Do you think the President should dictate teaching sex education to five year olds in local public schools?

Question

A clip was shown on the news today of Barak Obama where he clearly stated to Planned Parenthood that sex education should be taught to 5 year olds in public schools scientifically (he didn't mention anything about morals). Our public schools are taxed locally and are controlled by local districts - so why would a President tell us what the curriculum should be regarding such a controversial subject?

Answer 1

The President shouldn't be concerned with the curriculum provided in our local schools, that's why we pay the school board and superintendents big money! If we don't like what they're doing, we can vote them out!

This subject is going to hurt Obama's chance's greatly!

Answer 2

I completely agree with you! Our high school isn't even allowed to mention birth control - they can only teach abstinence, which is completely ridiculous and very unrealistic. Then they also showed us a bunch of pictures of STD's and women giving birth to scare us off. I mean, it's definitely important to know about the risks of STD's and pregnancy, but that's not the only things there are to know. And learning about safe sex is so, so important. I can't believe people are so naive to think that the abstinence method would ever work. Most teens aren't stupid. We can handle real information, even if adults think we can't. Teens are going to have sex either way, so the best thing for our society would be to educate them on everything. One thing that really bugs the crap out of me is that no one ever talks about the emotional aspect of sex. Having sex with a person creates a special type of bond with them, particularly if it's done within a loving relationship. I've had friends who had sex and then were so confused about how they felt that they came close to breaking down completely. The physical risks should definitely be addressed, as well as birth control, but there really needs to be more education on the emotions involved. I was 16 when I lost my virginity to my long-term boyfriend, who was also 16 and a virgin. Thankfully we knew enough about birth control to use two methods - pills and condoms (better safe than sorry!). We're still in a very loving relationship, and we have such a strong bond. I don't regret having sex at all, but I know plenty of people who do. Just because it was the right thing for me to do doesn't mean it's right for everyone.

Answer 3

No. I personally thought that 12 was too young, and that's when they started teaching it at our school. I had nowhere near the mental capacity for it when I was five.

The worst part is, they didn't teach anything about birth control the whole time. They just taught us the mechanics. I'm all for birth control, because it helps prevent abortions. The trick is teaching kids how to use it.

I figure if a child asks about it, he's ready for an honest answer, but most five-year-olds don't have the capacity for that.

Answer 4

What exactly is wrong with teaching young kids how our bodies work?

Sex isn't amoral. Body parts are not amoral.

He's not suggesting we show our children hardcore porn. He's suggesting that the longer a child learns about sex, the fewer mistakes they will make when the time comes.

Btw, Mitt Romney is in favor of this too.

Us humans have sex, then reproduce. There's nothing else that ranks as high as sex because it's the key to our survival.

Sex isn't shame and perversion. It's a strong presence in every person on Earth and is a natural act.

Often, young children will rub themselves against various things. This act proves that sexuality is a part of our lives even at a young age.

Answer 5

I think this is a moral issue. This needs to be taught by the parents. I really like BArak Obama and I am a republican but this bothers me a bit.

Answer 6

It isn't working for the ones who are being taught sex education. I do not understand what exposing them sooner to sex education would accomplish. Maybe enlighten them earlier so they can be on the welfare roles earlier by being the youngest moms ever? This is not something that should be taken lightly. I definitely will not be voting for him.

Answer 7

My children attend private schools and will never step foot in a public school for the purpose of being taught a single thing. As a Christian it is my responsibility to keep my children from men such as Obama and their "great ideas" regardless of what the electorate thinks.

Obviously, I oppose such "thinking" as I also oppose Obama.

(See Sources below for those that want to see the footage for themselves and are not well informed in current events).

Answer 8

Did you know children are hitting puberty at as low an age as eight? So, we can either teach them before things start happening, or we can wait until they are sexually active to start teaching them what they could have done to keep themselves safe. Of course, we could always stick to the don't teach them anything and hope they make the moral choice.

Answer 9

the prez should never dictate anything federally on a state level ! keep government out of our schools and as limited as passable!!
Stat ism depends on the idea that the government owns us and citizens must obey.

Vote Ron Paul!!!!!!

Answer 10

First...are you a parent?

2nd...do you have any experience with children?

I have a five year old, and to tell her that a pregnant woman "has a baby in her tummy" and then show her pictures of my pregnancy and told her "that was when you were in my tummy" is completely normal, and within the scope of her understanding.

There are ways to introduce education about where babies come from in young children...or are we supposed to teach them that the stork brings babies, or that babies just magically appear.

The fact is that young children should be told the truth in a way that they can understand it, and only to the limit to which they understand...it is called "age appropriate."

...and isn't it a little hypocritical for Romney to criticize Obama for making a statement that he himself agrees with?

Here is the direct quote from the article:

""All I said was that I support the same laws that exist in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in which local communities and parents can make decisions to provide children with the information they need to deal with sexual predators," Obama said.

Romney on Wednesday targeted Obama for supporting a bill during his term in the Illinois state Senate that would have, among other things, provided age-appropriate sex education for all students.

"How much sex education is age appropriate for a 5-year-old? In my mind, zero is the right number," Romney said.

Obama said Romney was wrong to take the shot and incorrect on its basis.

"We have to deal with a coarsening of the culture and the over-sexualization of our young people. Look, I've got two daughters, 9 and 6 years old," Obama told the AP. "Of course, part of the coarsening of that culture is when politicians try to demagogue issues to score cheap political points."

"What we shouldn't do is to try to play a political football with these issues and express them in ways that are honest and truthful," Obama said. "Certainly, what we shouldn't do is engage in hypocrisy."

Romney himself once indicated support for similar programs that Obama supports.

In 2002, Romney told Planned Parenthood in a questionnaire that he also supported age-appropriate sex education.

He checked yes to a question that asked: "Do you support the teaching of responsible, age-appropriate, factually accurate health and sexuality education, including information about both abstinence and contraception, in public schools?"