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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2007 > May > 21 > Entry
What are they teaching your kids about sex?
In Sunday’s paper, my colleague Laura Bischoff wrote an interesting package about sex education instruction in Montgomery County.
What are your kids learning about sex? It depends on where you live. Who is teaching them? Well, it could be an interest group, like the pro-abortion Planned Parenthood or Elizabeth’s New Life Center, a pro-life crisis pregnancy intervention group.
Last month Gov. Ted Strickland announced Ohio would no longer seek federal funds to pay for abstinence-only sex education, a favorite program of the Bush administration. Strickland said at the time he did not believe abstinence only program worked to prevent unwanted pregnancy and disease.
To follow up, Bischoff wanted to get some perspective. What exactly are they teaching our kids about sex at school? She came up with the idea of surveying a sample of school districts about their sex ed practices. We decided to call all the school districts in Montgomery County (I helped make some of these calls to collect the data).
The chart of what is taught, when and by whom is at the top of this page (a larger one can be found here).
There is a lot of variability. Part of the problem is that Ohio does not have standards for what should be taught. An effort to establish them collapsed under the weight of partisan battles.
Some argue that sticking only to abstinence is the equivalent of teaching a religious message in schools, and many of the pro-abstinence groups are affiliated with churches. On the other hand, many religious people are offended by the pro-abortion message of groups like Planned Parenthood.
Meanwhile there is some evidence that comprehensive sex education programs can make a real difference for kids by giving them useful information. But abstinence-only instructional programs can be intentionally vague or guide instructors to sidestep specific questions from students. Some critics say federal support for these programs has been a step backwards.
Did you look up your child’s district on our list? What did you think of what we learned about how they teach sex education?
Permalink | Comments (12) | Categories: Sex Education
Comments
By Rick
May 24, 2007 7:16 AM | Link to this
Scott, you say “some critics” say that abstinence only education is a step backwards. Would these critics be the same crowd that always promotes sexual promiscuity? E.g., Alan Guttenmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood, and others?By charterschoolhater
May 24, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this
Sex Ed in Public Schools needs to be comprehensive. Most children get very little parental help in this area. And abstinence only just does not work. It might seem right to withold important information from teens to the fundmeantally religious wackos of the world. It also is inportant to the religious police. But in real life children need more and comprehensive info about sex. This should include a discussion about alternative sexuality ie Homosexuality. Gay Lesbians are all around us. You just cannont pretned they do not exist. You just cannot pretend that sex is not an issue for teens. It is a very big one. They need all the adult support and info so they can make the right choice when it comes to deciding when and not if they become sexually active. Come on folks wake up. It is a major issue. Many schools are doing a disservice their students by teaching abstinince only sex education.By CN
May 21, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Wow, that’s some interesting rhetoric there, Scott. “Pro-abortion Planned Parenthood” vs “pro-life Elizabeth’s New Life Center.” I guess you made your stance clear. How about “pro-choices” (note the plural) as a modifier for Planned Parenthood. Or “Christian” as a modifier for Elizabeth’s New Life? Of the two, Planned Parenthood is the one that is the Constitionally sound choice for teaching sexuality in our public schools. Or didn’t you know they do more than counsel girls to get abortions at Planned Parenthood? Even in the 70s, I saw that organization prevent many pregnancies (and probably the resulting abortions too). In any case, I’m so glad we’ve finally got a governor with a brain. Teaching only abstinence in the schools doesn’t work. Giving kids an education about their bodies and how to safely live in them, now that might work. It wouldn’t hurt to try.By Kesha KIaber-Williams
May 21, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this
As a high school graduate, i felt that while i was in high school i didnt get much sex ed at all, and mostly was taught around the bush. i think whlie teaching sex ed, it should be straight forward to kids, and at a younger age. i think it should be taught at a younger age due to the fact that kids are having sex at a younger age, and it wouldn’t hurt to learn it when children are young, so when growing up or entering high school it ‘s nothing new to them. also considering some children do have sex talks with there parents, and only believe what they see on television! also it doesnt hurt having kids there ages telling and teaching, considering some students learn better coming from a peer rather than an adult!!! Also it doesnt help when teachers are yelling and pressuring students. it being taught in differnt ways wouldnt hurt either…!!!!By Petra Deason
