Parents and school district leaders in Modesto are clashing when it comes to teaching kids about health education. The Modesto City School Board on Monday is deciding if fifth graders should be taught health education. The curriculum is called "Puberty Talks.""Not every parent has the opportunity or the will to talk to their children about these things, so it is your job as the administration to make sure that all children learn about these things," said one parent at a June 9 school board meeting. "During puberty, a child's body changes into the body of an adult. Why would we miss the opportunity for trained educators to provide 11-year-olds with medically accurate diagrams and explanations of how their bodies will change during puberty?"According to the board meeting agenda, some topics include hygiene, nutrition, growth and development and more.Brett Brown has two kids in Modesto City Schools and one who will be attending soon. "Everybody's responsible for their own kids and what they do with their own kids. I'm all for that, that's up to them. But my kids, I prefer them not to know until they're older," Brown said. Jolene Daly is on the Modesto City School Board. As a member of the health curriculum committee, she said she's concerned about 10 and 11-year-olds learning about different forms of sexual intercourse. "It is appropriate for them to learn about puberty and hygiene and health and how their bodies are going to change," Daly said. "It isn't appropriate to teach them about sex."According to state law, health education must include the topic of gender identity and gender expression. "I don't think that's a conversation teachers should have with children. I think that's a conversation that should happen at home with parents and their kids," another parent said.Parents would be given the option to opt their child out of any topics within the curriculum. "The law does not give other parents the right to deny my daughter access to it," said another parent at the June 9 board meeting. "I strongly urge the board to uphold the values of public education by adopting the complete puberty talk curriculum with no omissions." Daly argues that kids who are part of the curriculum will end up sharing it with other students who opted out."The explanation is, 'Oh well, they are seeing it on the internet, so we might as well introduce that to them.' They're not your children. You don't get to decide what they get to see and what they don't get to see," Daly said. According to officials, it is not required for students below seventh grade to be taught health education, but a district can decide to.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
MODESTO, Calif. —
Parents and school district leaders in Modesto are clashing when it comes to teaching kids about health education.
The Modesto City School Board on Monday is deciding if fifth graders should be taught health education. The curriculum is called "Puberty Talks."
"Not every parent has the opportunity or the will to talk to their children about these things, so it is your job as the administration to make sure that all children learn about these things," said one parent at a June 9 school board meeting. "During puberty, a child's body changes into the body of an adult. Why would we miss the opportunity for trained educators to provide 11-year-olds with medically accurate diagrams and explanations of how their bodies will change during puberty?"
According to the board meeting agenda, some topics include hygiene, nutrition, growth and development and more.
Brett Brown has two kids in Modesto City Schools and one who will be attending soon.
"Everybody's responsible for their own kids and what they do with their own kids. I'm all for that, that's up to them. But my kids, I prefer them not to know until they're older," Brown said.
Jolene Daly is on the Modesto City School Board. As a member of the health curriculum committee, she said she's concerned about 10 and 11-year-olds learning about different forms of sexual intercourse.
"It is appropriate for them to learn about puberty and hygiene and health and how their bodies are going to change," Daly said. "It isn't appropriate to teach them about sex."
According to state law, health education must include the topic of gender identity and gender expression.
"I don't think that's a conversation teachers should have with children. I think that's a conversation that should happen at home with parents and their kids," another parent said.
Parents would be given the option to opt their child out of any topics within the curriculum.
"The law does not give other parents the right to deny my daughter access to it," said another parent at the June 9 board meeting. "I strongly urge the board to uphold the values of public education by adopting the complete puberty talk curriculum with no omissions."
Daly argues that kids who are part of the curriculum will end up sharing it with other students who opted out.
"The explanation is, 'Oh well, they are seeing it on the internet, so we might as well introduce that to them.' They're not your children. You don't get to decide what they get to see and what they don't get to see," Daly said.
According to officials, it is not required for students below seventh grade to be taught health education, but a district can decide to.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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