Family life education - 5th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had it in 5th grade too, not divided by gender, 25 years ago.

5th grade FLE is not your sex ed from a quarter of a century ago.

Fourth grade is more similar to what sex ed used to be.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. We had sort of what my kids had in 4th grade which is fine - gender separate information sessions on how your body changes. We never had any presentation regarding the opposite sex's transformation. In 5th grade, my son got the whole story - about what actually happens during intercourse. We had a discussion about what he was going to learn before the sessions started, but I was told in the parent session that they weren't going to talk about intercourse. He was trying to get his head around it and then came the STD discussions. I just think it's too much too soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. We had sort of what my kids had in 4th grade which is fine - gender separate information sessions on how your body changes. We never had any presentation regarding the opposite sex's transformation. In 5th grade, my son got the whole story - about what actually happens during intercourse. We had a discussion about what he was going to learn before the sessions started, but I was told in the parent session that they weren't going to talk about intercourse. He was trying to get his head around it and then came the STD discussions. I just think it's too much too soon.

OP here - this worries me. If I don't send him, he'll learn it on the playground. I'd rather he get the real facts, but it seems like too much too soon.

[Anonymous]

I learned a lot on the playground. My mother shoved a book at me a couple of times, but was uncomfortable answering any questions.

Send your kid. Get some books. Answer his questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI - some kids aren't ready to hear about it. I am pro-sex-ed, but my 5th grader was traumatized (like crying) by the sex ed talks. She even tried to opt herself out. After seeing her reaction for a couple of days, I opted her out on the STD day. She said they wouldn't let the kids cover their ears or eyes or put their heads down if there were parts that were too much.

So, just consider whether your child is really ready or how he/she reacts. It might be more than your child is ready to see. FWIW, I had verbally talked about the concepts before this... but the graphic nature of sex ed sent her over the edge.

My son had a similar reaction. It was too much for him. His exact words were that it was more than he was ready to know about right now. We also ended up opting out of STD day.

Sorry, but how is sex ed traumatic? If my kid came home with that reaction, I would really question how they are presenting the curriculum that it is actually SCARY. It should be no more or less graphic than learning about the circulatory system or the digestive system. How is traumatic?

[Anonymous]

I learned it 30 years ago in a Catholic School. I assumed 5th grade was universal.

[Anonymous]

Do they learn about STDs in elementary school? I thought they saved talk of contraceptives, STDs and videos of actual birth for HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI - some kids aren't ready to hear about it. I am pro-sex-ed, but my 5th grader was traumatized (like crying) by the sex ed talks. She even tried to opt herself out. After seeing her reaction for a couple of days, I opted her out on the STD day. She said they wouldn't let the kids cover their ears or eyes or put their heads down if there were parts that were too much.

So, just consider whether your child is really ready or how he/she reacts. It might be more than your child is ready to see. FWIW, I had verbally talked about the concepts before this... but the graphic nature of sex ed sent her over the edge.

My son had a similar reaction. It was too much for him. His exact words were that it was more than he was ready to know about right now. We also ended up opting out of STD day.

Sorry, but how is sex ed traumatic? If my kid came home with that reaction, I would really question how they are presenting the curriculum that it is actually SCARY. It should be no more or less graphic than learning about the circulatory system or the digestive system. How is traumatic?

You seriously don't understand how a kid who has not gone through puberty yet might be a little freaked out by the thought of bleeding once a month or having wet dreams not to mention the act of sex! My own kids were pretty appalled by it all. They weren't in tears or anything but they were still *kids* not hormonal teenagers so they really couldn't understand why in the world someone would want to do that...

[Anonymous]

Read it all carefully for yourself and be sure. The slides and videos are heavy and disgusting. Sorry, I'm opting mine out. It's way too much and too early! Do what's best for yours but I'm not having it. I taught all mine need to know. The end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI - some kids aren't ready to hear about it. I am pro-sex-ed, but my 5th grader was traumatized (like crying) by the sex ed talks. She even tried to opt herself out. After seeing her reaction for a couple of days, I opted her out on the STD day. She said they wouldn't let the kids cover their ears or eyes or put their heads down if there were parts that were too much.

