We opted out of our private school’s “health” program, which was the school’s first attempt at such a program, grades 4-6. They couldn’t come up with their own program and ultimately asked Planned Parenthood to step in and teach it. In meetings with nervous parents beforehand, the Planned Parenthood “teachers” refused to disclose the contents of the course. We are practicing Catholics and felt that the school was showing us that our feelings and views were literally meaningless to them. We are now in the process of leaving the school — and ouch, because we have a lot of kids, being crazy Catholics and all.

However, for the 7th grade, if it was the child’s own trusted teachers and the curriculum was not closed to parents, I’d be inclined to let them attend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most opt-out folks know that their kids will hear about it from their peers. This isn't up for debate.

What opt-out folks are saying is that they would rather be the authority on the subject vs a middle school teacher.

Seems reasonable.

Seems like parents who feel insecure about their authority and are worried that their kids will believe a middle-school teacher instead of them.

That could be a reason as well.
If you know that you may not agree with the content and just have to correct or provide some nuance to the conversation, why invite that unnecessary conflict.

"Unnecessary conflict" suggests you're worried the kids will believe the teacher instead of you.

Sure. Professional indoctrinators are often good at their job.

I know! I don't want them teaching my kid about that science stuff using all those fancy facts.

Science stuff like what a woman is?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you opt your child out of the Family Life and Human Sexuality unit offered at middle school? Just received an opt-out form from the school...

I wish they wouldn't allow opt-out. Even middle school kids need to be informed. It's just to important to allow rampant ignorance.

I would agree with you if they stuck to the facts but they are introducing gender ideology which is on par with a religion.

You've used this phrase several times. What's gender "ideology" and how does MCPS teach it to middle school kids?

Gender ideology is pretending that males can become women and females can become men.

It’s so great to be able to opt out of this,

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you opt your child out of the Family Life and Human Sexuality unit offered at middle school? Just received an opt-out form from the school...

I wish they wouldn't allow opt-out. Even middle school kids need to be informed. It's just to important to allow rampant ignorance.

I would agree with you if they stuck to the facts but they are introducing gender ideology which is on par with a religion.

You've used this phrase several times. What's gender "ideology" and how does MCPS teach it to middle school kids?

Dp. It seems to be a significant part of the 7th grade Family Life curriculum, but they don’t explain what they actually teach about it. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/curriculum/health/middle/grade7/grade-7-family-life-and-human-sexuality.pdf

"Gender" is a thing, certainly, and appropriate for discussion in a middle school sex ed class. But I didn't see the word "ideology" in there. Still confused.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you opt your child out of the Family Life and Human Sexuality unit offered at middle school? Just received an opt-out form from the school...

I wish they wouldn't allow opt-out. Even middle school kids need to be informed. It's just to important to allow rampant ignorance.

I would agree with you if they stuck to the facts but they are introducing gender ideology which is on par with a religion.

You've used this phrase several times. What's gender "ideology" and how does MCPS teach it to middle school kids?

Dp. It seems to be a significant part of the 7th grade Family Life curriculum, but they don’t explain what they actually teach about it. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/curriculum/health/middle/grade7/grade-7-family-life-and-human-sexuality.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you opt your child out of the Family Life and Human Sexuality unit offered at middle school? Just received an opt-out form from the school...

I wish they wouldn't allow opt-out. Even middle school kids need to be informed. It's just to important to allow rampant ignorance.

I would agree with you if they stuck to the facts but they are introducing gender ideology which is on par with a religion.

You've used this phrase several times. What's gender "ideology" and how does MCPS teach it to middle school kids?

Sounds like it's the new a boogeyman for maga voters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most opt-out folks know that their kids will hear about it from their peers. This isn't up for debate.

What opt-out folks are saying is that they would rather be the authority on the subject vs a middle school teacher.

Seems reasonable.

Seems like parents who feel insecure about their authority and are worried that their kids will believe a middle-school teacher instead of them.

That could be a reason as well.
If you know that you may not agree with the content and just have to correct or provide some nuance to the conversation, why invite that unnecessary conflict.

"Unnecessary conflict" suggests you're worried the kids will believe the teacher instead of you.

Sure. Professional indoctrinators are often good at their job.

