I am not opposed to teaching sex education but the direction this is going is not in alignment with parental involvement, decent age discussion topics and the boundaries that are appropriate...
Guy Morin - 9 years ago
My daughter sent me a phone text example of what a teacher is teaching 10 year old boys (not sure if it is a class for girls also or not) in sex education class in Stony Plain. Her sister in law found a drawn picture (possibly hand or home made) of a woman's private area with the female genital parts identified in her son's back pack. My daughter phoned the principal about it and mentioned what was found. The principal said she will look into it and see what was being taught this year in this class. There is a guideline to what is taught but of course the teacher can introduce other information also!!! 10 years old!!! My daughter mentioned that the picture really was no different than pornography!
Anything taught of a sexual nature in a classroom setting now is most likely CSE - Comprehensive Sexual Education. I promise you, as well intentioned as it sounds, this curriculum is not what you think and is better taught at home. Please visit www.stopCSE.org and watch the video on their home page to learn more. Also please join the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/exposeCSEalberta https://polldaddy.com/poll/9352265/?view=results#
Janean Kehler - 9 years ago
I do believe if this was taught exactly how it is presented in this video, in a house the parents would/could be reported for child abuse. https://vimeo.com/152728936
Health Educator - 9 years ago
I'm sad to see many people opposing this discussion in schools as I teach sexual health education and have seen in practice exactly how children are getting confused. I regularly discuss porn in high school classes and some young people think porn is a form of sex education in itself (it is not). When I don't bring the discussion in to a classroom the kids DO. I've taught grade 7 students who are consuming porn. Who is talking to them about this? This is necessary to discuss in schools because many parents are not - and it is their friends who are sharing porn with them - talking about it with educated adults is not going to encourage the use of it.
Studies show teaching sex Ed in schools reduces the age people become sexually active. It postpones how long young people wait. And if we want to teach it correctly, we need to include modern forms of media that are effecting our kids.
Alberta Girl - 9 years ago
Oh how I wish parents would just talk to their children, honestly, open and factually - sadly many still don't. Issues like online porn and sexting are in these kids faces every day. Porn is a click away and they don't even HAVE to try going there, pop up ad's etc.. come up ALL the time. Sexting is now a fact of life, as horrible as that idea is to me, it is reality. Discussing all the possible lifetime issues like ppl saving/using sex videos or saved conversations, how it can ruin lives, reputations, cause family issues etc.. is a GOOD topic to discuss. Online porn addiction, the reality of this demoralizing and often criminal industry is also a good topic to discuss in order to remove any 'Hollywood' ideas from teen's heads or having both genders think any of this is how loving intimacy is supposed to be. I would not want either one spoken to my kids in ANY positive manner, but discussing the bad elements would be acceptable since it IS in their lives every day.
Yan - 9 years ago
As a former CBE student, this is a crazy idea, not to mention disbursing! Why should the school take the parent's roll in educating their children. Schools, the CBE is NOT the parent. They need to stop manipulating people in think that they know what's best for the child, because they don't! Imagen how much the rates in depression, rapes, teen pregnancys, and crimes will increase because children will no long be "innocent", have morals nor values. The pressure that society will have on children will also increase..... this saddens me.
Renae - 9 years ago
This is NOT something that schools should be teaching! This is absolutely a topic that parents should address with their child. We know that every child is very different in their level of maturity. There definitely is a risk of normalizing porn and sexting if it is taught in schools. I don't think that it is healthy for schools to take on this very sensitive (and very individual) parent /child discussion. And to Global, nice indoctrination. Way to present both sides objectively. Not very impressed at all with this ridiculous one sided article.
Matt - 9 years ago
Should kids be taught about the dangers of sexting in school? Absolutely - and by their parents! Discussions about porn, however, are bound to be values-driven. I personally think it is degrading to people and dishonouring to something meant to be sacred, and when my children are old enough (which I will decide), they will hear my stance. I don't want pornography normalized anywhere in my kids' school, it degrades the sanctity of marriage and sets up an unrealistic, unwholesome view of sexuality. I'm troubled that we take a minority group's research, especially over issues that are morally sensitive and highly divisive, and expect this group to represent the majority in public schools. I'm sorry, but this is wrong. Do NOT teach my children about pornography - that my job as a Dad.
Should Alberta include topics in sexual education about pornography or sexting? NO. Why? Until we know WHO and HOW this will be taught, P.R.O. Children Alberta is against such teaching. These sorts of discussions are just another foot in the door for Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE). Sexual education is the responsibility of parents to be taught at their discretion, not Alberta Educations'.
