3:20 a.m. my phone rings not long after me hanging up with an over seas conversation with Ms. Phil aka Sylvia........she and I are talking on msn because Steve is having a stroke about the phone bill.............when this phone call comes in.....
Here is the phone call.....mind you at 3:20 A.M. IN THE MORNING.......
NOTE AHEAD OF TIME MY LACK OF SPELLING THAT IS HOW PISSED I AM ON A GOOD DAY!!!!!!
This is *school*, calling on behalf of the *principle*, as a curtiousy call about sex education. We are having a "parent's only meeting *on this date/this time" for questions and review of what we are going to be discussing with your children about sex".
OKAY WTF?????????????????????????????
Sex Education is important to children, I agree, but since WHEN do the SCHOOLS and THEIR VALUES, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND MORALS / OR LACK THERE OF have the right to tell my children who, where, excatly to what extend etc etc of having sex?????????
Last time I checked, the schools and all their so called "morals" weren't in the delivery room, much less in conception...........and if I concieved at 3:20 AM in the morning it wasn't from a damn phone call, automated phone call at that, to cover one's ass!!!!!!!
Well of course, being the kind, considerate individual I am..........I called the school and left an equally kind and considerate message on their answering machine DEMANDING NO LESS than the PRINCIPAL him/her self call me back at my number ASAP!!!!!
My children are EXACTLY THAT!!!!!! When I concieved them, it wasn't under a law, it wasn't under distress, it wasn't under anyone's morals, they were concieved out of love BOTH my children............since when does the STATE/SCHOOLS/ ETC have the RIGHT to discuss these issues WITH MY CHILDREN? This message wasn't about you have an option, it stated on this date your child will be hearing an indepth conversation of sexual activity...........I DON"T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BY WHOSE RULES??????????????????
OMG I'm PISSED!!!! Yeah I know Suz you are reading this right now and saying to yourself, "they so don't know who they are messing with, I remember when....." :lol......you are so right...they don't but they will learn.........even if it means me keeping my child out of school that day and THEY WILL EXCUSE HIS ABSENCE!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm not a mother who buries her head in the sand, I talk openly with my children of both ages of sex, drugs, alcholo, cig's, internet and the like.....I'm very open with my kids about MY mistakes.........I don't judge them for what they choose, but I'm lucky, thus far, my kids are much more mature that I ever was at their age.............I don't need the STATE or the SCHOOLS to teach my children.....I do a damn good job on my own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry had to rant and at this hour NO ONE IS UP!!!! GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRR
Hello,
Sorry to hear how this upsets you. My 11 year old had some 'sex education' at school this year and I am actually pleased that they do this teaching. Not because I lack in the ability to teach, but as re-inforcement. I am a registered nurse and have used my nursing background to teach my son, but not all kids have that luxury and I am very very pleased that they have a nurse to come and teach this in many cases delicate subject.
I made a point of actually attending the class to see what they were teaching at his age, and then was able to follow up that at home some more. So, there can be more than one take on this... as you see it - them stepping out of their sphere, and as I see it in giving more open-ness to the topic, maybe a slightly different view... re-inforcement to what has been taught at home.
Oh, but I WAS up and we talked for hours!! It had been awhile and we had a lot of things to catch up on. I have my fingers crossed that you had calmed down a little after our conversation and before you talked to anyone at the School, but I don't really think that happened.
QT, you just used the words 'calm' in reference to our dear Jamie here *s*
you must need sleep!! LOL
I personally don't have a problem with them teaching it in schools, because even in this day and age, not every parent is as open with their children as you are JJ, for some this will be all they get, and IMHO they do need to know how to protect themselves...wasn't it you who just yesterday was telling me that her mother had a 5th grader come up pregnant when she taught that class? perhaps if that girl had the benefit of 'sex ed' classes, it would not have happened?
as always, my .02, keep the change *s*
Hello All ~ yes I calmed down significantly before talking "personally" to anyone at the school...however, by the time I talked to an actual person they had already heard my very shall we say "descriptive" message on the school answering machine at 3:25 AM!!! After THEIR call at 3:20 AM!!!!
Anyhoot, to address a few issues, I'm not opposed to sex education being taught in schools and just like everyone has posted thus far, it is the only sex education thus far MANY/MOST children will ever get as well as it can be used as an "opening the lines of communication at home" as well. I understand ALL of that and I don't TOTALLY disagree with the views pointed out.
