4-6th graders FLE all genders together and more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Poster Here: I have taught FLE for 15+ years to fourth graders. I cannot imagine combining genders for this age group. The kids are mortified as it is. Mixing genders in middle school seems to be appropriate, IMO.

Separating boys and girls and acting like it's such secret info exacerbates their "mortification"...if the adults act like it's classified and possibly embarrasing info, that's how the kids receive it. Tell them the facts young and it won't be such a big deal. Of course kids will have personal reactions, questions, etc. but we should create an environment where this is just info that everyone knows (like history, math, etc.) not one where it's potentially embarrasing. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster Here: I have taught FLE for 15+ years to fourth graders. I cannot imagine combining genders for this age group. The kids are mortified as it is. Mixing genders in middle school seems to be appropriate, IMO.

Separating boys and girls and acting like it's such secret info exacerbates their "mortification"...if the adults act like it's classified and possibly embarrasing info, that's how the kids receive it. Tell them the facts young and it won't be such a big deal. Of course kids will have personal reactions, questions, etc. but we should create an environment where this is just info that everyone knows (like history, math, etc.) not one where it's potentially embarrasing. Yikes.

Teachers do just that - in separate sex classrooms. Hope it continues because it’s worked well for over 30 years. No need to change it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's really horrifying is that some kids don't learn about this at home, from a parent/caretaker. I get that we need it taught in schools because it's basic info everyone truly needs to know, but when we talk about more or less instructional time being lost to teach about it it just hits home how much basic info some families punt to schools to teach their kids.

My kids have known about male/female anatomical differences and details of human reproduction since at least age 8. Why is this info so rarefied and secret??

So you discussed nocturnal emissions with your 8 year old daughter? And your 8 year old son knows that menstruation is the shedding of the uterus lining due to no egg being fertilized? Did you also discuss STDs too?

[Anonymous]

FWIW I asked my ten year-old if she would mind and she was horrified. We have always been very open about our bodies, sex, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster Here: I have taught FLE for 15+ years to fourth graders. I cannot imagine combining genders for this age group. The kids are mortified as it is. Mixing genders in middle school seems to be appropriate, IMO.

Separating boys and girls and acting like it's such secret info exacerbates their "mortification"...if the adults act like it's classified and possibly embarrasing info, that's how the kids receive it. Tell them the facts young and it won't be such a big deal. Of course kids will have personal reactions, questions, etc. but we should create an environment where this is just info that everyone knows (like history, math, etc.) not one where it's potentially embarrasing. Yikes.

I appreciated your response until you ended with “yikes”. That’s when you showed your true colors!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster Here: I have taught FLE for 15+ years to fourth graders. I cannot imagine combining genders for this age group. The kids are mortified as it is. Mixing genders in middle school seems to be appropriate, IMO.

Separating boys and girls and acting like it's such secret info exacerbates their "mortification"...if the adults act like it's classified and possibly embarrasing info, that's how the kids receive it. Tell them the facts young and it won't be such a big deal. Of course kids will have personal reactions, questions, etc. but we should create an environment where this is just info that everyone knows (like history, math, etc.) not one where it's potentially embarrasing. Yikes.

Are you a robot, the Google Chat AI maybe? Do you think that if you change children's clothes, you can make them into girls or boys? Do you think that you can just wish away embarrassment in other people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I asked my ten year-old if she would mind and she was horrified. We have always been very open about our bodies, sex, etc.

Posing it as a question opens it up - and welcomes an emotional response. Adults are making it way more awkward than it needs to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's really horrifying is that some kids don't learn about this at home, from a parent/caretaker. I get that we need it taught in schools because it's basic info everyone truly needs to know, but when we talk about more or less instructional time being lost to teach about it it just hits home how much basic info some families punt to schools to teach their kids.

My kids have known about male/female anatomical differences and details of human reproduction since at least age 8. Why is this info so rarefied and secret??

So you discussed nocturnal emissions with your 8 year old daughter? And your 8 year old son knows that menstruation is the shedding of the uterus lining due to no egg being fertilized? Did you also discuss STDs too?

DP. But yes. The egg thing came up pretty early on in our family when kids could see mom has her period. Erections came up in late ESs. STDs came up not much later.

We have always been open and honest about bodies, reproduction, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster Here: I have taught FLE for 15+ years to fourth graders. I cannot imagine combining genders for this age group. The kids are mortified as it is. Mixing genders in middle school seems to be appropriate, IMO.

Separating boys and girls and acting like it's such secret info exacerbates their "mortification"...if the adults act like it's classified and possibly embarrasing info, that's how the kids receive it. Tell them the facts young and it won't be such a big deal. Of course kids will have personal reactions, questions, etc. but we should create an environment where this is just info that everyone knows (like history, math, etc.) not one where it's potentially embarrasing. Yikes.

Exactly. Stop this cycle of ignorance and taboo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I asked my ten year-old if she would mind and she was horrified. We have always been very open about our bodies, sex, etc.

Posing it as a question opens it up - and welcomes an emotional response. Adults are making it way more awkward than it needs to be.

Give me a break. I asked in a very even tone “would you mind if they combined the classrooms?”

I guess I don’t understand why people are pushing this. Many teachers don’t want it and many parents and kids don’t want it. The system is not broken. FFS focus on Reading SOLs or something useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster Here: I have taught FLE for 15+ years to fourth graders. I cannot imagine combining genders for this age group. The kids are mortified as it is. Mixing genders in middle school seems to be appropriate, IMO.

Separating boys and girls and acting like it's such secret info exacerbates their "mortification"...if the adults act like it's classified and possibly embarrasing info, that's how the kids receive it. Tell them the facts young and it won't be such a big deal. Of course kids will have personal reactions, questions, etc. but we should create an environment where this is just info that everyone knows (like history, math, etc.) not one where it's potentially embarrasing. Yikes.

Exactly. Stop this cycle of ignorance and taboo.

Okay, so when your male co-workers start talking about sex in front of you I hope you aren’t embarrassed. I hope you don’t claim #metoo or something. After all, we should all be comfortable with this stuff, right? What if they are talking about their penises in a scientific way - is that okay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster Here: I have taught FLE for 15+ years to fourth graders. I cannot imagine combining genders for this age group. The kids are mortified as it is. Mixing genders in middle school seems to be appropriate, IMO.

Separating boys and girls and acting like it's such secret info exacerbates their "mortification"...if the adults act like it's classified and possibly embarrasing info, that's how the kids receive it. Tell them the facts young and it won't be such a big deal. Of course kids will have personal reactions, questions, etc. but we should create an environment where this is just info that everyone knows (like history, math, etc.) not one where it's potentially embarrasing. Yikes.

Exactly. Stop this cycle of ignorance and taboo.

Okay, so when your male co-workers start talking about sex in front of you I hope you aren’t embarrassed. I hope you don’t claim #metoo or something. After all, we should all be comfortable with this stuff, right? What if they are talking about their penises in a scientific way - is that okay?

Talking about sex during sex ed is appropriate.

Talking about sex at work is not. Unless you work in sex field.

Personally I feel comfortable talking about sex in just about any environment. It’s just sex. A normal, healthy body function.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I asked my ten year-old if she would mind and she was horrified. We have always been very open about our bodies, sex, etc.

Posing it as a question opens it up - and welcomes an emotional response. Adults are making it way more awkward than it needs to be.

Give me a break. I asked in a very even tone “would you mind if they combined the classrooms?”

I guess I don’t understand why people are pushing this. Many teachers don’t want it and many parents and kids don’t want it. The system is not broken. FFS focus on Reading SOLs or something useful.

“Would you mind?”

Translates to:
“Why is she asking?”
“Is this something I should mind?”
“Is this a girl v boy thing?”

If my mom is bothering to ask me about it then it’s a thing.


I’m not pushing to (re)merge genders but I do support it. Stop treating menstruation and erections as taboo subjects. They are normal, healthy bodily functions. Nothing at all to be ashamed of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I asked my ten year-old if she would mind and she was horrified. We have always been very open about our bodies, sex, etc.

Posing it as a question opens it up - and welcomes an emotional response. Adults are making it way more awkward than it needs to be.

Give me a break. I asked in a very even tone “would you mind if they combined the classrooms?”

I guess I don’t understand why people are pushing this. Many teachers don’t want it and many parents and kids don’t want it. The system is not broken. FFS focus on Reading SOLs or something useful.

“Would you mind?”

Translates to:
“Why is she asking?”
“Is this something I should mind?”
“Is this a girl v boy thing?”

If my mom is bothering to ask me about it then it’s a thing.


I’m not pushing to (re)merge genders but I do support it. Stop treating menstruation and erections as taboo subjects. They are normal, healthy bodily functions. Nothing at all to be ashamed of.

It’s also developmentally appropriate for younger children to not want to talk about these things in front of their male classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I asked my ten year-old if she would mind and she was horrified. We have always been very open about our bodies, sex, etc.

Posing it as a question opens it up - and welcomes an emotional response. Adults are making it way more awkward than it needs to be.

Give me a break. I asked in a very even tone “would you mind if they combined the classrooms?”

I guess I don’t understand why people are pushing this. Many teachers don’t want it and many parents and kids don’t want it. The system is not broken. FFS focus on Reading SOLs or something useful.

There is no need to join the classes. They are learning the curriculum, asking questions, etc. Why change it?