I'm not going to argue the merits of teaching comprehensive sex education class to 5 year olds. The ad stands up to scrutiny.
again, I think the idea is that it is up to each community. What is appropriate in Chicago may be different from what is appropriate in Decatur. If the state legislature required certain teachings at a particular age state-wide, you'd be all over that--how dare the out-of-touch politicians legislate what each community should teach their kids? I believe all they are saying is that certain topics must be discussed to the extent that the local school board believes is appropriate based on age--just not based on content (such as refusing to discuss HIV to high-school age students).
The ad stands up to scrutiny, and Obama definitely flat out says he supports teaching sex ed to 5 year olds.
I teach sex ed to my five-year-old, after a fashion. She asks why boys go to the bathroom faster than girls. I answer. She also wants to watch me pee. I explain why it isn't appropriate. She pretends that there is a baby in her tummy, and I explain that babies don't grow in the tummy, but in a different area next to the tummy. Am I wrong to do so?
I assume that it was to ensure that all students receive the full gamut of information w/r/t sex education. Why are state legislatures around the country embroiled in how schools should teach the sciences?
My opinion is that teaching sex education kinds of things to 5 year olds is exactly in the realm of the home/parents. Good for you!
It's your theory. If it's up to the local school boards, then the legislature wouldn't be involved at all, right?
The extent of involvement in each state would be up to the legislature. I can't judge them, or answer for them. All I can say is that if their constituents feel otherwise, there are mechanisms in place for them to be heard. One piece of information that might be helpful is whether the same or similar legislation was sponsored by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU in other states as well. IF this legislation was enacted in, say, 20 otehr states in a virtually identical fashion, it would seem to me that this debate is silly. If, on the other hand, Illinois went far beyond what other states have done--including lberal states such as NJ and California--then greater scrutiny would probably be warranted. Why did they think it was necessary in Illinois when it wasn't necessary anywhere else? I don't know the answer to that, and I guess the best place to turn is to ask Planned Parenthood and the ACLU themselves.
The debate isn't silly, no matter what other states do. The ad doesn't talk about what other states do. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood are lobbyists on the left, you do agree, right? They do push this agenda in other states, so what? http://www.freedomadvocates.org/art...ive_sex_education_to_kindergarten_2003112477/
I would look at the experience of other states that have passed identical legislation to gain a better sense of what was intended for five and six year olds. If another state had actually passed such a bill, there would also be legislative history to peruse, where legislators would explain on the record their viewpoints on the purpose each provision in the statutory language.
We really should do this in a thread about education proper. What California does, or any state for that matter, could be viewed (and I do) as politically motivated and has little to do with the welfare of the children. If the kids came first, they'd all be graduating from high school with the ability to read. At least they'll know how to have sex by the time they're 8.
yes, the public school system in some areas are a joke. take DC, for instance, where a recent study indicated that some ridiculous percentage of 8th graders were functionally illiterate. Of course, who establishes the budget for the district of columbia?
5 year olds need to know what is and isn't appropriate in regards to their gentiles so that they know when they are being abused. Yes, ideally, it would be done at home by the parents, but there are an awful lot of bad parents out there.
The ad is misleading. They're trying to convey that Obama has little in terms of achievements due to his short public career and that he's been running for higher offices most of the time instead of doing the job he's been elected to. "Only achievement" is over the top. "One of few achievements" is accurate.