th grade I think.
Today, that seems sort of 'old' I think it should be in the 6th grade. (LOL!!)
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sat, 03-10-2007 - 11:15pm

LOL.. I don't know about a comeback...

But I do place the effectiveness of sexual education in schools on about the same level as the D.A.R.E. program. Both are virtually worthless.
Maybe I’m getting cynical in my old age. Are they still rolling condoms on bananas?
Since schools cannot delve into the complex and controversial idea that entering into a sexual relationship before you have any real life experience in “relationships” is not a very good idea, it seems they are reduced to concentrating on plumbing and STD’s. I’m afraid that not much learning takes place with those two issues. Kids know where the penis goes well before this class. And unfortunately, teaching them that your body will rot and die if you have sex appears to be the only avenue of deterrent they have left. LOL

I guess it’s up to us parents to continue to do the real job of educating our children about responsible decision making regarding their sexuality?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sun, 03-11-2007 - 12:00am

I'm shocked about that too.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Sun, 03-11-2007 - 9:13am

Woah, back up! ;)
<>

Don't delegate ALL of sex ed to the teachers. They can be very helpful with teaching the mechanics and physical health part of sex ed, but only parents can really impart the emotional education that has to go with it, and the values you want your child to hold. Yes, it is embarrassing at first to talk to your child about sex, it's pretty awkward for them too, but trust me, it does get easier the more you do it. Even with sons. My hubby didn't say much of anything to our sons about sex, other than to imply that "if your getting some, great, but keep it covered." I, on the other hand, have over the years had to have a lot of conversations with them about it, talked about how their g/fs likely are expecting more than a good time if they have sex. The first time, I really wished the floor would swallow me and it would all go away, but by the time the youngest son was in high school, it really wasn't too bad. And now, with DD, it feels fairly natural to talk to her.

A couple of years ago, my then 20 y/o DS was dating a girl who had a real reputation for getting around - LONG story - and I even sat him down and said "you're an adult and it's your choice who you sleep with, but if you're going to sleep with someone with this kind of reputation, for heaven's sake, protect yourself, EVERY time!!!" I think the girl thought they were going to be in this for a long term relationship, even though he spent the night at her apt within 48 hours of meeting her, but I was pretty certain that he was just using the sex as a bandaide for a broken heart. I'm not very proud of my DS for making that choice, in fact, it turns my stomach, but girls need to know that boys will do that sometimes. My DD watched her brother carry on like this, and has been pretty vocal about it, warning her friends that this kind of thing DOES happen.
Rose

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
In reply to: luv_l_and_s
Mon, 03-12-2007 - 11:45am

My DS was very excited to learn he would be having health in 5th grade this year and very disappointed when he found out they didn't discuss sex ed, but instead talked about boring stuff like nutrition. Of course, last year, he had already started asking me very detailed questions about sex. I think having 2 teenaged sisters started him on that course. I was answering the questions, but I also called his dad and said they should be talking about this subject more. He was very happy to help.

the disease stuff makes me think about when my ex & I had to go to "marriage preparation classes" w/ the Catholic church back in 1984 or so. One night they had a nurse come in to talk about "natural family planning." It's slightly more sophisticated than the rhythm method in that you take temperature and don't just count the days. Now I'm not knocking anyone who wants to try this for religious reasons, but when the nurse tried to discuss "artificial" birth control, i.e. anything that actually works, she had some reason why everything was going to kill you. Like the pill would give you cancer, etc. I thought it would have been a lot more honest just to say, this isn't for medical reasons, it's just what the church teaching is, so that's what we have to say, instead of giving incorrect medical info.