New sexual education materials coming to Ann Arbor Public Schools
Previous coverage:
The Ann Arbor school board unanimously approved two new sexual education programs at Wednesday’s regular meeting.
The materials used in the programs could help prevent child sexual abuse, according to the district’s Sexual Health Education Advisory Committee (SHEAC), which has been vetting various programs for the district to consider.
The first approved program targets pupils in preschool through second grade. It teaches the kids how to identify their “private parts,” what it means to be the boss of their own bodies and who is allowed to touch and see a person’s private parts.
The second program is a video geared toward students in fifth through eighth grade.
The video is called “We’re Just Around the Corner” and covers puberty, reproductive systems, conception, pregnancy, fetal development, decision-making, hygiene and healthy habits.
SHEAC committee members said the updated video was necessary because the dated clothing the actors wore in the previous video was distracting students.
Wednesday was the second reading and public hearing on the new sexual education materials. The first round of discussions took place Sept. 19. There was no further discussion from the board or audience members Wednesday.
A copy of both the "We're Just Around the Corner" DVD and a body safety training lesson plan are available at the Balas Administration Office, 2555 S. State St. in Ann Arbor, for parents to watch and review.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
Elaine F. Owsley
Fri, Oct 12, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.
Shouldn't it be "sex education" and not "sexual"?
clownfish
Fri, Oct 12, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
No poster has seen the video, but they are all experts on it's efficacy already. Can some of you omniscient readers please tell us the next Power Ball numbers?
Mike
Fri, Oct 12, 2012 : 1:01 a.m.
"The first approved program targets pupils in preschool through second grade. It teaches the kids how to identify their "private parts," what it means to be the boss of their own bodies and who is allowed to touch and see a person's private parts." This is just great, pre-schoolers through second graders have no idea what these people are trying to teach them. let our kids grow up without this kind of "education". Work on what you are supposed to and teach our kids to read and write..........
arborarmy
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 8:44 p.m.
Whadaya figure the over/under is on the number of comments this information-free article will generate?
G. Orwell
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 6:13 p.m.
It will probably do more harm to children and their families than good. Always under the guise of helping.
SuperiorMother
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
How do you think it will harm children and families?
Dog Guy
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 5:04 p.m.
I see no reason for a standing Committee such as Sexual Health Education Advisory Committee (SHEAC) when a temporary Taskforce would suffice.
TeedOff
Sun, Oct 14, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.
Mandate for an advisory board. A school district shall not offer this [sex education] instruction unless a sex education advisory board is established by the board of the school district. §380.1507(5) Composition of advisory board. The board of a school district shall determine terms of service for the sex education advisory board, the number of members to serve on the advisory board, and a membership selection process that reasonably reflects the school district population, and shall appoint 2 co-chairs for the advisory board, at least 1 of whom is a parent of a child attending a school operated by the school district. At least 1/2 of the members of the sex education advisory board shall be parents who have a child attending a school operated by the school district, and a majority of these parent members shall be individuals who are not employed by a school district. The board of a school district shall include pupils of the school district, educators, local clergy, and community health professionals on the sex education advisory board. §380.1507(5) Check out Michigan Department of Education for more information.
Snehal Shah
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 4:29 p.m.
Wondering if a 1 or 2 grader will understand the meaning of private parts and if they do, then will they think rest of the body is public property? Does the school wants them to think that they are boss of their body when they don't know the meaning of boss. This is indirectly creating a slave mentality of boss-slave! Bettewr term would be to be a master of their own body. Heck boss or master of their body means they will be boss or master of their mind also! Mind is a part of the body, remember? So, being a master or boss of their own mind , why would they listen to their parents? In fact, no need for the parents. Whatever little parenting is possible is going to be extinct!
Billy
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 3:59 p.m.
"SHEAC committee members said the updated video was necessary because the dated clothing the actors wore in the previous video was distracting students." Translation: We found an excuse to justify making a new video....and who will be PAID to make this new video again?
music to my ear
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
any and all help is better, than not talking about it at all ,kids are not dumb they will get the hint
xmo
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
This sounds like something the "Christian Right" would bring into the "Progressive" Ann Arbor schools. " It teaches the kids how to identify their "private parts," what it means to be the boss of their own bodies and who is allowed to touch and see a person's private parts." Totally useless and confuses the students more than it helps them!
Billy
Thu, Oct 11, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
" It teaches the kids how to identify their "private parts,"" Yup....that's just plain stupid sounding...