Obama: sex-ed for kindergarteners

MyOwnWay - 7-19-2007 at 08:48 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Lindsey Ellerson Report: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told Planned Parenthood Tuesday that sex education for kindergarteners, as long as it is "age-appropriate," is "the right thing to do."

"I remember Alan Keyes . . . I remember him using this in his campaign against me," Obama said in reference to the conservative firebrand who ran against him for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Sex education for kindergarteners had become an issue in his race against Keyes because of Obama?s work on the issue as chairman of the health committee in the Illinois state Senate.

"'Barack Obama supports teaching sex education to kindergarteners,'" said Obama mimicking Keyes' distinctive style of speech. "Which -- I didn?t know what to tell him (laughter)."

"But it?s the right thing to do," Obama continued, "to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools."

Speaking to a young woman who asked a question about sex education, Obama said, "You, as a peer, can have enormous power over your age cohort but you?ve got to have some support from the schools. You certainly should not have to be fighting each and every instance by providing accurate information outside of the classroom because inside the classroom the only thing that can be talked about is abstinence."

"Keep in mind: I honor and respect young people who choose to delay sexual activity," Obama continued. "I?ve got two daughters, and I want them to understand that sex is not something casual. That's something that we definitely want to communicate and should be part of any curriculum. But we also know that when the statistics tell us that nearly half of 15 to 19 year olds are engaging in sexual activity, that for us to leave them in ignorance is potentially consigning them to illness, pregnancy, poverty, and in some cases, death."

When Obama's campaign was asked by ABC News to explain what kind of sex education Obama considers "age appropriate" for kindergarteners, the Obama campaign pointed to an Oct. 6, 2004 story from the Daily Herald in which Obama had "moved to clarify" in his Senate campaign that he "does not support teaching explicit sex education to children in kindergarten. . . The legislation in question was a state Senate measure last year that aimed to update Illinois' sex education standards with 'medically accurate' information . . . 'Nobody's suggesting that kindergartners are going to be getting information about sex in the way that we think about it,' Obama said. 'If they ask a teacher 'where do babies come from,' that providing information that the fact is that it's not a stork is probably not an unhealthy thing. Although again, that's going to be determined on a case by case basis by local communities and local school boards.'"

In addition to local schools informing kindergarteners that babies do not come from the stork, the state legislation Obama supported in Illinois, which contained an "opt out" provision for parents, also envisioned teaching kindergarteners about "inappropriate touching," according to Obama's presidential campaign. Despite Obama's support, the legislation was not enacted.

random - 7-19-2007 at 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MyOwnWay
'If they ask a teacher 'where do babies come from,' that providing information that the fact is that it's not a stork is probably not an unhealthy thing. Although again, that's going to be determined on a case by case basis by local communities and local school boards.'"

In addition to local schools informing kindergarteners that babies do not come from the stork, the state legislation Obama supported in Illinois, which contained an "opt out" provision for parents, also envisioned teaching kindergarteners about "inappropriate touching," according to Obama's presidential campaign. Despite Obama's support, the legislation was not enacted.

I find it pretty sad that many people will find it inappropriate to tell kids that babies don't come from storks and that kids shouldn't be taught to report scumbags like this.

Earlier this week at work, I had a kid who just completed first grade do a reading comprehension passage about a couple that had quintuplets. One of the questions was about what "expecting a baby" meant, and it confused him. I asked him if he's ever seen a pregnant woman. His response was that they get really big and look like they're going to explode. It probably wouldn't hurt if he knew just a little bit more... but at least he didn't mention a stork.

MyOwnWay - 7-19-2007 at 09:17 AM

I like this idea except for one thing. I am sick and tired of everyone else in society influencing kids other than their own parents. This is a parents job, not so much the schools. But I do see where he is going with it. And could be a good thing if done well.

XnMeX - 7-19-2007 at 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MyOwnWay
I like this idea except for one thing. I am sick and tired of everyone else in society influencing kids other than their own parents. This is a parents job, not so much the schools. But I do see where he is going with it. And could be a good thing if done well.

I think it is because it seems in todays society, ALOT (not all) of parents are not doing their job. Letting tv and god forbid the child predator soaked internet raise their kids.

BDx13 - 7-19-2007 at 10:00 AM

first off, i HATE 'news' articles like this. the first 3/4 of the piece lead you to believe that obama is advocating sex education as WE think of it to kindergarteners. then at the end, it's like, "psyche! he took that shit back!" they hook you with this dramatic sounding shit, then completely change the angle after most people have stopped reading.

anway, i agree with monty... this IS a job for parents, but not enough are doing it. delicate shit, though, no matter how you look at it.

we've talked before what we are teaching our own kids and when. i can't believe i'm talking to a three year old about private parts and stranger danger and all that shit.

JawnDiablo - 7-19-2007 at 10:18 AM

Seems like the article was put together to try and sway opinions against 'Barack Obama and what not. But that's politricks. Theres been controversy here and there about Obama's background and whatever.
I learned the birds and bees from the kid up the street when I was 8 or something. He's like "ya know where babies come from?" Me: "uh no"...Him: "Your dad sticks his dick in your mom"...with that I had to go to my mom to "verify" this. I don't think my mom was ready for that life's lesson just yet....
shit when i was in grade school there was talk of "the blue van" in the neighborhood witht he pervert driving it that was snatching kids. back in the 80s it was we heard kidnapping stories all the time. Scary for a little kid.
In fact I had to give my son that speach just recently because there had been 2 child abduction attempts near his school within a month....

upyerbum - 7-19-2007 at 10:42 AM

The only reason this is a delicate subject is because society makes it one. I've never censored my daughter, if she wants to run around naked I let her, if she asks me a question I answer it. Its not that fuckin hard. I grew up in a very Catholic household and I don't want her anywhere near that mentality.

BDx13 - 7-19-2007 at 11:07 AM

^ Europeans.