Should Alberta Education invite parents to attend courses and/or provide resources to learn how teach their children about pornography and sexting? YES! Should they encourage parents to talk to their kids about these issues? YES! YES! YES! Should Comprehensive Sexual Education be allowed in schools at all? NO - NEVER!
Take a look at what a child psychologist/medical doctor, Dr. Miriam Grossman has to say about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21YvYPD56-U&feature=share
Still not convinced? Then take a look at what Comprehensive Sexual Education really is: https://vimeo.com/152728936
Why the government is so interested in sexualizing children at a young age is the real question. Why the obsession? And why they are silencing and bullying those against this is an even bigger question.
Bill 10 and the Guidelines for Best Practices are part of a formula used in other states and provinces to bring in CSE, much like a "grooming" process - social acceptance of explicit material. If the government fails to teach ALL the consequences of sexual activity (i.e.: medical facts and reasons for prudence and abstinence) and in the process cause arousal in Sex Ed class because of the sexually explicit material, and encourage children to "explore" their sexuality - then this is quite blatantly, child endangerment, not to mention putting adult teachers in terribly uncomfortable and risky situations as well.
Parents are the best choice in teaching children about sensitive, personal issues. If such teaching is not available, then through other systems, such as public health units, there should be that teaching available. But not in schools - and certainly not with legislation in places that prevents parental notification.
Alberta Education: Stick to the basics. Do not be swayed by activists' agendas. Allow parents to do their job and you do yours. Please investigate all sides before coming down with heavy handed Guidelines, policies and curriculum. You have a duty to consider the long term effects of such implementation, weigh and measure ALL facts, to care for ALL young Alberta students and to represent their families fairly. At P.R.O. Children Alberta, we feel you have failed children and their families by ignoring the voices of concerned parents and now you are entertaining the idea of CSE (http://globalnews.ca/news/2584633/online-porn-sexting-should-be-included-in-sex-ed-curriculum-alberta-professor-says/) which puts children at risk in multiple ways all while removing parental involvement and disregarding rights of belief, religion and family culture. Where are the children's rights? In the hands of parents. Where are the parent's rights? Tossed aside through a GSA Bill and "mandatory" Guidelines.
Alberta Education, do you really want to stand under the umbrella with Alfred Kinsey and his heinous research? Please re-think your approach to bullying, sexual UN-education, gender confusion and any other challenge you see with Alberta kids. Return parents to their proper place as the "experts" and allow them to nurture their children without governmental interference.
Parents: Get informed. Protect Rights Of (P.R.O.) Children.
www.prochildrenalberta.org
Theresa - 9 years ago
The topic of sexting and pornography is a very sensitive subject to discuss. As a parent I would be royally upset if my children were viewing pornography as part of the "curriculum" and heads would roll! The discussion in class that these things are out there (which most kids know) is one thing. But, to come across to make it sound ok or normal to do these things is wrong. As far as the discussion on teen pregnancies and STD's, for how many decades has this been taught in school? Has it deterred children...no. For the parents who try to bring up respectable, moral children our school system is failing the parent and child bond. And we wonder why the world is such a mess! Please leave parenting to parents and stick to the job of educating our children with academics...that is why they go to school.
Bruce - 9 years ago
I don't think most people are suggesting that sexual information isn't important. Of course it is. But for Alberta to want to utilize the agenda of sexual radicals like those at the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies, is very reminiscent of the pedophile-input that was likely implicit in the adoption of the Ontario sex-education curriculum. And we all know how unpopular that is— with Toronto having to release 100 teachers because of enrolment losses this winter alone. If public schools don't tighten up, and listen less to a Kris Wells who argues on behalf of sexual anarchy, then parents will simply take their children elsewhere.
Sometimes, it's not the idea, in general; it's the agenda-driven content.
Kathy - 9 years ago
Did you know that sexting can lead to criminal charges if pictures are shared without consent. It is unfortunate that some parents think this knowledge is not necessary.
To keep your child safe, wouldn't you want other teens to know that YOUR child's pictures are illegal to share without consent? Or should your child be put at risk because OTHER children do not know the law?
Dorothy - 9 years ago
My concern with sex-ed isn't what is being taught but how it is being taught. The teaching of sex-ed isn't just about doling out information; it is the board of education taking a certain moral stance and teaching it - for example it's one thing to explain what the act of sex entails, that is just information but to say there isn't a problem with teens having sex as long as they wear a condom or are on birth control pills is a moral stance. There are parents who strongly believe that certain sexual acts are wrong, such as premarital sex, pornography and don't want it being taught in a way that contradicts their moral convictions.
