Is this appropriate??

[Wood Butcher]

Little Miss (in grade 3) came home with a note saying that they are going to be teaching "Personal Development and Safety".

This is what was on the end of the note

As a result of these sessions, the children will be better able to

• Indentify and correctly name body parts including male and female reproductive body parts
• Understand the concept of private and public body parts and places
• Develop some understanding of body changes and growth and why these occur

Is this appropriate for a bunch of 8 year olds to be learning about that stuff? I honestly didn't think that they would have the cognitive development to be able to comprehend it but maybe I wrong! As it stands at the moment I'll be seeing the teachers and the deupty principle on monday to show my disapproval. Am I out of line?

[Groggy]

Little Miss (in grade 3) came home with a note saying that they are going to be teaching "Personal Development and Safety".

This is what was on the end of the note[/list]Is this appropriate for a bunch of 8 year olds to be learning about that stuff? I honestly didn't think that they would have the cognitive development to be able to comprehend it but maybe I wrong! As it stands at the moment I'll be seeing the teachers and the deupty principle on monday to show my disapproval. Am I out of line?

Hmm, that's a toughie. Eight is about the age where kids are exposed to this sort of stuff, so I guess the schools are trying to give it some context. If it were me, I wouldn't mind.

[Wongo]

I will say no to this one.

[dazzler]

Hi Rowan

Yeah this is a tough one.

My thoughts are they are only body parts that are considered rude or whatever because we choose to make them so.

Our 10yo frequently sees us partially dressed (not a pretty sight ) and is totally at ease with it. I think that particularly with girls, knowledge is power, and its far harder for one to be "taken advantage of" if they know the who, whats and wheres about there bodies.

The other question is govt or catholic school. If its a catholic then I wouldnt worry at all. If its a govt then potential is that it would be more descriptive and you have the issue that if you take her out of the class then she may become a target for some sort of bullying.

I have a very relaxed view to sexuality. I do it, my parents do it, cows pigs and sheeps do it. Our children will do it. I would rather my daughter have relations in a safe enviroment, where she is protected from unwanted pregnancy or sexual disease and where she gets just as much 'satisfaction' as the male. Knowledge is the key to this. (off track sorry).

The bottom line is no matter how much we protect our kids history shows that most of the elders in our lives, no matter the age or era, played around. Best it not be looked upon as dirty or decietful. (right off now sorry)

Ahh stuff it....get back in line

[savage]

I think that if they are old enough to ask the question, they are old enough for the answer. Not a full-on scientific answer but in a level they can understand and is truthful in the facts.

Like the posts most of us are aware of here on this forum about a deceased pet, honesty and truthfullness is all that is needed, sometimes we have to put a little sugar in the answer.

Remember, knowledge is power and they may bet able to respond in a way to save themselves one day with this knowledge, (knowing how many sickos are out there).......

[johnc]

Rowan,

Even in grade 3 their getting curious and it is better that the information comes in this form than some of the myths and half truths in the school yard. My girls went to a catholic school during primary and the program included parent/student nights as well as in class programs.

The content is usually well thought out and a parent is doing no one a favour going off half cocked. You run the risk of airing prejudices and undermining the subject if it is merely your view you put forward.

I fully support your right to speak to the staff about this but do it with a cool head and find out what it is about before you start jumping to conclusions. Often simple enquiry can reveal that you have got the bull by the goolies rather than education run mad.

John.

[bitingmidge]

Rowan,

Many years ago, while bathing our little miss I think aged 7 (grade 2), we were given a lesson on how we mustn't let anyone touch our private parts.

Chapter and verse it was, straight from school that day.

When the lesson was over, (about half way through washing the hair), she asked:

"What are your private parts?"

She's 28 now, and although I haven't asked her lately, I'm pretty sure she's figured it out.

So much for the cognative process. You are correct. An eight year old is not a twelve or thirteen year old. I don't understand why the urgency to rid our kids of their childhood.

I am always completely bemused by the "Stranger Danger" campaigns, which are also a political cop-out, ignoring the fact that statistically the real danger does not come from strangers at all, but from persons well known to the victims.

I don't necessarily buy the argument that kids are exposed to this stuff at that age either, we had a television set that had a feature that new ones don't have, as I recall, it was called an "off button".

Stick to your guns. Sadly I suspect that the necessity for this sort of education (if indeed necessity is an apt description) is brought about by parents who aren't a bit like you!

Cheers,

P

[Andy Mac]

Hi Rowan,
I can understand your worry, I'd have thought it was a bit early. Will have to check if the same thing is happening where my girls are.

I fully support your right to speak to the staff about this but do it with a cool head and find out what it is about before you start jumping to conclusions.

Good advice I think

Cheers,

[ian]

this is what friends who are teachers tell me

about 20 years ago girls tended to have their first period in grade 7 or 8 now it's grade 5 or 6. Apparently the timing has a lot to do a girl's weight. Heavier kids tend to have their first period earlier than lighter kids.

it would be niavie not to expect that girls in grade 3 would be wondering what was going on with the girls in grades 5 and 6.

[Rossluck]

Hmm, that's a toughie. Eight is about the age where kids are exposed to this sort of stuff, so I guess the schools are trying to give it some context. If it were me, I wouldn't mind.

This is how I feel.

[Schtoo]

It depends on the kid and the family.

Which is why they are doing this at school at this age, simply because some part of that equation does not compute.

When I was six or seven, mum gave me a book we read together about this kinda thing. Nothing fanatical or distasteful, just put the facts in order and what was what. Answered any questions I might have had, and answered ones I might not have yet thought of.

But that was me.

I reckon John there has it right, go in with a cool head until you know what is going to happen in said class. Then decide where to go from there based on your instincts.

After all, it's your family, not theirs.

[rrich]

Very interesting thread! It seems that regardless of the side of the planet that we reside, our thoughts and concerns are the same.

We allowed our boys to go through those classes given by our public school system. We initially had some concerns about these classes but we decided it was more important to not to make the boys be "different" in the eyes of their classmates.

The really interesting thing that happened was several months after the class work was completed. We went to a drive in movie where "Annie Hall" was playing. The youngest fell asleep after the cartoon was shown and the 8 year old watched Annie Hall with us. He laughed and giggled in all the right places and really enjoyed the movie. After the movie, he looked at LOML and said, "Woody Allen should get an Academy Award for that movie." I guess the rest is history.

[Buzzer]

Hi,

I for one don't think you are out of line here.
Little Miss three is your daughter, and you should be able to raise her as you see fit.
I would hope the school would be pleased to talk to you, it shows that you care. I have a sister that is a lower primary teacher and there are parents out there that use school as a babysitting service, and just don't care.

If it were me I would like to see a detailed outline/transcipt of the subject taught.

Cheers

[RufflyRustic]

Very interesting thread! ........ We initially had some concerns about these classes but we decided it was more important to not to make the boys be "different" in the eyes of their classmates.

..............

RRIch - well said. It's a very difficult decision. My first concern is what happens to your daughter if she doesn't attend the lesson and she doesn't understand what is being said out in the schoolyard, gets teased or gets told wrong information by her friends???

From one who was 'different' all through school

cheers
Wendy

[DPB]

I raised two daughters many years ago. My wife and I believed that any education that related to human sexuality needed to be linked to a moral context. Whilst it was important for them to learn about the marvels of the body, it was equally important to help them develop a moral framework whereby they could make valid value judgments concerning sexuality. This was not something we wanted to leave to teachers, nor did we want sex education to be taught in a vacuum. When we learned that the school was teaching about body parts, we sat them aside and gave them our perspective on morality.