If you have concerns about the content of the sex education program in your child’s school, what options are open to you?
In some schools parents are permitted to “opt out” — to have their child excused from these classes. In other school districts this is not permitted; education authorities believe children need to receive education on sexuality in school, either because they believe the parents lack the information necessary to teach their own children or that they won’t.
One state in the United States of America is addressing this issue. The House of Representatives of the State of Idaho has voted in favor of a bill that would break education about sex into two areas:
(i) sexual education, defined as “the study of the anatomy and the physiology of human reproduction.” All children will receive these lessons unless a parent “opts out” by requesting in writing that their child be removed from those lessons.
(ii) human sexuality, defined as “any presentation, story time, discussion, or reading assignment” on human sexuality about anything other than anatomy and the physiology of reproduction. This section “encompasses “the topics of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, eroticism, sexual pleasure, or sexual intimacy.” No child would receive these lessons unless a parent “opted in” by requesting in writing that their child attend those lessons.