I know! I don't want them teaching my kid about that science stuff using all those fancy facts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you opt your child out of the Family Life and Human Sexuality unit offered at middle school? Just received an opt-out form from the school...

I wish they wouldn't allow opt-out. Even middle school kids need to be informed. It's just to important to allow rampant ignorance.

I would agree with you if they stuck to the facts but they are introducing gender ideology which is on par with a religion.

You've used this phrase several times. What's gender "ideology" and how does MCPS teach it to middle school kids?

Anonymous wrote:Think big picture, long-term. If your child attends the unit, then they can launch a non-profit that focuses on deprogramming kids from the school propaganda. It will look great on their Hillsdale college application.

I never thought about it like that. They could also have a shot at Supreme Court Justice if they practice pretending they don't know what a woman is which this class could help with quite a bit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most opt-out folks know that their kids will hear about it from their peers. This isn't up for debate.

What opt-out folks are saying is that they would rather be the authority on the subject vs a middle school teacher.

Seems reasonable.

Seems like parents who feel insecure about their authority and are worried that their kids will believe a middle-school teacher instead of them.

That could be a reason as well.
If you know that you may not agree with the content and just have to correct or provide some nuance to the conversation, why invite that unnecessary conflict.

"Unnecessary conflict" suggests you're worried the kids will believe the teacher instead of you.

Well yeah. Opting out is a great opportunity to avoid that. It's great we have that option.

You're going to need a huuuge snowplow to hide all the world's unwanted information from your children.

Yeah that’s not possible. But getting to opt-out of this information is nice. Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're right and the school's wrong, you should be educating your child well enough that they'll understand the school's wrong when they hear it. It will be a good exercise in critical thinking skills and media literacy, to qnalyze the school's incorrect presentation ad understand its flaws.

Ahh yes, so many 7th graders are encouraged at school to disagree with an authority figure on a politicized topic such as gender ideology.

This may shock you, but it's possible to think about something without getting into an argument with a teacher about it.

Yes, I expect many adults do this all the time. Why put a kid in that position.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most opt-out folks know that their kids will hear about it from their peers. This isn't up for debate.

What opt-out folks are saying is that they would rather be the authority on the subject vs a middle school teacher.

Seems reasonable.

Seems like parents who feel insecure about their authority and are worried that their kids will believe a middle-school teacher instead of them.

That could be a reason as well.
If you know that you may not agree with the content and just have to correct or provide some nuance to the conversation, why invite that unnecessary conflict.

"Unnecessary conflict" suggests you're worried the kids will believe the teacher instead of you.

Sure. Professional indoctrinators are often good at their job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just know that the 7th grade FLHS curriculum is new this year (at least at DCs school), so educate yourself on the updated standards and decide whether this is appropriate for your student.

As part of your decision, ask yourself whether you prefer for your student to hear the information directly from the teacher, or second-hand from other students.

Or... directly from the parent. I share age appropriate information directly with my kids. I provide books for additional reading that are in line with my values. This is not the responsibility of unrelated strangers/adults to discuss sex with my minor child.

That's great. However, in addition, they will also hear information second-hand from other middle-schoolers. If you prefer for them to hear the information second-hand from other middle-schoolers, rather than directly from the teacher, that's your decision.

They are going to discuss sex with their peers regardless of whether an adult talks with them or not. So, I'll skip the teacher or unknown educator talking about it with them, coming from a place of authority rather than peer group conversations.

There are probably not a lot of people who deliberately decide it's better for their kids to learn about sex from other 7th graders (!) than from teachers, but apparently there's at least one person.

That is deliberately obtuse. I said upthread that I am teaching my child about human sexuality and reproductive health. I have zero idea the motivation or values of the person teaching the curriculum. I do not want or need an unknown adult to discuss sex with my minor child.

If my minor child discusses sex with his peers, as he surely will, he will do so on an even playing field. He will not be subjected to being in a position to disagree with an unrelated adult/authority figure. 7th graders are not able to hold their own in a critical debate with an adult and it would be an inappropriate forum to do so.

Think big picture, long-term. If your child attends the unit, then they can launch a non-profit that focuses on deprogramming kids from the school propaganda. It will look great on their Hillsdale college application.