May 21, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
Angelle, I agree with you that this children need guidance but I hate hearing that this is a tragedy that befalls the impoverished. Though statistics will back you up, I fail to see why economics has much to do with this. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up and I still knew better than to go have sex with my boyfriend because of it. If parents are not taking care of their children and teaching them right from wrong in sex as well as in other areas, then the children should be removed from the home. I would not wish suffering on any child but why should I have to pay for someone else’s stupid mistake? (And I am pro-life but when you have a child in 4th or 5th grade - or any time before you graduate - it IS a mistake!)By Eric
May 21, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
Does this mean that I can sue the state if my daughter comes home pregnant because she obviously didn’t get the education? Where do you draw the line between the parents’ duty and the school’s duty? Look at DPS’s test scores!!! And you guys want them to teach our kids about sex? How about holding the parents responsible for their children and will be billed for the welfare of the their grandchild until their child reaches 18. BOTH SETS OF PARENTS and this bill must be paid…even if it takes money from assistance programs.By Skeptic
May 21, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this
Anyone who thinks Abstinence-only education actually works needs some education of their own. Comprehensive education with an emphasis on abstinence is the most effective strategy. Knowledge is power. It doesn’t need to have anything to do with religion, especially in a publicly funded school.By Angelle
May 21, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
In response to those asking “Where are the parents?” and the corollary “Should society pay for these children having children?”, I would say this is why comprehensive sexual education is critical in public schools. Public schools, as originally conceived, function for the public good by creating citizens and workers who are better prepared to contribute than they would otherwise be. Hence, if these children’s parents are failing them (and having children before they can drive seems a fairly strong indicator that they ARE), the school should step up for the good of the child AND the good of society. This need will be heavier for urban or impoverished rural districts, where the pressures on parents and families are often overwhelming. Whatever people believe, I simply can’t fathom that anyone WANTS these children, our future employees, neighbors and eventual caretakers, to make such monumental mistakes at such a young age. They need what all young people need - good information and good guidance. Surely none of us is so cruel or blind to what is in our own best interests as to deny this to our children.By Petra Deason
May 21, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
I live in Springfield so our results may be different - I don’t know. Fortunately, I have yet to see a pregnant 4th grader at my daughters’ school. But where are the PARENTS in all of this? My mom and dad explained conception to me long before a school did. And when I did have sex ed in 9th grade Health class, we were allowed to ask the teacher anything we wanted and I believe STDs and unplanned pregnancy were discussed as possible “side effects” right then and there. Why wait around to share that info?By Buford
May 21, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
Okay, just what is going on here? Where are the parents of these kids/having kids? And, should it be society’s problem - to pay for the deliveries and the raising up of these kids-to-kids? And it can’t just be laid to the door of the girls/females involved. Where is the parental involvement and training for the boys involved? Are we become so jaded that we can see more and more kids deep-six their lives through indiscriminate sexual experiences resulting in long term “bills” for the tax-paying public? I wasn’t raised that way. People I grew up with were not raised that way. I did not raise my children that way and my grandchildren are not being raised that way. Do we have a cadre of adults out there who have children and then just turn them loose to the streets to learn about life? Is there no consideration for action/consequence and a belief that “the government” will pick up the tab?By Dayton Teacher
May 21, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this
I was shocked!! I have seen students in fourth grade walking around DPS with child. I have had students with 2 and three children by the time they reached seventh grade.By Mary
May 21, 2007 7:06 AM | Link to this
I got the impression that sex education is sometimes watered down just like math, chemistry,biology, etc.