I am not opposed to teaching sex education but the direction this is going is not in alignment with parental involvement, decent age discussion topics and the boundaries that are appropriate...
My daughter sent me a phone text example of what a teacher is teaching 10 year old boys (not sure if it is a class for girls also or not) in sex education class in Stony Plain. Her sister in law found a drawn picture (possibly hand or home made) of a woman's private area with the female genital parts identified in her son's back pack. My daughter phoned the principal about it and mentioned what was found. The principal said she will look into it and see what was being taught this year in this class. There is a guideline to what is taught but of course the teacher can introduce other information also!!! 10 years old!!! My daughter mentioned that the picture really was no different than pornography!
Anything taught of a sexual nature in a classroom setting now is most likely CSE - Comprehensive Sexual Education. I promise you, as well intentioned as it sounds, this curriculum is not what you think and is better taught at home. Please visit www.stopCSE.org and watch the video on their home page to learn more. Also please join the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/exposeCSEalberta https://polldaddy.com/poll/9352265/?view=results#
I do believe if this was taught exactly how it is presented in this video, in a house the parents would/could be reported for child abuse. https://vimeo.com/152728936
I'm sad to see many people opposing this discussion in schools as I teach sexual health education and have seen in practice exactly how children are getting confused. I regularly discuss porn in high school classes and some young people think porn is a form of sex education in itself (it is not). When I don't bring the discussion in to a classroom the kids DO. I've taught grade 7 students who are consuming porn. Who is talking to them about this? This is necessary to discuss in schools because many parents are not - and it is their friends who are sharing porn with them - talking about it with educated adults is not going to encourage the use of it.
Studies show teaching sex Ed in schools reduces the age people become sexually active. It postpones how long young people wait. And if we want to teach it correctly, we need to include modern forms of media that are effecting our kids.
Oh how I wish parents would just talk to their children, honestly, open and factually - sadly many still don't. Issues like online porn and sexting are in these kids faces every day. Porn is a click away and they don't even HAVE to try going there, pop up ad's etc.. come up ALL the time. Sexting is now a fact of life, as horrible as that idea is to me, it is reality. Discussing all the possible lifetime issues like ppl saving/using sex videos or saved conversations, how it can ruin lives, reputations, cause family issues etc.. is a GOOD topic to discuss. Online porn addiction, the reality of this demoralizing and often criminal industry is also a good topic to discuss in order to remove any 'Hollywood' ideas from teen's heads or having both genders think any of this is how loving intimacy is supposed to be. I would not want either one spoken to my kids in ANY positive manner, but discussing the bad elements would be acceptable since it IS in their lives every day.
As a former CBE student, this is a crazy idea, not to mention disbursing! Why should the school take the parent's roll in educating their children. Schools, the CBE is NOT the parent. They need to stop manipulating people in think that they know what's best for the child, because they don't! Imagen how much the rates in depression, rapes, teen pregnancys, and crimes will increase because children will no long be "innocent", have morals nor values. The pressure that society will have on children will also increase..... this saddens me.
This is NOT something that schools should be teaching! This is absolutely a topic that parents should address with their child. We know that every child is very different in their level of maturity. There definitely is a risk of normalizing porn and sexting if it is taught in schools. I don't think that it is healthy for schools to take on this very sensitive (and very individual) parent /child discussion. And to Global, nice indoctrination. Way to present both sides objectively. Not very impressed at all with this ridiculous one sided article.
Should kids be taught about the dangers of sexting in school? Absolutely - and by their parents! Discussions about porn, however, are bound to be values-driven. I personally think it is degrading to people and dishonouring to something meant to be sacred, and when my children are old enough (which I will decide), they will hear my stance. I don't want pornography normalized anywhere in my kids' school, it degrades the sanctity of marriage and sets up an unrealistic, unwholesome view of sexuality. I'm troubled that we take a minority group's research, especially over issues that are morally sensitive and highly divisive, and expect this group to represent the majority in public schools. I'm sorry, but this is wrong. Do NOT teach my children about pornography - that my job as a Dad.
Should Alberta include topics in sexual education about pornography or sexting? NO. Why? Until we know WHO and HOW this will be taught, P.R.O. Children Alberta is against such teaching. These sorts of discussions are just another foot in the door for Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE). Sexual education is the responsibility of parents to be taught at their discretion, not Alberta Educations'.