HOWEVER what I DO disagree with are the exact issues I pointed out to the school which are these
First and foremost 3 ***** AM in the MORNING to informing me you are going to teach my child YOUR version of sexual or non sexual contact......*shaking head* bad move first and foremost...
The Second point I found out while my conversation of over an hour in half with the school is this ~ they KNEW A YEAR AGO they wanted to offer this in the school but yet NEVER offered it as a posing question to the parents.
Yes, they are giving parents an option to remove their children from it, but hello thanks for that "state required" decision let me now figure out if I want to shit in one hand or throw up in the other......
Thirdly, at the SAME time they were discussing the possiblity of discussing sex with our children, they took a pole with the PTA, Parents, sent out newsletters with return envelopes about adding an extra day to one of the school vacation, but yet NOTHING I quote NOTHING was posed to us as parents to think, mule over, or decide what we wanted or didn't want in regards to sex education.
I also found out, that the PTA posed it to the Principle, she opposed it last year, but the PTA has been putting pressure on her FOR YEARS for this, yet NOT ONCE has the PTA bothered to ask how Parent's think or feel or VIEW the material that is NOW already in place, but yet the PTA tore up our phones, emails, mail boxes, and notes home about an extra damn day off from school????? WTF
I'm not the only parent that feels this way and I found out this AM in my conversation the facility does not support this type of handling/issue either. I honestly think I'm more upset that they placed more emphasis on an extra day out of school wanting "parents to be involved in the school and their education/well being" but yet didn't feel this WAS AS IMPORTANT?????????
Call me crazy/stupid but "I" have a problem with that.......it isn't really an issue except me bitching about it now, the classes are being held.....parents ARE NOT...let me repeat ARE NOT allowed to attend when they discuss this issue with our children AND I also found out it will be discussed with BOTH SEXES IN THE SAME ROOM!!!!!!!!!!! Yes my ass is chapped BAD!!!!
But again, I'm trying my best to be calm with those I need to be about all this to appropriate address my concerns and no longer option as a parent.....I don't think shitting in one hand or throwing up in the other is really considered an option!!!! IMHO!!!!
3:20 in the morning????
Shit. Someone can call me at that hour to announce I won a million dollars...and I'd rip their head off.
You're one of those "cool parents" that have an open dialog with their kids. Sadly you're more an "exception" rather than a "rule". Kids rely on a lot of misinformation from their peers, and can't come to their parents for stuff like that.
But I still think sex education should be optional, there are so many different religious and moral stances with each family.
... and they shouldn't call at 3:20 AM.
Well, I think it is important for sex ed to be taught in schools as there are far too many youngsters out there (even in this computer/internet age) who are not informed about sex and how to protect themselves from STDs and unwanted pregnancies. However, 3:20 AM??? I can't understand that at all. Did they hope that they just might catch the parents at home at that hour having sex themselves??? (Sorry to be so 'dry'). If my telephone rings at that hour of the morning, it has to be the hospital calling me when I'm on duty (and it better be good) or it means that a family member is very ill or has passed away (and in that case you may as well wait till morning as calling at 3AM won't bring back their life!). Are you sure that the automated system directing that call does not have a timer problem? Rolling eyes!
Yeah Dr. D! If you're calling my house at 3:20 it had better be an emergency! My parents taught us that you don't make calls after 9:00 at night. I know this is outdated now, but 3:20 in the morning!!?? I can't believe they didn't understand how many angry parents would be contacting the school after those calls.
All that is bad enough, but the one thing you mentioned (I hope you said it here, too) that really bothered me, was that they planned to prevent you seeing the curriculum, or being in the classroom when it was taught. JJ.....that sure sounds illegal to me. I don't think they have the right to prevent you from at least seeing the syllabus. They might be able to keep you out of the classroom, and I can understand the reasoning for that decision, but they have an obligation to let you know what they plan to teach your child.
It seems to me that the Parent Teacher organization would have been a LOT smarter to have sent information to EVERY parent, rather than randomly calling a few in the middle of the night for a subject this volatile. Sure sounds as if they are hiding something.
Good luck with all this....and keep us posted, won't you?
Grow up people for god's sake! Just be relaxed and happy with your kids. Life is full of hard decisions but if you are honest with your children then at least they have solid ground to base their ideas on. Don't you want your kids to be honest with you? If you want that, you have to be honest with them first to show them the way. Remember my maxim which I repeat to my children - lies ALWAYS make things worse.
Love,
Neil.