New US sex education standards released
Source: Agencies |
January 11, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
YOUNG elementary school pupils should use the proper names for body parts and know by the end of fifth grade that sexual orientation is "the romantic attraction of an individual to someone of the same gender or a different gender," according to sexual education guidelines released by health and education groups.
The nonbinding recommendations to states and school districts seek to encourage age-appropriate discussions about sex, bullying and healthy relationships, starting even before second grade.
Most US children enter first grade at age 6.
By presenting minimum standards that schools can use to formulate school curriculums for each age level, the groups hope that schools can build a sequential foundation that in the long term will give teens more help as they grow into adults.
Experts say schools across America are inconsistent in how they address such sensitive topics.
Despite awareness of bullying, for example, Debra Hauser, president of Advocates for Youth, a group involved with creating the standards, said some schools do not deal with it, or at least not in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity, which is what she said is the cause of a lot of bullying.
"They should tackle it head-on," Hauser said.
By the end of second grade, the guidelines say students should use the correct body part names for the male and female anatomy and understand that all living things reproduce and that all people have the right not to be touched if they do not want to be.
They also say young elementary school children should be able to identity different kinds of family structures and explain why bullying and teasing are wrong.
Beyond lessons about puberty by the end of fifth grade, the guidelines say students should be able to define sexual harassment and abuse.
The nonbinding recommendations to states and school districts seek to encourage age-appropriate discussions about sex, bullying and healthy relationships, starting even before second grade.
Most US children enter first grade at age 6.
By presenting minimum standards that schools can use to formulate school curriculums for each age level, the groups hope that schools can build a sequential foundation that in the long term will give teens more help as they grow into adults.
Experts say schools across America are inconsistent in how they address such sensitive topics.
Despite awareness of bullying, for example, Debra Hauser, president of Advocates for Youth, a group involved with creating the standards, said some schools do not deal with it, or at least not in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity, which is what she said is the cause of a lot of bullying.
"They should tackle it head-on," Hauser said.
By the end of second grade, the guidelines say students should use the correct body part names for the male and female anatomy and understand that all living things reproduce and that all people have the right not to be touched if they do not want to be.
They also say young elementary school children should be able to identity different kinds of family structures and explain why bullying and teasing are wrong.
Beyond lessons about puberty by the end of fifth grade, the guidelines say students should be able to define sexual harassment and abuse.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
