Read other letters about this article

• Saturday, September 13, 2008 10:35 PM

  @ tillerylakelady: Ever tried factcheck.org ???

  http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/off_base_on_sex_ed.html

  Obama, contrary to the ad's insinuation, does not support explicit sex education for kindergarteners. And the bill, which would have allowed only "age appropriate" material and a no-questions-asked opt-out policy for parents, was not his accomplishment to claim in any case, since he was not even a cosponsor – and the bill never left the state Senate.

  It would have lowered the age at which students would begin what the bill termed "comprehensive sex education" to include kindergarten. But it mandated the instruction be "age-appropriate" for kindergarteners when addressing topics such as sexually transmitted diseases. The bill also would have granted parents the opportunity to remove their children from the class without question …

  SB 99: However, no pupil shall be required to take or participate in any family life class or course on HIV or family life instruction if his parent or guardian submits written objection thereto, and refusal to take or participate in such course or program shall not be reason for suspension or expulsion of such pupil.

  The bill also called for all sex education course materials to include information that would help students recognize, among other activities, inappropriate touching, sexual assault and rape:

  SB99: Course material and instruction shall discuss and provide for the development of positive communication skills to maintain healthy relationships and avoid unwanted sexual activity. ... Course material and instruction shall teach pupils ... how to say no to unwanted sexual advances ... and shall include information about verbal, physical, and visual sexual harassment, including without limitation nonconsensual sexual advances, nonconsensual physical sexual contact, and rape by an acquaintance. The course material and instruction shall contain methods of preventing sexual assault by an acquaintance, including exercising good judgment and avoiding behavior that impairs one's judgment.

  In debating Alan Keyes on this Obama said:

  Obama: We have a existing law that mandates sex education in the schools. We want to make sure that it's medically accurate and age-appropriate. Now, I'll give you an example, because I have a six-year-old daughter and a three-year-old daughter, and one of the things my wife and I talked to our daughter about is the possibility of somebody touching them inappropriately, and what that might mean. And that was included specifically in the law, so that kindergarteners are able to exercise some possible protection against abuse, because I have family members as well as friends who suffered abuse at that age. So, that's the kind of stuff that I was talking about in that piece of legislation.

  I am sure did not deliberately mean to misrepresent the facts. I am sure that you would not purposely smear Obama, would you?

  I am also certain that you would not want five year olds to be denied important information that would help them distinguish good touch from bad touch so that they might report if an adult tried to molest them. Only pedophiles -- real pedophiles -- would have reason to oppose giving children the information to protect themselves from sexual exploitation by adults.

  Also, I know you wouldn't want to tangle with me over this tillerylakelady, as I am a former victim advocate and former Court-Appointed Special Advocate for children. I am also quite knowledgeable about issues of rape and child sexual abuse and have written articles and given speeches on both of these.

  I know of few events more damaging to the emotional well-being of children than molestation.

  —AKA Smith Read AKA Smith's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel