5th Grade Sex Ed

[Anonymous]

NP. I am going to respond to a couple of posts here. I'm hoping most of us understand that those who take advantage of children or groom them will characterize anal and oral as "not sex." By including these actions as "sex" (without the risk of impregnation), we clearly define what they are. We are teaching our children how to identify when someone might be trying to take advantage of them -- talking them into something they are not ready or do not want to do. The end goal here is to say NO.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I'm impressed they give you information. We were told it was going to happen but that was it. Nothing on what they were talking about.

They are legally required to share the curriculum with parents. It’s in some regulation or statute I looked up.

Where it gets tricky is with LGBTQ materials. None of that is vetted or subject to the same disclosure requirements. We opted our kid of some school programs given that.

No, that's not tricky. Unless you think that anything related to LGBTQ people is by definition part of the health curriculum, but why would anybody think that?

It is 100% part of sex ed. should not appear throughout the rest of the year.

Should not appear where? In those damaging storybooks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It actually depends on the instructors.

Yup. Some instructors feel VERY comfortable going off script. And they feel righteous in doing so.

My niece came home and said something like "i didn't know that during sex the man also puts his penis in the woman's butt"

This was 6th grade.

It's one thing to "get there before they do" as a PP said earlier. It's another to traumatize with information they aren't ready for, or even worse, to normalize that behavior as a part of regular sexual intercourse

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am SO glad they are covering these things. I have repeatedly tried to talk to my 5th grader about this stuff, got books from the library… and I’m getting a hard pass at every try. Really glad they’ll be forced to listen at school.

Why are you getting a hard pass??

Apparently you were never 10. Most kids don’t want to talk to their parents about that stuff. And spare me your upcoming sanctimonious “I raised my child to feel comfortable to talk to me about whatever” nonsense we all know is coming.

Thank you, PP.

Exactly this. My 10 yo will talk to me about all kinds of hard stuff and we have a great relationship. But I bring up the puberty talk and it's like I am force-feeding her moldy spinach.

Then maybe what you need to do is ask the kid what they are afraid of talking about and why? Or find other ways to have these important conversations. Also maybe its because its “THE puberty talk” instead of a host of conversations over time like any other conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It actually depends on the instructors.

Yup. Some instructors feel VERY comfortable going off script. And they feel righteous in doing so.

My niece came home and said something like "i didn't know that during sex the man also puts his penis in the woman's butt"

This was 6th grade.

It's one thing to "get there before they do" as a PP said earlier. It's another to traumatize with information they aren't ready for, or even worse, to normalize that behavior as a part of regular sexual intercourse

Again with normalize behavior. Nothing you spoke of is un-normal behavior. Different people like different things in sex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It actually depends on the instructors.

Yup. Some instructors feel VERY comfortable going off script. And they feel righteous in doing so.

My niece came home and said something like "i didn't know that during sex the man also puts his penis in the woman's butt"

This was 6th grade.

It's one thing to "get there before they do" as a PP said earlier. It's another to traumatize with information they aren't ready for, or even worse, to normalize that behavior as a part of regular sexual intercourse

Again with normalize behavior. Nothing you spoke of is un-normal behavior. Different people like different things in sex.

But sex is scary! I'm scared my kid will learn more than me!

[Anonymous]

I’m not in Mcps but I teach sex ed in another state. I send home the curriculum to parents and I usually don’t hear a peep back. If I do, it’s to express their relief that someone else is covering this material. Do you really want your kid to go to the bathroom one day, see blood, and think they’re dying? Do you want your son to be freaking out that he’s shorter than boys already starting puberty? And yes, many do start puberty in fifth. Something like 80 percent of 11 year old boys and a somewhat smaller percent of girls have seen porn and are scared and confused by it. Wouldn’t you rather they get affirming and reassuring and factual and normalizing information? If you don’t want them learning this stuff at school or from porn or their friend John’s older brother, then get to these topics with them first, but if you wait until after fifth to talk about reproduction, you’re too late. They’ve already learned something about it from someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not in Mcps but I teach sex ed in another state. I send home the curriculum to parents and I usually don’t hear a peep back. If I do, it’s to express their relief that someone else is covering this material. Do you really want your kid to go to the bathroom one day, see blood, and think they’re dying? Do you want your son to be freaking out that he’s shorter than boys already starting puberty? And yes, many do start puberty in fifth. Something like 80 percent of 11 year old boys and a somewhat smaller percent of girls have seen porn and are scared and confused by it. Wouldn’t you rather they get affirming and reassuring and factual and normalizing information? If you don’t want them learning this stuff at school or from porn or their friend John’s older brother, then get to these topics with them first, but if you wait until after fifth to talk about reproduction, you’re too late. They’ve already learned something about it from someone else.

Sorry. Gotta keep the culture wars going!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It is definitely very conservative OP.
What you have to watch for is the 6th and 7th grade health class. They discuss sex trafficking and forced heroin use.
So depressing and shocking.

Oh good grief.

Here's sixth grade Family Life: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/health/middle/grade6/familylife.aspx

Here's seventh grade Family Life: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/health/middle/grade7/familylife.aspx

More details from MCPS doc:

Grade 7 Family Life and Human Sexuality

[Deleted some sections]

Sexual Health

Identify ways to prevent pregnancy, including not having sex and effective use of contraceptives, including condoms.

Describe ways sexually active people can reduce the risk of HIV, and other STIs.

Identify solo, vaginal, anal, and oral sex along with possible outcomes of each.


Describe how the effectiveness of condoms can reduce the risk of HIV, and other STIs.

Identify proper steps to using barrier methods correctly.

I grew up in a very Christian town/household, and kids were having oral sex by seventh grade. It is early for some kids but late for many, so the school has to start then.

I had a pregnant classmate in 7th grade. It is so so late to start talking about these things!

A friend told me there was a pregnant seventh grader last year at her middle school. I was surprised and asked my HS son about his middle school and he said he knew of two who got pregnant while he was there. Probably similar at all schools, but so people don't assume it's those 'other' kids, these were both W school feeders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It actually depends on the instructors.

Yup. Some instructors feel VERY comfortable going off script. And they feel righteous in doing so.

My niece came home and said something like "i didn't know that during sex the man also puts his penis in the woman's butt"

This was 6th grade.

It's one thing to "get there before they do" as a PP said earlier. It's another to traumatize with information they aren't ready for, or even worse, to normalize that behavior as a part of regular sexual intercourse

So yeah, first of all, that didnt happen....but nice try... and kids are going to find out about sex whether you want them to or not...maybe time to start dealing with that. It's not 1776. And lol if your sex life is missionary only..it explains oso much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not in Mcps but I teach sex ed in another state. I send home the curriculum to parents and I usually don’t hear a peep back. If I do, it’s to express their relief that someone else is covering this material. Do you really want your kid to go to the bathroom one day, see blood, and think they’re dying? Do you want your son to be freaking out that he’s shorter than boys already starting puberty? And yes, many do start puberty in fifth. Something like 80 percent of 11 year old boys and a somewhat smaller percent of girls have seen porn and are scared and confused by it. Wouldn’t you rather they get affirming and reassuring and factual and normalizing information? If you don’t want them learning this stuff at school or from porn or their friend John’s older brother, then get to these topics with them first, but if you wait until after fifth to talk about reproduction, you’re too late. They’ve already learned something about it from someone else.

Key point being you send the curriculum home. I’m glad schools teach this but I do think there is appropriate and inappropriate material and as a parent, I get to decide what I’m comfortable with my kids learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not in Mcps but I teach sex ed in another state. I send home the curriculum to parents and I usually don’t hear a peep back. If I do, it’s to express their relief that someone else is covering this material. Do you really want your kid to go to the bathroom one day, see blood, and think they’re dying? Do you want your son to be freaking out that he’s shorter than boys already starting puberty? And yes, many do start puberty in fifth. Something like 80 percent of 11 year old boys and a somewhat smaller percent of girls have seen porn and are scared and confused by it. Wouldn’t you rather they get affirming and reassuring and factual and normalizing information? If you don’t want them learning this stuff at school or from porn or their friend John’s older brother, then get to these topics with them first, but if you wait until after fifth to talk about reproduction, you’re too late. They’ve already learned something about it from someone else.

Key point being you send the curriculum home. I’m glad schools teach this but I do think there is appropriate and inappropriate material and as a parent, I get to decide what I’m comfortable with my kids learning.

Yes...so MCPS give all parents the material beforehand with exhaustive parent meetings just for people like you...what is your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not in Mcps but I teach sex ed in another state. I send home the curriculum to parents and I usually don’t hear a peep back. If I do, it’s to express their relief that someone else is covering this material. Do you really want your kid to go to the bathroom one day, see blood, and think they’re dying? Do you want your son to be freaking out that he’s shorter than boys already starting puberty? And yes, many do start puberty in fifth. Something like 80 percent of 11 year old boys and a somewhat smaller percent of girls have seen porn and are scared and confused by it. Wouldn’t you rather they get affirming and reassuring and factual and normalizing information? If you don’t want them learning this stuff at school or from porn or their friend John’s older brother, then get to these topics with them first, but if you wait until after fifth to talk about reproduction, you’re too late. They’ve already learned something about it from someone else.

Key point being you send the curriculum home. I’m glad schools teach this but I do think there is appropriate and inappropriate material and as a parent, I get to decide what I’m comfortable with my kids learning.

Yes, you do - for health education. If you don't want them learning this information from a teacher at school, then it is in your power to stop them from learning this information at school. It is not in your power to stop them from learning it from less unreliable sources, under circumstances not under your control.

[Anonymous]

^^^It is not in your power to stop them from learning it from less reliable sources, under circumstances not under your control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not in Mcps but I teach sex ed in another state. I send home the curriculum to parents and I usually don’t hear a peep back. If I do, it’s to express their relief that someone else is covering this material. Do you really want your kid to go to the bathroom one day, see blood, and think they’re dying? Do you want your son to be freaking out that he’s shorter than boys already starting puberty? And yes, many do start puberty in fifth. Something like 80 percent of 11 year old boys and a somewhat smaller percent of girls have seen porn and are scared and confused by it. Wouldn’t you rather they get affirming and reassuring and factual and normalizing information? If you don’t want them learning this stuff at school or from porn or their friend John’s older brother, then get to these topics with them first, but if you wait until after fifth to talk about reproduction, you’re too late. They’ve already learned something about it from someone else.

Key point being you send the curriculum home. I’m glad schools teach this but I do think there is appropriate and inappropriate material and as a parent, I get to decide what I’m comfortable with my kids learning.

Yes...so MCPS give all parents the material beforehand with exhaustive parent meetings just for people like you...what is your point?

So you want the curriculum and course materials hidden. Got it.