Sex Education Films Teach Too Much

My husband and I recently attended a parent meeting at Junipero Serra School to preview the health/sex education films that are soon to be shown to the fifth-grade children in all the Ventura schools.

Several parents--including ourselves--were surprised at the extensive amount of information that is to be given to these 10- and 11-year-old children.

The children will be taught about the biological changes that are to occur in their bodies. This is acceptable but, unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there.

The children will also learn in explicit detail about the changes occurring in each other’s bodies and the “how to’s” of human reproduction. I personally feel this should be taught at home by the parents. I realize not all parents talk to their children about this subject and it is better the kids learn the correct information at school instead of off a street corner, but why so much so soon?

Parents have the option to remove their child from the class during this discussion, but that is not the answer. The children will keep getting more and more of this information as they progress in school years, so instead of teaching everything all at once, teach it by adding a little more information at a time over the next few years.

I hope other parents will join me in writing to the superintendent of schools to express their concerns.

DeANNA K. NAURATH

Ventura