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Modesto City Schools trustee is critical of sex education plan for 5th-graders
A Modesto City Schools board member wants parents to know what's in a sex education curriculum designed for fifth-grade classrooms.
Jolene Daly spoke at two recent gatherings, arguing that fifth-graders aren't psychologically prepared for the content about gender identity and sexual activity. Daly gave a scathing critique of the curriculum Saturday at Celebration Center, a church in Modesto. She said she spoke as a licensed family therapist, not as a school board member.
'It oversexualizes 10-year-olds,' Daly said. 'These children are not ready for this material.'
The proposed fifth-grade sex education curriculum in Modesto City Schools is likely to run into some opposition several months after Stanislaus County voters swung conservative in the November presidential election and the culture wars were one of the issues.
About 50 people attended Daly's talk at Celebration Center and more than 100 were at a June 2 event, she said. Several people at Saturday's presentation asked how to get involved with the school district's decision-making process.
MCS trustees this month will consider two curriculum options: 'Puberty Talk for Grades 5 & 6' and 'Puberty: The Wonder Years, Grade 5.' A 16-member committee consisting of teachers, parents and board members reviewed curriculum choices and has recommended 'Puberty Talk.'
The proposed sex education is under the school district's fifth-grade health curriculum, which focuses on hygiene, nutrition, puberty, internet safety, social influences, healthy communication and relationships. According to an MCS FAQ page, the California Healthy Youth Act also requires sex education topics when school districts offer health education.
The classroom instruction must recognize diverse sexual orientations including same-sex relationships, teach gender concepts and cover gender expression, gender identity and the harm of negative stereotypes. The health education must include medically accurate, objective information appropriate for students 'of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities and cultural background,' the state law says.
One of the goals is teaching fifth-graders, who are showing the early signs of puberty, to recognize sexual harassment and abuse and report inappropriate touching and child abuse, the school district says.
During her talk Saturday, Daly contended that fifth-graders are too early in mental development for lessons about gender identity and the facts of sex. She referred to a student survey question in one curriculum that asks what transgender means. She also objected to proposed instructional content defining different sexualities and genders and what she said was content regarding hormone replacement therapy and masturbation.
Daly said there's too much latitude for fifth-grade teachers to talk with students about sexual acts. It's too early for the kids to hear that sex is fun, Daly said, adding that the classroom material is not culturally sensitive to members of the Christian faith.
According to the school district FAQ, fifth-grade sex education is widely taught in California to help students navigate the physical changes of puberty and learn the facts in a supportive educational setting. It follows a trend of young people experiencing puberty at younger age and dealing with developments including physical growth, change in voice, acne, body odor, oily hair and the need for good hygiene.
To review the copyrighted curriculum materials, parents must go to the district's Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Professional Development Building B, at 1017 Reno Ave., at certain times through June 30.
The school board is scheduled to hear more about the curriculum and receive community input Monday evening. The board could approve the curriculum June 23.
The school district says parents can opt their children out of the sex education instruction. Forms will be sent home with children at least two weeks before the lessons, and a form will be provided on Parent Square.
Daly said the Puberty Talk program is the sister curriculum of the Teen Talk sex education for eighth=grade students. She said local groups including Without Permission could educate students about human trafficking, harassment and other health education topics required by the state.
