Condoms for first graders?
A new policy at a Cape Cod school will allow school officials to counsel and distribute condoms to elementary students even as young as first grade.
“Starting in September, students shopping for a free condom must have a heart-to-heart with a counselor – including a talk on abstinence – in order to be given one.”
“The school will not honor parents’ requests that their children not receive the prophylactic, Singer said.”
“Starting early is the key, said school board Chairman Peter Grosso.”
“ ‘The thing is, sexual activity starts younger and younger,’ Grosso added. ‘We don’t know what age that is. So we just said, ‘We’ll make it available to all of them.’ We didn’t want to pick an age, and I really don’t believe we’re going to get first-graders asking for a condom, as a practical matter.”
My little guy just finished the first grade and he can barely aim his penis to pee without making a mess much less do anything else with it. I can’t imagine what would be going on in a first-graders household that they would even be aware that sex exists much less be something they would want to engage in.
I do think it’s appropriate to talk to the different grades in age-appropriate ways introducing their bodies and eventually the sex act. I think our school does a good job in the early grades talking about your private parts and then I assume in fourth and fifth getting a little more into it.
I can’t imagine our school nurse distributing condoms. That is just too shocking to even think about. She’s too busy taking care of kids throwing up and knocking teeth out on the playground.
So what do you think: Is this school heading sexual activity off at the pass and making sure they have info (and condoms!) before they could get into trouble or are they putting into kids’ minds things they weren’t even thinking about?
Would you want your school (or school nurse) counseling your elementary school child about sex? How do you feel about elementary schools passing out condoms? At what grade would that be appropriate, if ever?
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161 comments Add your comment
First time poster
June 25th, 2010
10:44 am
MJG, please read what I wrote. It seems we are agreeing on the part about some parents not actively parenting their kids (your last sentence of the 4th paragraph). If what I said doesn’t relate to you, why all the outrage? Again, no where did it state there would be the passing out of condoms or sex education for first graders which seems to be where all the outrage is coming from.
If my childs school took her, as a first grader to the nurse and showed her how to use a condom and discussed sex of course I’d have a huge problem, but that’s not what this is about. My child got her period in 5th grade, the nurse has supplies for girls, but prior to that happening my child did not know that. She learned about it when it was appropriate for her to have the information, not before hand. Same thing with the condoms. I don’t understand why people aren’t getting that.
Wayne
June 25th, 2010
10:48 am
The governor stepped in and made his thoughts known about this. The school committee is going to review the policy.
Celeste Jimenez
June 25th, 2010
11:01 am
This is nonsense! Five year olds are not interested in sex at this level, and they are not sexually active. If there is any sexual activity going on in their lives it’s because they’re being molested. How dare the school tell the parents that they have nothing to say regarding their child’s request for a condom!
Celeste Jimenez
motherjanegoose
June 25th, 2010
11:47 am
@ First time poster; I read this:
Holy over reaction Batman! Yikes, some of you people are way out of control. …..
I guess if you are depending on the schools to raise your kid(s) I can understand the over reaction.
Was the title of the blog CONDOMS FOR FIRST GRADERS? or did I also dream that up?
Titles are sometimes supposed to elicit a response and draw in readers…jeepers…success!
HB
June 25th, 2010
12:13 pm
“Titles are sometimes supposed to elicit a response and draw in readers…jeepers…success!”
They are, but while being designed to hook people and sensationalize, they can be misleading in terms of what is actually happening if you read the title alone. That’s why most of us choose to read and respond to the blog post contents and the articles sited rather than to just the eye-grabbing title.
Theresa, an earlier post of mind was lost — would you mind checking for it? Thanks!
motherjanegoose
June 25th, 2010
1:41 pm
O.K…so unless we are going to read everything, should we skip the blog? My experience is that most folks do not read **** everything**** and I will admit that I sometimes fall in this boat. I read the topic and try to decide if I am interested.
I have been told, by some, that they appreciate my comments. Others here cannot figure out my line of thought…that is fine as the feeling is often mutual.
I will remind folks that I have tried to support T on her topics, as I appreciate the effort she has to put forth, to keep the blog moving. Perhaps she IS intentionally misleading us with her choice of topic titles or maybe she can sometimes figure out what will stir the pot and get people on board. To me, that is the sign of success.
I do not want to be any more trouble today, so have fun everyone…I am outta here! Have a super weekend!
HB
June 25th, 2010
2:44 pm
“O.K…so unless we are going to read everything, should we skip the blog? ”
Nope, read as little as you want, but be aware it often shows in your comments when you don’t know or understand what the post and articles were really about. And maybe if you do just skim and someone points out that you missed some things, take a closer look and acknowledge there’s more than you first read instead of getting defensive and slamming the person who tries to discuss the article in more depth. I just find it odd to respond at length to the title alone, if that’s what you were doing, and then criticize those who do read the whole thing and point out, as First time poster did, that the issue goes beyond the title (in this case that the school decision’s was not about trying to get more condoms in the hands of first graders and that those claiming it was are overreacting).
And I don’t think Theresa is trying to mislead with attention-grabbing titles. I think she probably sees those titles as a tool to get people to read the rest of the post — that’s what a headline should be. It’s reader error, though, to assume the title says it all and stop reading there.
Jeni
June 25th, 2010
11:14 pm
Some of you say to start the dialog early, that may be the case but it is up to the parents to decide when the children receive this education. Sex Ed classes dont even start until the 4th through 6th grade, but for gods sake, first graders. Dont rob them of their child hood and give them a condem, if any of them know what it is and for (which I doubt) this is like telling them ok, if you are gonna at lease use this. Kids are so easily swayed. I think it is outrageous and would immediately remove my child from that school and protest it. There are schools all over the country and anyone of them would be better than that.
Nolan
June 29th, 2010
11:05 pm
Simply put……….condoms for 1st grade children is absolutely INSANE.
It reinforces my belief that some people, are educated beyond their intelligence when decisions like this are made and approved.
Ole Guy
July 1st, 2010
8:52 am
Is this action supposed to teach them something about the adult version of safe sex? This would be tantamount to handing the kid a match and a stick of dynamite as a precursor to demolition safety…completely assinine concept. Whoever dreampt-up this one should be placed under glass and studied for new strains of stupid.
caylin
September 18th, 2010
3:27 pm
ok really im n 8th grade and we dont even get them and theres a gir prago so i think we should get them if 1st grades can