I am a retired (42 years) health educator. Most of my years were in New Jersey – where they have a comprehensive K-12 health education mandate with an opt out option – although I began my career in Plymouth.
My instruction became more crucial with the advent of the internet and access to online pornography. My instruction had to include the issue of online pornography, its dangers and why it is not a way to learn about healthy sexuality, as it’s rife with misogyny and violence, etc. The average age that children encounter this venue is 12 years old. Twelve years old.
I propose age-appropriate instruction and age-appropriate conversations with your children. I often asked my students if they had had an open and honest conversation with their parents about sexuality. Very few hands went up. At “back to school night” I asked parents the same question and most hands went up. What a conundrum. Keep in mind that we continue to have a high rate of teen pregnancies as compared to other countries. Parents continue to question early intervention of HPV vaccination (a leading cause of oral, vaginal, and rectal cancer).
I suggest that parents leave instruction and curriculum up to the professionals and use their opt out option if they disagree with the professionals. I suggest, if you exercise your right to opt out, you do your research and have those continuous age-appropriate conversations at home. Otherwise, let the professionals have those conversations with your children.
– Sara Brock Lohmeyer