One thing parents can count on in life is other parents judging their parenting skills and the values they’re instilling in their kids. It’s going to happen, and it’s probably only going to get worse once the kids start going to school.
But at some point, society has to come to an agreement on what kids need to learn if they’re going to lead healthy, successful lives. And that’s where the state of California has run into some heated controversy.
RELATED STORIES
California’s Department of Education has received some harsh backlash from parents over the new health guidelines that were just approved.
The new health guidelines touch on topics like tobacco, alcohol, and nutrition, but to absolutely no one’s surprise, it’s the section on sex that really has tempers flaring.
But since the previous guidelines were adopted back in 2003, and included material from the 1990s, it was time for an update.
California has spent three years updating the state’s sex ed guidelines to help teachers discuss some sensitive topics with kids looking for advice.
One of the more controversial guidelines — and they are just guidelines, not requirements — involves talking with kindergartners about gender identity, saying that “the goal is not to cause confusion about the gender of the child but to develop an awareness that other expressions exist.”
The other portion of the guidelines causing friction is the supporting materials.
Before the vocal pushback, the guidelines recommended a few books that students might want to read to supplement lessons. According to The Sacramento Bee , one book, titled Changing You , apparently showed illustrations of both male and female genitals with appropriate terminology, and explained what “having sex” involves.
That book was recommended for students ranging from kindergarten to third grade.
Another book on the list, recommended for high school students, made more than a few parents flush.
According to CBS, the book, titled S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Tweens and Twenties was called out as “obscene” by the California Family Council for containing information about anal sex, bondage, and other sexual activity.
Both it and Changing You , among others, have since been dropped from the guidelines.
Outside the meeting at which the Department of Education approved the new guidelines, a group of protesters held a rally.
As CBS reported, many of the protesters think this new framework is just too much for their kids at too young an age, and they’re worried about exposing their kids to explicit content.
“It’s just scary what they are going to to be teaching,” said one mom who traveled 400 miles to attend the rally. “It’s pornography. If this continues, I’m not sending them to school.”
Some teachers have also expressed concerns about the new guidelines.
“Teachers are afraid they will be forced to teach concepts that go against their conscience, and use non-binary terms or else they could lose their jobs,” one teacher told The Sacramento Bee .
Other teachers say they’re already using the new guidelines and find them helpful. “A student left me an anonymous not thanking me for including transgender students as examples in my lessons,” said another teacher. “Teachers may feel overwhelmed and will not know how to address every child.”
The Department of Education maintains that these new guidelines are important to keep kids safe.
“After rising levels of sexually transmitted diseases in teenagers nationwide, this framework was created to help provide necessary education to ensure that students are equipped to make informed and educated decisions when it comes to their sexual health,” spokesperson Kindra Britt said. “It was also designed to take the needs of our LGBTQ youth into consideration to make sure they felt safe and supported while at school.
“Our priority is to make all children feel comfortable at school. Dispelling myths, breaking down stereotypes and linking students to resources can help prevent bullying, self-harm, feelings of hopelessness, and serious considerations of suicide.”
However, some family groups see safety as a smokescreen.
“There are all kinds of alternatives, but they want to teach sex ed with the guise that they were trying to prevent sexual transmitted diseases and prevent teen pregnancy,” said Greg Burt, the director of the California Family Council. “Now we are teaching kids how to have a robust sex life. Not everything under the sun needs to be taught to our kids, with no moral judgment.”
But that’s not to say that the new guidelines don’t have supporters as well.
Michelle McNutt, a nurse and parent of two daughters, said that “It’s critical to give students medically accurate, scientific, unbiased information about their health and their bodies so they can make the best decisions about how to keep themselves safe and protect their reproductive health. The younger grades also learn about healthy relationships, consent, and ways to interact with peers who might be different than the are.”
Another family group, Our Family Coalition, echoed that sentiment.
“If we are able to be the land of the free, then we must be the land of the educated and informed,” said the group’s director, Rick Oculto. “Our children are not made safer by ignorance.”
Students will be able to opt out of sexual health lessons, but not lessons that include gender identity, discrimination, and that discuss social issues such as same sex marriage.
h/t CBS , The Sacramento Bee
