Irony-WA School Sex Ed Preview Requires “PG” Warning on TV
All that's standing between comprehensive sex education and your grade school child is a few Senate amendments.
Senate Bill 5395 passed the State House in the late night-early morning hours Thursday, and is fully expected to end up on Gov. Inslee's desk for signing.
The bill would mandate what supporters call "Comprehensive" sexual education for school children, starting as early as Kindergarten through 6th grade, where current such programs are already in place and have been for a number of years.
Supporters claim it's for the purposes of education, it will prevent teen pregnancies later, will prevent sexual assaults and further inform young adults about their options and such in this area.
Opponents say schools have no business exposing grad school children to what's expected to be rather bold and frank sexual material. Currently, most parents understand sexual health education that's included in most middle school grades and high school. We've had children who've taken it, and at least in Kennewick, it's a very "biologically" oriented, mature and careful approach.
But such groups as Informed Parents of Washington (IPW) believe much of the plan is riddled with innuendo that will encourage inappropriate 'exploration' by grade school age children.
As an example, TVW, which is the the C-Span of Washington state politics, put up a "parental advisory" warning during debates on the sex ed plan, because legislators were reading from parts of the plan itself and it was of a graphic sexual nature.
IPW asks: if TVW felt it was necessary to put up PG or parental warnings, why is this being exposed to small children? Other parents say it's not the place of schools to be 'teaching' sex ed or diving into such personal topics that should only be handled by parents or guardians.
They say many or most of the issues facing teen sexuality are already discussed or at least dealt with under current sex ed programs in middle and high schools.
Despite opposition, grade school parents will need to be prepared for this CSE (Comprehensive Sexual Education) come by fall 2021. Parents will have the opportunity to review the curriculum and opt out their child, claim supporters. Assuming this clears the final formalities, come fall 2021, we shall see.
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