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Sexuality Education in California’s Classrooms
What is the state of sexuality education in California?
In California sexuality education ranges from well intentioned and informative to inaccurate or nonexistent. Currently California’s public schools are not required to teach sexuality education. While a majority of schools do have some kind of sexuality education in place, there are no mandates for standardized curricula and no sexuality education teacher training requirements.
Does the state require sexuality education?
California does not require comprehensive sexuality education in public schools. Currently California requires only that HIV/AIDS information be taught, starting in the seventh grade. Assembly Bill 246 (Cunneen/R) goes into effect on January 1, requiring that schools that teach sexuality education must use curricula that is medically accurate and free of race and gender bias.
What does the typical sexuality education curriculum cover in California today?
Unfortunately, there is no “typical” sexuality education curriculum in California’s public schools. The course curriculum ranges from abstinence-until-marriage information to HIV/AIDS prevention. Our sample survey of California schools discovered that many teachers thought they were prohibited from teaching sexuality education by local mandates, while their principals disputed this assumption. We also learned that many teachers were left to their own devices when it came to teaching sexuality education. They tend to use portions of several curricula they are familiar or comfortable with.
How would the new legislation change what’s being done now?
The new law requires that if public schools choose to teach sexuality education, it must be medically accurate, age-appropriate, free of racial, ethnic and gender biases, and include the most current information we have about sexual health.
How do parents and adults feel about having sexuality education taught in public schools?
Public opinion research indicates that the vast majority of adults support teaching medically accurate, factual and age-appropriate sexuality education in public schools.
What about parents that don’t want their children to learn about sex at school?
Parents always have the option to pull their children out of sexuality education classes.
However, public health professionals are concerned that many children do NOT learn at home vital information about how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy.
If sexuality education is taught at school, what should parents be teaching their children?
Parents are the most important influence on a child’s health. A school course will never take the place of the parent in teaching their children about reproductive health, as well as the important values and responsibilities that go along with growing up.
The reality is, many parents are uncomfortable talking with their children about sex so they are likely to provide incomplete information. Assuming that parents will give their children all the information they need to grow up sexually healthy also assumes that all children have parents at home willing and able to do this. Unfortunately, that is simply not the case.
Aren’t teens more likely to experiment with sex if they’re learning about it in school?
Research (Advocates for Youth, 1999) supports the fact that the better educated and informed young people are about sex, the more likely they are to delay the onset of sexual activity, and – if they do become sexually active — they are more likely to use contraception and use it properly.
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