My two year old son says penis, and I’m okay with that.

The ongoing recent debate about Helena, Montana’s Sex Education plans has, of course, caught my attention. If you haven’t heard, there is a proposed health curriculum guide for grades K-12 that has some parents very riled up. The 62 page proposal is, in short, a health, nutrition, anatomy, and disease prevention program. But it’s the very small section on sex education that has Montana in a tizzy.

Some argue the age- appropriateness of it. Others say it borders on offensive. And some think it’s realistic, and basically a good idea. Here are some of the “hot points”:

• At the kindergarten level, it is suggested that children be introduced to correct anatomical terms such as penis, breasts, nipples, vagina, and uterus.
• In first grade, the concept of people loving someone of the same gender would be introduced. Homosexuality itself would be discussed in the fifth grade.
• Fifth graders would also learn that intercourse “includes but is not limited to vaginal, oral, or anal penetration.”
• Pregnancy, diseases, and drug and alcohol abuse education would begin in middle school.

The committee admits that there is no implementation plan yet, and it would need to be discussed thoroughly as to “exactly how” the teaching will take place.

A lot of parents are okay with this. A lot of parents are definitely not.

I thought I would be the former.

I consider myself about as open minded as you can get. I personally taught my son to say the word penis- just like I taught him elbow, and knee. That’s what it’s called. It’s a fact.

I will also teach him that sometimes men love men, and women love women, because that is also a fact.

But do fifth graders really need to know the different areas of penetration? It’s a fact, but…

I.

Think.

Not.

This is the part where some very instinctual need to preserve the innocence kicks in. Where exactly is the line between being honest with our kids, and stealing their childhood?

This where Montana is confusing the shit out of me! I’ve always been FOR sex education. But do we really need to teach our kids HOW to have sex, before they’re even learning HOW to do algebra? It’s the timeline that I think needs to be seriously revamped.

ALGEBRA FIRST!

The majority of what is in this proposal strikes me as reasonable. Some of it is just too soon. Too soon. Too soon.

I remember getting the biggest thrill out of holding hands with a boy in fifth grade.

I don’t feel right about taking the thrill out of hand holding.

Mary Ann Dunwell said in the Helena Independent Record, ”This is about reality and truth so our kids don’t grow up in La-La Land, and have sufficient knowledge to make informed decisions.”

I agree. I’m all about knowledge, and making informed decisions. And growing up in “La-La Land” probably isn’t the best idea. But the question is when? Who decides when they actually grow up?

Before I actually had a child, I touted myself as one who would be forthright with my kid (knowing, of course, that my son would be a genius and it would be hard to pull one over on him). I also believed that I should have faith in my child- faith that he could handle the truth. I told myself that I would give him the credit he deserves.

But now that I actually am a parent, I don’t know when that time is supposed to come! Fifth grade seems so soon! When do I start having that kind of faith in him? When? Can’t I just protect him from the truth for now?

Because right now I’m all about Santa, and I can’t wait to be the tooth fairy.

When do we cross that line between “La-La Land” and grim reality? And how much of it should be put in the hands of the educational system?

I don’t know.

But I can tell you what I’m leaning towards…

Algebra

first.