Sex ed for 5 year olds?

The Nevada Assembly has introduced a bill to the current legislative session revising the teaching of sex education in the state’s schools. Thirteen of our elected officials have sponsored a bill, currently in committee that will change the way sex education is taught throughout the state, starting at the kindergarten level. Yes, that is correct at the kindergarten level. Assembly bill 230 is currently in the education committee for review, which Elliot Anderson is the chair. This bill would set standards to be used throughout the state to teach sex education to our children, starting in kindergarten. Of course the bill states material will be age appropriate but what sex is appropriate for a five year old? The bill will require teaching such things as gender identity, sexually transmitted diseases and contraception. One of the areas that I’m opposed to is the parent reporting process has been changed. Under this new bill, parents have to opt their children out of the course of instruction. A note will be sent home saying that your kid is going to be taught sex education unless you sign the form opting your child out of the course of instruction. Before this bill, children were not automatically required to take the sex education course, the parents had to sign a consent form allowing their child to take the course. Now it will be up to the child to give the notice to their parents and return it to the teacher. Even my fifth grader forgets to give me notes home from school and that would be enough for him to be receiving sex education without my consent and possibly even my knowledge. If I do receive the permission slip and opt my child out of the course, it’s still his responsibility to turn it in to his teacher and he could just not turn it in and I would be none the wiser. Another aspect I have a problem with is the goal to prepare students for sexual activity or future sexual activity. I can understand the need for some sex education in the school system, but not in elementary school and definitely not in kindergarten. It is not the job of the school to teach sex or to prepare them for sexual activity. The job of the school is to teach the next generation how to think and how to be productive members of society. More and more the education system is producing nothing. It’s not producing students capable of college class work and it’s not producing students ready for the workforce. I urge everyone to contact their Assemblymen and tell them to defeat this measure. The Nevada Assembly page has an easy way to contact your elected officials, click here for the link.