Should Alberta Education invite parents to attend courses and/or provide resources to learn how teach their children about pornography and sexting? YES! Should they encourage parents to talk to their kids about these issues? YES! YES! YES! Should Comprehensive Sexual Education be allowed in schools at all? NO - NEVER!
Take a look at what a child psychologist/medical doctor, Dr. Miriam Grossman has to say about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21YvYPD56-U&feature=share
Still not convinced? Then take a look at what Comprehensive Sexual Education really is: https://vimeo.com/152728936
Why the government is so interested in sexualizing children at a young age is the real question. Why the obsession? And why they are silencing and bullying those against this is an even bigger question.
Bill 10 and the Guidelines for Best Practices are part of a formula used in other states and provinces to bring in CSE, much like a "grooming" process - social acceptance of explicit material. If the government fails to teach ALL the consequences of sexual activity (i.e.: medical facts and reasons for prudence and abstinence) and in the process cause arousal in Sex Ed class because of the sexually explicit material, and encourage children to "explore" their sexuality - then this is quite blatantly, child endangerment, not to mention putting adult teachers in terribly uncomfortable and risky situations as well.
Parents are the best choice in teaching children about sensitive, personal issues. If such teaching is not available, then through other systems, such as public health units, there should be that teaching available. But not in schools - and certainly not with legislation in places that prevents parental notification.
Alberta Education: Stick to the basics. Do not be swayed by activists' agendas. Allow parents to do their job and you do yours. Please investigate all sides before coming down with heavy handed Guidelines, policies and curriculum. You have a duty to consider the long term effects of such implementation, weigh and measure ALL facts, to care for ALL young Alberta students and to represent their families fairly. At P.R.O. Children Alberta, we feel you have failed children and their families by ignoring the voices of concerned parents and now you are entertaining the idea of CSE (http://globalnews.ca/news/2584633/online-porn-sexting-should-be-included-in-sex-ed-curriculum-alberta-professor-says/) which puts children at risk in multiple ways all while removing parental involvement and disregarding rights of belief, religion and family culture. Where are the children's rights? In the hands of parents. Where are the parent's rights? Tossed aside through a GSA Bill and "mandatory" Guidelines.
Alberta Education, do you really want to stand under the umbrella with Alfred Kinsey and his heinous research? Please re-think your approach to bullying, sexual UN-education, gender confusion and any other challenge you see with Alberta kids. Return parents to their proper place as the "experts" and allow them to nurture their children without governmental interference.
Parents: Get informed. Protect Rights Of (P.R.O.) Children.
www.prochildrenalberta.org
The topic of sexting and pornography is a very sensitive subject to discuss. As a parent I would be royally upset if my children were viewing pornography as part of the "curriculum" and heads would roll! The discussion in class that these things are out there (which most kids know) is one thing. But, to come across to make it sound ok or normal to do these things is wrong. As far as the discussion on teen pregnancies and STD's, for how many decades has this been taught in school? Has it deterred children...no. For the parents who try to bring up respectable, moral children our school system is failing the parent and child bond. And we wonder why the world is such a mess! Please leave parenting to parents and stick to the job of educating our children with academics...that is why they go to school.
I don't think most people are suggesting that sexual information isn't important. Of course it is. But for Alberta to want to utilize the agenda of sexual radicals like those at the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies, is very reminiscent of the pedophile-input that was likely implicit in the adoption of the Ontario sex-education curriculum. And we all know how unpopular that is— with Toronto having to release 100 teachers because of enrolment losses this winter alone. If public schools don't tighten up, and listen less to a Kris Wells who argues on behalf of sexual anarchy, then parents will simply take their children elsewhere.
Sometimes, it's not the idea, in general; it's the agenda-driven content.
Did you know that sexting can lead to criminal charges if pictures are shared without consent. It is unfortunate that some parents think this knowledge is not necessary.
To keep your child safe, wouldn't you want other teens to know that YOUR child's pictures are illegal to share without consent? Or should your child be put at risk because OTHER children do not know the law?
My concern with sex-ed isn't what is being taught but how it is being taught. The teaching of sex-ed isn't just about doling out information; it is the board of education taking a certain moral stance and teaching it - for example it's one thing to explain what the act of sex entails, that is just information but to say there isn't a problem with teens having sex as long as they wear a condom or are on birth control pills is a moral stance. There are parents who strongly believe that certain sexual acts are wrong, such as premarital sex, pornography and don't want it being taught in a way that contradicts their moral convictions.