Sex-Ed! Medford NJ, What age do schools teach & what age do you think is appropriate? (renting)

[NJ<3mom]

Call me old fashioned but, I personally still believe this should be taught by the parents. Looking to move to Medford, NJ and was curious when the school district starts teaching sex-ed?

[snuffybear]

You can check out their curriculum guide and it might say. I think the curriculum may come from the state and cover certain things at 5th/6th/7th/8th (and HS? not sure). However, each district probably puts their own spin on it. I agree they sometimes cover T.M.I....

[DarkWolf]

Sounds like we have another Nunnor....

[NJGOAT]

This website contains information about what is taught in all states:

What About My State?

These are the relevant sections of NJ's actual laws on what is taught:

New Jersey law mandates at least 150 minutes of health education during each school week in grades one through twelve. In addition, high school students must acquire 3 ¾ credits of health education each year. School districts must align their health education curricula with the New Jersey Department of Education's Core Curriculum Content Standards.

One of the four required health education standards, Standard 2.4:Human Relationships and Sexuality, addresses three subject areas: relationships, sexuality, and pregnancy and parenting. Learning expectations within Standard 2.4 focus on abstinence and helping students to identify and address internal and external pressures to become sexually active. Standard 2.4 also mandates that instruction in middle and high school classes address the use of contraceptive methods and risk reduction strategies as well as the implications of their use. Standard 2.4 also requires including information about sexual orientation. In addition to Standard 2.4, sexuality related information is also included in Standard 2.1: Wellness and Standard 2.3: Drugs and Medicines. Standard 2.1 includes sexually transmitted disease (STD)- and HIV/AIDS-prevention education, and Standard 2.3 addresses the impact of alcohol and drug use on the incidence of sexual assault, STDs, and unintended pregnancy.

In addition, the New Jersey Comprehensive Health Education and Physical Education Curriculum, put out by the New Jersey Department of Education, includes detailed suggestions for teaching about HIV/AIDS, STDs, and teen pregnancy prevention.

State law also requires that:

Any instruction concerning the use of contraceptives or prophylactics such as condoms shall also include information on their failure rates for preventing pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases in actual use among adolescent populations and shall clearly explain the difference between risk reduction through the use of such devices and risk elimination through abstinence.

New Jersey allows parents or guardians to remove their children from any or all parts of sexuality, STD-prevention, and HIV/AIDS-prevention education or any topic that conflicts with their “sincerely held beliefs.” This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy. Local boards of education must establish procedures by which students may be removed from class, and alternative assignments must be created.

See New Jersey Statutes Amended 18A:35-4.7, 18A:35-4.20, and 18A:35-4.21; New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:8-3.1; and New Jersey Comprehensive Health Education and Physical Education Curriculum.

So, "health education" begins in grade one. By grade 4/5 they will generally begin discussing puberty. By middle school and thoughout high school there is actual "sex education" that covers all of the topics you most likely don't want them hearing about in school. You are well within your rights to "opt out" and request that your children not receive this instruction. Instead your kid will get a study hall and some other work to do.

The rest of your question regarding "what age is appropriate" is one better asked on the Parenting forum. However, I will say that you and I most likely have very different views on this. I have no problem with my kids learning about these things in school, because they will have already learned about them at home long before the lessons start. I don't think there is a "talk", but an ongoing age appropriate conversation that begins early in life.

[NJ<3mom]

I have no problem with schools teaching sex-ed, but wanted to make sure they didn't beat me to it like you say. I want to cover all areas before making a decision on a school.

[millerm277]

Originally Posted by NJGOAT

You are well within your rights to "opt out" and request that your children not receive this instruction. Instead your kid will get a study hall and some other work to do.

As a note: If you do, everyone in the class is going to notice and your kid is probably going to get heavily made fun of.

[soug]

Originally Posted by NJGOAT

By grade 4/5 they will generally begin discussing puberty.

Ha I remember this. They gave us deodorant and then we just watched a random movie (The Westing Game I think, so long ago). Meanwhile, the girls in the other room were talked to for the entire duration of the movie.

[T_Sporano]

Problem is, there are too many parents who dodge the issue.

[DannyHobkins]

Grew up in that town decades ago. 5th grade.