I have received notice from my child's school today, proclaiming that HIV/AIDS education is now mandated by the New York State Department of Education. Apparently for grades Kindergarten through 12. I am outraged by even the suggestion, that we teach our Kindergarteners about HIV/AIDS.
The letter goes on to elicit that this lesson plan will include the METHODS OF TRANSMISSION. You may correct me if I am wrong, but due to the fact that HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease/virus, this means you intend to educate Kindergarteners on SEX? Educating Kindergarteners on Sex is irresponsible, morally wrong, and absolutely ridiculous! Sex is an issue that children of this age should for no reason come into contact with. We should be protecting children from the adult issue of Sex. We should NOT be putting concepts of sexual acts in the minds of children.
While children may have the mental capacity to comprehend the physical act of sex, they DO NOT have the mental capacity to comprehend the emotional and psychological aspects of sex, and most importantly the IMMENSE REPERCUSSIONS of such acts! In fact our prefrontal cortex, the portion of the brain responsible for self control, delaying gratification, avoiding impulses, and the capacity to exercise “good judgment” when presented with difficult life situations; is said not to be fully developed until age 25. That said we must provide guidance and protection to our children, and make sound decision for them, when it comes to issues involving dire and irreversible consequences!
At the bottom of this letter there is a permission slip portion requesting Parents/Guardians give or deny permission for the child to take the HIV/AIDS class in school. However there are still two things that are of great concern to me, and I should hope are of major concern to most parents who received this notice from their child's school. The first issue being that the letter states, (Second paragraph, lines 1-3) "State regulations require that all students attend lessons on the nature of the disease and METHODS OF TRANSMISSIONS. However, parents or legal guardians have the right to ask that their child not participate in the LESSONS DEALING WITH METHODS OF PREVENTION. " So if I am understanding this correctly no matter what, my child is to learn about the transmission methods of HIV/AIDS more, or in laymen terms SEX.
My second issue is that even if I succeed in conveying my disapproval of my child learning about HIV/AIDS and sex, there will still be numerous children learning about it! Children who may then discuss it with children whose parents requested that they not take the class. Teaching young children about something as dangerous as the act of sex, is like teaching children something as dangerous as the act of making bombs. Have we no moral obligation to society? We are deteriorating the innocence of our children, surely this can only create a more corrupt society, than that of which we already have! Please consider the repercussions of teaching this to our children.
