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.
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