After 20 years, mandatory sex education is back in New York City public schools.
In an email to principals, Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott said mandatory sex education will start in the 2011-2012 school year. The curriculum will be flexible but will include lessons on how to use condoms, how to avoid unwanted sexual encounters and how to respect relationship partners.
“We have students who are having sex before the age of 13; students who have had multiple sexual partners; and students who aren’t protecting themselves against sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS,” wrote Walcott. “I believe the school system has an important role to play with regard to educating our children about sex and the potential consequences of engaging in risky behavior.”
Beginning next month when school resumes, kids as young as 11 will learn about the ‘birds and bees’.
Some parents are worried about the sex-ed mandate, saying the Department of Education is rushing into it.
“I had a health class but sex was not one of the topics in my health class,” 17-year-old high school senior Kaya Simmons said.
Simmons said he had zero sex education in his city public schools, but it will soon be mandatory for all students in 6th and 7th grades, with another round of it in 9th and 10th grades.
“The goal is we want to help young people make better decisions about sex,” Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs.
The topics abstinence, using condoms, contraceptives, unplanned pregnancies and STDs, will be taught in all city schools.
Bill Donahue of the Catholic League says mandatory sex-ed is wrong and should not be rushed into the schools without public hearings.
“The entire idea is culturally irresponsible and morally insane,” Donahue said. “Our kids cannot even read and write according to standard and now you are going to take more time out of the classroom to talk about this?”
Some angry parents said they want to see all the lesson plans ahead of time. They are worried what will be taught to sixth graders could be too adult.
“If they don’t have the curriculum all mapped out so they can tell me as a parent first what they are going to tell my child, yes, I have a problem with that,” said parent Wendy Barnolyons.
The instruction is based on recommended curriculums. Principals may consider those lesson plans, and also alter them.
But that still didn’t sit well with everyone.
“I think you’re taking away the innocence from the child,” one Washington Heights man said.
However, others are on board with the decision. Corinne Apton of Brooklyn said she’s happy for the extra help keeping her son, Max, in the know about sex, responsibility and staying safe.
“He is going into fifth grade so I have another year before middle school,” said Apton, adding when asked if starting in sixth grade is a better idea, “That’s fine by me. I have no problem with it.”
“They are going to learn it someday so it might as well be at school,” another man said.
“Kids need to be educated, whether they’re having sex or not,” one mother said.
