What’s on the new sex-ed curriculum
Grade 1: Students learn about body parts and genitalia, with possible examples: penis, testicles, vagina, vulva. Could be as simple as “boys have penises and girls have vaginas,” or more detailed, depending on the resources teachers use. Grade 2: Students will learn the basic states of human development including how their bodies change as they grow. Grade 3: Lessons will include identifying the characteristics of healthy relationships, accepting differences and being inclusive. Teachers may talk about homosexuality in the context of families that have two moms or two dads. Grade 4: Kids learn about puberty and the body and emotional changes it brings, also personal hygiene. Topics also include online safety (including text messaging as well as warnings about sending sexy pictures). Grade 5: Students learn about reproductive systems, menstruation and sperm production, as well as emotions and stress during puberty. Grade 6: Healthy relationships and sexual consent are major issues covered. If a student asks about masturbation, a teacher could respond by saying: “Things like wet dreams or vaginal lubrication are normal and happen as a result of physical changes with puberty. Exploring one’s body by touching or masturbating is something that many people do and find pleasurable. It is common and is not harmful and is one way of learning about your body.” Grade 7: Students are warned about sexting, and learn about sexually transmitted diseases and discuss delaying sexual activity “until they are older (e.g., choosing to abstain from any genital contact; choosing to abstain from having vaginal or anal intercourse; choosing to abstain from having oral-genital contact); the reasons for not engaging in sexual activity; the concept of consent and how consent is communicated; and, in general, the need to communicate clearly with each other when making decisions about sexual activity in the relationship.” Birth control is also covered. Anal intercourse and oral sex may be discussed, but are not mandatory parts of the curriculum. Grade 8: Students will learn to identify and explain factors that can affect an individual’s decisions about sexual activity. May discuss things like making choices to delay sexual activity, peer pressure, gender identity and sexual orientation, risks of sexually transmitted diseases and concerns about risk of pregnancy.