<p>“The book, titled “Your Health Today” is almost 400 pages long and among the subject includes information on bondage, orgasms, vibrators, along with explicit drawings and diagrams.” …</p>
<p>I’m trying to recall what I was reading in 9th grade classes, but I don’t think it was this. Interesting comments below the article.</p>
<p>Good for them. Part of comprehensive sexual health is healthy sexuality and sexual pleasure. Good for them for acknowledging and addressing that. </p>
<p>I think the students are the ones who should decide if they are comfortable with this. Personally, I would not have been comfortable with a class like that when I was in high school (we had basic Sex Ed, and that was fine), and it had nothing to do with my parents seeing the books - I don’t think they ever looked at my textbooks. I could think of a number of classmates who would feel the same way. I don’t necessarily think it should be the parents’ choice, but nor do I think it should be rammed down the studets’ throat. Beyond the basics, people should be allowed to make their own choices.</p>
<p>I did read that the teachers were not planning to use that part of the book, but I would not have been comfortable with it myself, and would have been uncomfortable had my district chosen to use it to teach my kids.</p>
<p>I think there is plenty to teach in health, about nutrition, physical fitness, emotional and mental healthy behavior etc., without going into kink.</p>
<p>Of course, if they don’t learn about it in class, they will figure it out on their own, although mistakes like unintended pregnancy or STD transmission may be more likely to occur to the naive.</p>
<p>There is a difference between standard sex ed and this version. You don’t have to go into everything ing graphic detail. And you can certainly make further information and resources available to those who want them. That’s no reason to force everyone to learn about bondage, sex toys, etc. At the very least, students should be allowed to opt out. of that particular part of the course.</p>
<p>Students are allowed to opt out of the sex education part of the health course (that is typical policy at California school districts).</p>
<p>On the other hand, do any parents believe that their high school age kids are not talking to each other about sex, and possibly “experimenting”?</p>
<p>I’m in total agreement with romani. I would have had no problem with this textbook being used in my daughter’s HS. I’d rather she get the info from a textbook than from searching the internet. Ninth graders are absolutely ready to learn this stuff, and I think too many parents are blind and overly optimistic about their precious snowflakes.</p>
<p>However, I am positive that if our HS had used this textbook, there would have been major protests from parents. </p>
<p>I’m on the fence about this. It really depends on how much of the information is presented in it and how it is presented. The author of the book says that it was written for college freshman audience. Would a math book written for college freshmen work for 9th graders? There is a lot of maturing happening in 4 years between the 9th grade and graduation. I’m not saying that 9th grade kids are not mature enough for sex ed. On the contrary, some parts of it need to be taught much earlier, but too much too soon, especially if the teacher is not that great, may not be a good idea. Sex ed has to be taught throughout HS, not just dumped in one big pile, vibrators and all, for the kids to digest on their own. IMO, there is nothing wrong or pornographic about correct anatomical drawings. </p>
<p>*
ek, probably that’s why there is a movie. It takes a few years to make a movie, no?
*
Especially when their lead actor backs out.
But why should it take longer to make the movie than write the book?</p>
<p>Well, generally, writing a book only involves two-three people. There’s the author, primarily, and then various editors and/or publishers and/or agents. They play a smaller role though. With movies, you need actors, stunt people, producers, directors, etc, etc, etc. </p>
<p>Books are not generally on a contractual time schedule unlike movies. </p>
<p>Anyway, yes, the 50 Shades series is way more about abusive relationships than BDSM. And that’s exactly the point- we DON’T want teens getting ideas about sex and relationships from things like 50 Shades, Twilight, etc. I’d much rather they learn about them from a textbook and a well-prepared teacher (which is rare in sex ed, unfortunately) than from popular books with unhealthy sex/relationships. And we all know that the vast, vast majority of parents aren’t talking to their kids about vibrators. </p>
<p>Should they use a more age-appropriate book than one targeted towards college students? Probably. However, you try getting a textbook targeted towards 9th graders published in the US that includes information about vibrators and BDSM (or whatever). Most of us in the field of adolescent sexuality have to get our resources from the UK and other parts of Europe because they’re darn near non-existent here. </p>
<p>I agree that well prepared health teachers are rare, that is why I am suspicious that teachers and parents apparently unanimously chose this text.</p>
<p>Specially since they are the only school district in the entire country to use it.
However they found it worth spending $200,000 on, which now is going to be wasted since they have abandoned the book.</p>
<p>I was wondering however about the teaching of health in college.
Neither of my kids as science majors had a class that could have used this textbook, what type of program or major would use it?</p>
<p>I also went to the publishers website, hoping to find out more about it, but this book is not listed anymore.</p>
<p>That’s completely inappropriate material for school. Sex Ed needs to be limited to reproduction and perhaps contraception, and STD’s. </p>
<p>Show them the horror movie we all saw in 7th grade!</p>
<p>Absolutely under no circumstances are those subjects listed in the title appropriate for high school students. Love the completely benign title of the book too. heh heh</p>