What Are They Teaching Our Kids? | A Closer Look at Sex Education in Public Schools

What Are They Teaching Our Kids? A Closer Look at Sex Education in Public Schools 

As parents and taxpayers, many of us assume that sex education in public schools is focused on promoting healthy boundaries, biological basics, and age-appropriate content. However, the reality in some districts may shock you. Below, we’ll explore excerpts from actual curricula taught in public schools, which, in some cases, is introduced in early elementary grades. We’ll also provide simple action steps that you can take today to ensure your district remains transparent and accountable.  

Eye-Opening Sex Ed Lessons in Elementary School Curricula 

Excepts are taken from, "Advocates for Youth - 3R’s" created to be used in K-12

Lesson 1: Different Kinds of Families

• The teacher reads The Family Book by Todd Parr before class

• “By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
  • Name, as a group, at least three different types of family structures.
  • Identify a way they can show respect for different types of families.” 

• One of the questions teachers can/may ask: “Is it okay if some children have two mothers or two fathers? (Yes)”

Lesson 2: Understanding our Bodies | The Basics

• “The lesson does, however, acknowledge that “there are some body parts that mostly just girls have and some parts that mostly just boys have. Being a boy or a girl doesn’t have to mean you have those parts, but for most people this is how their bodies are.”

• “Most people have a vulva and a vagina or a penis and testicles, but some people’s bodies can be different. Your body is exactly what is right for you.”

• “Most girls have a vulva, which is the name for the area between the legs. The vulva describes the whole area including the small hole where urine or pee comes out called the opening to the urethra.”

• “So, a person with a vulva has three holes between their legs and a very sensitive little area at the top called the clitoris”
• Understanding our Bodies (Diagram)

•  Teacher’s Resource: “It is up to each teacher to determine the amount and detail of information to share with their students in ways that are age appropriate. This sheet is for the teacher’s use only, and is not to be distributed to the students”

• “The penis is made up of nerves, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, and three parallel cylinders of spongy tissue. It does NOT have any bones in it, but when people talk about an erection as a “boner” they’re mistaken. It is normal for a penis to curve slightly to one side or another, especially when it is erect.”
  
  
• “The vagina has great elasticity and can adjust to the size of a penis or allow a fully developed fetus to pass from the uterus out of the body.”

Even at the third-grade level, some lessons emphasize that gender identity can differ from biological sex. Additionally, lessons may introduce concepts like pride flags, family pride flags, and anti-discrimination discussions. 

5th Grade Curriculum: The Expanding Scope 

By fifth grade, students delve deeper into anatomy, gender identity, and reproduction. Here are a few startling details: 

• Teachers distribute diagrams of the penis and vulva for students to color while discussing terms like the clitoris and glans. 

• Lessons include discussions about sexual orientation, including heterosexual, gay, lesbian, and bisexual identities. 

• Students are introduced to different methods of conception, including in-vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. 

One lesson explicitly discusses pregnancy options: 

"Once a person confirms they are pregnant, they need to decide whether they are going to have the baby and become a parent, have the baby and let someone adopt it, or end the pregnancy (at its earliest state)." 

Additional Content for Grades 4-6 

• Students differentiate between "sex" and "sexuality." 

• They must recognize that there are different kinds of families. 

• Lessons explore gender roles and how beliefs inform ideas about gender roles. 

• Students learn how to make decisions related to their sexuality. 

• In a lesson about sexual exploitation, students draw a picture of themselves and caption it with one of these phrases:  

• "I am special." 

• "I deserve good touch." 

• "My body belongs to me." 

• Puberty lessons discuss crushes and attraction with statements like: 

"A person may have crushes on people of their own sex, the other sex, or both. It may or may not predict how they will feel when they’re grown. That is, really liking someone of a different sex doesn’t necessarily mean you will eventually figure out that you are heterosexual (straight). And likewise, really liking someone of your own sex doesn’t necessarily mean you will eventually figure out that you are gay or lesbian. It often takes time to figure out. There’s no rush." 

Steps to Uncover What’s Being Taught in Your Local Schools and How to Take Appropriate Action 

If you are concerned about your district’s sexuality education curriculum, you can take the following steps:  

Submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request 

• Request, in writing, access to the full sex education curriculum and any supplemental materials. 
• Ask for lesson plans, teacher guidelines, books, workbooks, and student handouts. 

• Visit your district’s administrative office or school board to review materials in person. 
• Take notes and ask questions about specific lessons or objectives. If allowable, take photos of questionable lessons, graphics, and other materials. 

• Use public comment periods to share what you have discovered. Voice your concerns and ask for transparency. 
• Connect with other parents and community members who share your concerns. Administrators and board members may take greater notice when several individuals are willing to get involved. 

• Download our free Sex Ed Opt-Out form to take action in your local schools.

Why This Issue Matters 

The materials and principles presented within a sex education program can have a profound impact on how children understand their bodies, relationships, and societal norms. While it is important to promote respect and understanding, parents have the right to know whether sex ed content aligns with their family values and whether it is age appropriate for their children.  

By becoming informed and involved, you can ensure that your voice is heard and that your child’s education reflects the community’s values and expectations.