The Chicago Board of Education has decided all kindergarteners will take mandatory sex ed classes beginning this year. As Chicago CBS reported:
Some people may think a five-year old is too young for sex education.
Administrators with Chicago Public schools do not.
New to the curriculum this year, mandatory sexual and health education for kindergarten classes. …
CPS insists the curriculum will use language children understand and focus on topics like bullying, correct names for external body parts and the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching. …
Students will also take a look at the different family structures that exist in today’s society.
The new sex ed policy was approved in February, and as ABC News reported:
For the first time in Chicago, sex-ed instruction will cover sexual orientation and gender identity. Students will be introduced to terms and definitions associated with sexual identity, including those related to heterosexual and LGBT populations, in an effort to bring awareness, promote tolerance and prevent bullying, said the school board.
Parents or guardians of students can opt out of the sexual health education program if they so choose.
[Note: Parents can opt out of particular “lessons” if they provide “timely” written refusals to school officials. Otherwise, their children “will be required to participate.” p. 2]
Developed by the Chicago Public Schools Office of Student Health and Wellness last year, the policy was designed to align the Chicago public school system with the standards in President Obama’s national HIV/AIDS strategy.
This is yet another example of a political agenda masquerading as something related to “health.” Sex education is at its core a moral education, not simply a few lessons on what the parts are called and where they go.
And imparting morality is a job for parents—not presidents or public school officials.