There's a new sex education program in New York City, and they're making it mandatory. At least, it’s mandatory that schools teach it. And it seems New York City school and government officials think they've found the answer to the age-old issue of parents feeling forced to allow the school to teach their kids about sex. They're gonna give 'em the right to “opt out” of the contraception section.
The classes will be coed and they'll start in sixth or seventh grade. But rest assured, they won't be cutting any academic courses to fit in sex ed. Instead, they'll be working it into their regular health classes.
“We have a responsibility to provide a variety of options to support our students, and sex education is one of them,” the chancellor, Dennis M. Walcott, said in an interview on Monday.
There's some concern that religious and immigrant families will be upset with the new mandate. Administrators hope that letting the parents decide will help them to trust the schools to do right by the kids.
“We’re going to have to be the bridge between the chancellor’s requirements and the community,” said Casimiro Cibelli, principal of Middle School 142. “Hopefully, we’ll allay their concerns because of their trust in us.”
The classes will be coed and they'll start in sixth or seventh grade. But rest assured, they won't be cutting any academic courses to fit in sex ed. Instead, they'll be working it into their regular health classes.
“We have a responsibility to provide a variety of options to support our students, and sex education is one of them,” the chancellor, Dennis M. Walcott, said in an interview on Monday.
There's some concern that religious and immigrant families will be upset with the new mandate. Administrators hope that letting the parents decide will help them to trust the schools to do right by the kids.
“We’re going to have to be the bridge between the chancellor’s requirements and the community,” said Casimiro Cibelli, principal of Middle School 142. “Hopefully, we’ll allay their concerns because of their trust in us.”
Once again the parents are placing the responsibilty on the school for doing what they don't want to do, or can't do. And if it doesn't work the way they want, then they can sue the school system.
They say it takes a village...