So, just consider whether your child is really ready or how he/she reacts. It might be more than your child is ready to see. FWIW, I had verbally talked about the concepts before this... but the graphic nature of sex ed sent her over the edge.

My son had a similar reaction. It was too much for him. His exact words were that it was more than he was ready to know about right now. We also ended up opting out of STD day.

Sorry, but how is sex ed traumatic? If my kid came home with that reaction, I would really question how they are presenting the curriculum that it is actually SCARY. It should be no more or less graphic than learning about the circulatory system or the digestive system. How is traumatic?

You seriously don't understand how a kid who has not gone through puberty yet might be a little freaked out by the thought of bleeding once a month or having wet dreams not to mention the act of sex! My own kids were pretty appalled by it all. They weren't in tears or anything but they were still *kids* not hormonal teenagers so they really couldn't understand why in the world someone would want to do that...

I don't get it either. None of that stuff was news to me when taught in sex ed, so of course it wasn't traumatic. Maybe this is evidence that you need to reveal more to them before they go into it? (seriously, what fourth grader doesn't already know that she'll get a period some day?)

[Anonymous]

Opted both of my boys out. You need to see the slides and read the material for yourself, fellow mamas. What I saw was wayyyy past what is age appropriate. My children know all there is to know and then some. The end. Opting them out from now on. The schools have no business nor expertise in this stuff. Basic biology stuff? Okay. What I saw and read wasn't that. Just don't blindly trust the FLE curriculum and make the choice that's right for yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they learn about STDs in elementary school? I thought they saved talk of contraceptives, STDs and videos of actual birth for HS.

Yes. They learn about STDs in elementary school. Upper grades.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know -- if I opt my child out of his/her grade level, can I opt him/her into that level the next year (when child is a year older?) or do I only have the choice of using the current grade's program/nothing at all?

I have a child who is young for the grade (i.e. summer bday). I am all for sex ed... but I also know that it has to meet the child at the appropriate emotional/mental level. So, if I opt my child out at grade 4, can I opt him in to see the grade 4 lesson when he's actually in 5th grade? Or the same with 5th grade -- can we wait until child is in 6th grade to take part in the lesson that is given to 5th graders? I don't want to opt the child out of all sex ed -- I just don't think my young-ish kids are ready on the same schedule as it is provided.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they learn about STDs in elementary school? I thought they saved talk of contraceptives, STDs and videos of actual birth for HS.

Yes. They learn about STDs in elementary school. Upper grades.

5th grade has a day on STDs. We opted out of that for DD b/c she was literally traumatized by the lessons that were earlier in the week. The STD lessons were not going to be helping anything at that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know -- if I opt my child out of his/her grade level, can I opt him/her into that level the next year (when child is a year older?) or do I only have the choice of using the current grade's program/nothing at all?

I have a child who is young for the grade (i.e. summer bday). I am all for sex ed... but I also know that it has to meet the child at the appropriate emotional/mental level. So, if I opt my child out at grade 4, can I opt him in to see the grade 4 lesson when he's actually in 5th grade? Or the same with 5th grade -- can we wait until child is in 6th grade to take part in the lesson that is given to 5th graders? I don't want to opt the child out of all sex ed -- I just don't think my young-ish kids are ready on the same schedule as it is provided.

I have a 4th grader this year too, who has a Sept birthday. I'm not sure she is ready for it either, but you have to remember that most, if not all, of their classmates ARE going to take the class. This means they will have the knowledge. And they will likely talk about it. So would you rather your child start from a place of hearsay - what their friends say - or from a place of knowledge? That's my philosophy on it, anyway.

FWIW, she recently asked me what tampons were for. I gently explained. She was stunned about the bleeding every month. Ugh. Not ready for this, but it's coming!