APS looking to make sex Ed coed

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with it. We’re all mammals, nothing we do naturally is anything to be ashamed of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with it. We’re all mammals, nothing we do naturally is anything to be ashamed of.

That is true. Also true that tweens are awkward AF and may feel more comfortable in gender segregated classes for when learning about their bodies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with it. We’re all mammals, nothing we do naturally is anything to be ashamed of.

That is true. Also true that tweens are awkward AF and may feel more comfortable in gender segregated classes for when learning about their bodies.

Probably because they have internalized shame from their parents. Kids learn this stuff, you know. They don’t come naturally equipped with it as any toddler can tell you.

Normalize what is natural, and maybe you won’t have male legislators taxing period products and thinking ectopic pregnancies can end in a healthy term infant.

[Anonymous]

It is already co-ed. It has been for at least 3 years now, based on the experience of my 2 kids at McKinley/Cardinal and Swanson. The switch seemed to happen during the 20/21 school year, because I think it was too hard to do sex ed separately when the kids were hybrid that spring. Then APS never went back to separating by gender.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with it. We’re all mammals, nothing we do naturally is anything to be ashamed of.

That is true. Also true that tweens are awkward AF and may feel more comfortable in gender segregated classes for when learning about their bodies.

Probably because they have internalized shame from their parents. Kids learn this stuff, you know. They don’t come naturally equipped with it as any toddler can tell you.

Normalize what is natural, and maybe you won’t have male legislators taxing period products and thinking ectopic pregnancies can end in a healthy term infant.

I really don't believe those things happen because they didn't have co-ed sex ed.

[Anonymous]

APS feedback on this issue is just one more example of the "performative engagement" that they excel in. As usual, tiny little text boxes limited to 500 characters.

In contrast, Fairfax did a real survey and 85% of respondents didn't support the switch to gender combined lessons. Some of their school board members even raised the issue that there is a "lack of research available on gender combined and gender separate sex education lessons". I don't have an opinion yet but what's the rationale for the proposed change. I applaud fairfax for forming a committee to advise on these changes rather than the APS approach of put it up in the summer and hope no one comments.

https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/fairfax-schools-committee-updates-recommended-changes-for-coed-sex-education-lessons/article_d4bfb7a0-176b-11ee-9917-23666abac151.html#comments

Also Why are we adding female genital mutilation to the content areas covered? It seems like it already covers alot of ground, and we're adding more. Is FGM necessary to include in the APS course? Is it an issue in APS? It's a horrific practice but it doesn't make sense to me why it's part of the APS curriculum.


https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CTAJW34F1AEF/$file/I-7.1.8%20Combined.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS feedback on this issue is just one more example of the "performative engagement" that they excel in. As usual, tiny little text boxes limited to 500 characters.

In contrast, Fairfax did a real survey and 85% of respondents didn't support the switch to gender combined lessons. Some of their school board members even raised the issue that there is a "lack of research available on gender combined and gender separate sex education lessons". I don't have an opinion yet but what's the rationale for the proposed change. I applaud fairfax for forming a committee to advise on these changes rather than the APS approach of put it up in the summer and hope no one comments.

https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/fairfax-schools-committee-updates-recommended-changes-for-coed-sex-education-lessons/article_d4bfb7a0-176b-11ee-9917-23666abac151.html#comments

Also Why are we adding female genital mutilation to the content areas covered? It seems like it already covers alot of ground, and we're adding more. Is FGM necessary to include in the APS course? Is it an issue in APS? It's a horrific practice but it doesn't make sense to me why it's part of the APS curriculum.


https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CTAJW34F1AEF/$file/I-7.1.8%20Combined.pdf

Agree and agree.
FGM isn't exactly "sex education." It's cultural and legal studies.
Does the existing curriculum cover circumcision? Sorry to admit, I don't know - haven't looked at the curriculum that closely.

[Anonymous]

Good. It’s a better conversation.

[Anonymous]

My feedback on that "we don't actually GAF what you think" survey is 1) will this lead to more people opting out because of faith-based or other cultural reasons? These are important classes and there is evidence that not teaching these ideas to kids has health consequences.

2) What do staff think of the change in policy? They are the ones who have to teach these classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with it. We’re all mammals, nothing we do naturally is anything to be ashamed of.

That is true. Also true that tweens are awkward AF and may feel more comfortable in gender segregated classes for when learning about their bodies.

Probably because they have internalized shame from their parents. Kids learn this stuff, you know. They don’t come naturally equipped with it as any toddler can tell you.

Normalize what is natural, and maybe you won’t have male legislators taxing period products and thinking ectopic pregnancies can end in a healthy term infant.

+1 million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with it. We’re all mammals, nothing we do naturally is anything to be ashamed of.

That is true. Also true that tweens are awkward AF and may feel more comfortable in gender segregated classes for when learning about their bodies.

Probably because they have internalized shame from their parents. Kids learn this stuff, you know. They don’t come naturally equipped with it as any toddler can tell you.

Normalize what is natural, and maybe you won’t have male legislators taxing period products and thinking ectopic pregnancies can end in a healthy term infant.

The psychology behind it doesn’t matter. The point is, some kids are more comfortable asking questions when members of the opposite sex aren’t present. Whether you think that’s weird isn’t the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with it. We’re all mammals, nothing we do naturally is anything to be ashamed of.

That is true. Also true that tweens are awkward AF and may feel more comfortable in gender segregated classes for when learning about their bodies.

Probably because they have internalized shame from their parents. Kids learn this stuff, you know. They don’t come naturally equipped with it as any toddler can tell you.

Normalize what is natural, and maybe you won’t have male legislators taxing period products and thinking ectopic pregnancies can end in a healthy term infant.

The psychology behind it doesn’t matter. The point is, some kids are more comfortable asking questions when members of the opposite sex aren’t present. Whether you think that’s weird isn’t the point.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with it. We’re all mammals, nothing we do naturally is anything to be ashamed of.

That is true. Also true that tweens are awkward AF and may feel more comfortable in gender segregated classes for when learning about their bodies.

Probably because they have internalized shame from their parents. Kids learn this stuff, you know. They don’t come naturally equipped with it as any toddler can tell you.

Normalize what is natural, and maybe you won’t have male legislators taxing period products and thinking ectopic pregnancies can end in a healthy term infant.

The psychology behind it doesn’t matter. The point is, some kids are more comfortable asking questions when members of the opposite sex aren’t present. Whether you think that’s weird isn’t the point.

+1

+2. And APS has an obligation to teach this stuff to a wide group of students of different backgrounds. Why not offer a co-ed class, and maintain the single-gender classes, and let the students pick which class they are more comfortable attending? I would hate for people to opt out or disengage because they are uncomfortable with the new setup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My feedback on that "we don't actually GAF what you think" survey is 1) will this lead to more people opting out because of faith-based or other cultural reasons? These are important classes and there is evidence that not teaching these ideas to kids has health consequences.

2) What do staff think of the change in policy? They are the ones who have to teach these classes.

They should keep track of how many people opt out and how that changes. I bet it’s a lot more. I work with some refugee families and this would be problematic for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was definitely co-ed for my fifth grader in APS. Reports from my kid and others was positive - no one made stupid jokes or laughed etc. Every kid got a piece of paper and had to write something on it, a question or otherwise, and they were collected ahead of time and answered. They could also raise hands and ask questions.

This approach covers kids who may be embarrassed.