Reason #14,965 to Home School

It seems that New York City has decided it needs to do something about the levels of sexually transmitted disease and unwanted pregnancies.  While the horse has long left that barn, in their infinite wisdom, they have decided to require sex ed to all public school students.  Students will get one semester in six or seventh grade and again at nine or tenth grade.  While I feel that it is important to talk to your children about sex and the dangers of pregnancy and STD's, it is the graphic nature of these discussions that are very objectionable.

* Kids ages 11 and 12 sort “risk cards” to rate the safety of various activities, including “intercourse using a condom and an oil-based lubricant,’’ mutual masturbation, French kissing, oral sex and anal sex

.
We are going to be teaching 11 year olds about anal sex?  That is considered a good idea?  While I fully understand kids are by nature curious, this is not something that a stranger should be talking to our children about.  


But, it gets better.  The high schoolers will be involved in pseudo field trips that include:

* High-school students go to stores and jot down condom brands, prices and features such as lubrication.
* Teens research a route from school to a clinic that provides birth control and STD tests, and write down its confidentiality policy.

Just what I want, my teen being ordered to shop for condoms and a good route to a clinic that will give my child birth control pills without my consent.  But I would have to say the topper is:

* Teens are referred to resources such as Columbia University’s Web site Go Ask Alice, which explores topics like “doggie-style” and other positions, “sadomasochistic sex play,” phone sex, oral sex with braces, fetishes, porn stars, vibrators and bestiality

.Today on Go Ask Alice, the topics include oral sex and non latex condoms and easing orgasms for women.  Just the things I would want my teenager daughter to learn from someone who doesn't love her or know her as well as her mom does.  The department of Ed says that they are stressing that abstinence is the only way to avoid STD's pregnancy.  That seems pretty obvious to me from the workbooks!!  A Child psychologist is concerned about the teaching methods that are going to be used:

“Kids are being told to either abstain or use condoms -- that both are responsible, healthy choices,” said child and adolescent psychiatrist Miriam Grossman, author of “You’re Teaching My Child What?”
The DOE “relies on latex,” she said.
But Grossman argues that the books minimize the dangers that pregnancy can still occur with condom use, and that viruses such as herpes and HPV live on body parts not covered by a condom.

Parents will be allowed to opt their child out on the prevention part of the course, but the part that they learn what "doggie style" is, is mandatory.  Well yee ha, ride 'em cowboy.  


Lovely.
H/T to The Other McCain