I'm not ready!

Last night I found myself sitting in the school library with 25 or so other parents of 5th graders who were concerned enough about what their children will be learning in their Human and Growth Development class that they showed up for an information session. So what is Human and Growth Development, you may be asking? In layman's terms, that would be sex ed.

Yes, my sweet, innocent, immature Keeper Boy -- who still has a solid (yet starting to waiver just a little) belief in all things Santa, Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy -- will, in the next two weeks, have five, one-hour-long sessions on topics ranging from how his body will change during puberty, to male (and female) anatomy, to reproduction and the reproduction system, to STDs, to abstinence. Some pretty heavy stuff for a 10-year-old who thinks girls are "icky" unless they play hockey.

I am not against this at all. In fact, I think it's all well planned and executed. The sessions take the format of a 15- to 20-minute scripted "lecture" by the teacher, a 15-minute movie, and a 15- to 20-minute question session. I figure Keeper Boy can get the real facts in a classroom setting, followed up by discussion at home; or he can get "playground/lockeroom facts" (likely not the same "facts"). I'd prefer the former over the latter, and now is as good a time as any. :-)

So, they have these gender-separated classes, taught by same-gender teachers. Five of them: 12/11, 12/12, 12/16, 12/18, and 12/19. They occur on those days from 2-3pm. Anything strike you about any of that information? How about that the class is over right before school lets out and that the classes, as a whole, take place right before Winter Break. Hmmmm.

Yes, that is by design we were told. The kids are actually told not to discuss the information covered in that day's class among themselves or with anyone until they get home from school and can have a discussion or ask further questions of their parents. The idea behind this is to "shelter" the younger kids in the school from hearing things they don't need to be hearing yet, and to prevent the spread of mis-information among the kids. Good idea in theory. I'm sure, though, that the kids will discuss. :-)

The idea behind doing it before Winter Break is similar. The long break provides more opportunity for discussion between parents and kids, with the hope that the newness of the information will have worn off by the time the kids return to school (i.e., not a lot of discussion among themselves when they return).

Lastly, there is even a reason for doing this prior to Winter Break as opposed to, say, before Spring Break. It's cold outside and the kids are wearing more clothes. Yeah, I laughed, too. But it makes sense. The kids are going to be learing about body parts of the opposite gender and other somewhat intimate things that they maybe never knew existed. There's going to be curiosity and maybe some staring. So it does makes sense in a weird sort of way.

One other thing I think is cool. Each kid will get an index card when entering the classroom. If he has a question during class and doesn't feel comfortable asking in front of everyone, he can write it on the card. The teacher collects all of the cards toward the end of class, even those that don't have anything written on them. That way no one knows who asked a question and who didn't. It also gives the teacher a chance to "vet" the questions. If there is something asked that isn't appropriate to discuss, the teacher will make a statement such as, "if your question wasn't answered, please ask your mom or dad when you get home."

And, if any parents do not want their child to participate in any of all of the five sessions, there is the option to opt-out. Several people last night said they would opt their kids out of Lesson 3 because it includes a frank (scientific, not graphic) discussion about intercourse in the context of what happens one a man and a woman decide to have a baby. We will not be opting Keeper Boy out of any of the sessions.

Now, just because I am in favor of Keeper Boy taking the class does not mean I am comfortable with the potential discussions Hubby and I could be having with him over the coming weeks and months as the information settles in and he has questions. I will answer his questions honestly and to the best of my ability, but that doesn't mean I'll be comfortable doing so!

If you see me walking around with a "deer-in-the-headlights" look over the next several weeks, you'll know why. Wish us luck!