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Archive through March 01, 2005

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Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 9:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Not in the schools my kids go to Annie. Just the body talk which by the time they had it in school we've already talked about it.

Was the knife thing ever reported to the school administrators? Cause that shouldn't be an everyday thing.

Mistysmoke
Member

08-10-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 9:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Texannie,

In 2000 California state legislators mandated that homosexuality be addressed in public schools as part of The California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act. At least a couple years ago, they did it by having an assembly.


Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 10:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Marm, we just had our parents' meeting for the 'talk'.

I had heard that CA legislature did that, but I had actually never heard of it being enacted in the schools.

Mistysmoke
Member

08-10-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 10:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
yep, in fact some were wanting to go to court about it. I dont know if they ever did.

Mocha, I am not sure what the parent did. This is a friend of my husbands through karate.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ahh ok.

Chieko
Member

11-20-2003

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 10:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Mistysmoke, thanks for sharing with us. They are all good reasons! One side note about penmanship--I have three children in their twenties and we own a business and I have noticed that many, many of their classmates and on down cannot write in cursive. They print everything. You would not believe all of the checks we get with the signature printed. This seems really important to me, but perhaps it isn't.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 10:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
hmm, how odd Chieko. My kids were all taught cursive starting in 3rd grade. I know now with so much use of computers, they don't need to rely on GOOD penmenship anymore! LOL

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 11:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think one reason that was enacted in California was that gay kids, or kids just labelled as gay were being beat up. Unfortunately kids were either learning TO discriminate at home, or, more likely, just not hearing about it at all.

I do think that non academic info should be available for review by parents ahead of time.

=======

As many years ago as I went to school, my mom still spent time with us because she wasn't very happy with the way the schools were teaching reading and math. At least one teacher tried to imply she was "interfering". This didn't go over well with my mom. I can only be thankful that we learned to read and spell at home and that I wasn't limited to the very boring reading provided by the school (we had the infamous Dick and Jane books).

I don't think we got the "your body" talk in K-8 back then, but we did get such a talk in Girl Scouts but of course they notified the parents and I know one girl in our troop wasn't allowed to attend. This wasn't made into a big deal; I was probably aware of it because my mom was a co-leader. She'd already given me "the talk" and actually lots of info, years earlier than that.



Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 12:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My 3 kids go to public school in Northern Calif. They all learned cursive in 3rd grade. They had/have to use it most of the time through 5th grade. My oldest didn't have to use it any more starting in 6th grade. The two younger kids are still in elem.

6th grade science/health, they had sex ed. I talked to the teacher before and I watched the movie they were going to show the kids. In my heart, I think 6th grade is too young for this education. (I had limited sex ed. in health class in 9th grade.) But society keeps pushing sex/sexuality on kids younger and younger especially through the media. My kids are very limited in what they can see on TV, which movies they are allowed to see etc. I could have opted her out of the movie and the sex ed. part of class. But, I didn't think it was in her best interest. I had already told her everything they would cover in class and in the movie. I actually thought the movie was informative in a way that the kids would understand and not lose interest. I don't remember if homosexuality was covered, it probably was especially since this is CA. It just didn't stand out in my mind. The one thing that did stand out and my one complaint about the movie was that abstinence was barely covered. I feel it should have been almost repeated like a broken record! I talked to the teacher about my concerns and I do trust that she talked a lot about abstinence and it being the best option etc.

I know a few home schooled families and from them, I know of several more. Almost all of the kids are ahead or way ahead in academics.

Seamonkey...I still have my younger sister's copies of Dick and Jane books!

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 12:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sex ed as in part b goes into slot a or your changing body?
wow, don't think we teach the 'mechanics' here.

Auntiemike
Member

09-17-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 3:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have two 7th graders and they have seen "sex ed" (your changing bodies) films since 5th grade, with parental review and permission. I have no problem with them getting this every year because they are aware of different aspects every year and absorb different details.

It is ALWAYS up to the parents to talk about the more intimate stuff, teach the values they want for their children and the moral guidelines they want them to live by. I would never expect the schools to take that on and they should never be in that position.

Even though my kids attend public schools I would always consider their sex education as a home schooling opportunity.

Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 4:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
YIKES...you have 4th graders getting their period nowadays...so 6th grade is in no matter too late for the "how the body works" session.

Auntiemike
Member

09-17-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 5:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My African/American developmentally delayed daughter started her period in the 3rd grade!!! We had a lot to work on!!!

I agree that a lot of kids are physically maturing much earlier than "when I was a kid".

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 5:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
They sure are which makes me glad I have boys lol.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 5:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wednesday, March 2, 10/9c
Patrick/Leierwood
A conservative, pro-war, former military mom who runs her house like a boot camp swaps lives with a peace activist mom who runs her house like a training camp for liberals.


Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 7:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I can talk to my son about sex, about the definition of homosexuality, bisexuality etc. I dont need him going to an assembly about it, as they do where I live. I understand that some parents would rather not talk to thier children about sex, and maybe having the school do it works for them.

It is ALWAYS up to the parents to talk about the more intimate stuff, teach the values they want for their children and the moral guidelines they want them to live by. I would never expect the schools to take that on and they should never be in that position

I agree with both comments to a degree. Parents should be talking to their children about all the issues but many dont want to (especially the parts that they dont 'agree' with).

The schools are then left the duty to inform children in an unbiased manner while the children are in class/comfortable with their peers and able to ask questions that they never would with their parents.
**

Nine and Ten year olds were already having periods when I was in school in the 70s. This isnt new, just more in the open and publicly talked about. I was ten, my sister was ten and my Mom (born in the 30s) was also ten. And it has nothing to do with being african american ancestry..I am caucasian therefore would like stereotypes not to be considered.

BUT all kids are a little bigger in size now...due to the growth hormones in Milk, milk products and Meat. Used to be a rare 13 yr old six footer but it is relatively common now.




Auntiemike
Member

09-17-2001

Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 9:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, I don't want to start any arguments but according to our pediatrician there were two concerns that precluded our daughter possibly starting earlier than some kids. One, was that she was of afican/american ancestry and two, she was developmentally delayed. Both seemed to be factors according to her. I am not going to start looking up statistics and medical papers to support these issues but just wanted to share what our doctor had told us.

Of course, there are exceptions to all races and conditions. I don't think I was trying to sterotype anything.


Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Monday, February 28, 2005 - 1:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Auntiemike...I have evidence from teaching in an inner city mixed race school that corroborates your info. We had a second grader with her period...well, she should have been in third.

I do believe that the African American girls I taught matured faster than the Caucasion and Asian girls. We didn't have as many hispanic or native american girls to compare them to.

Auntiemike
Member

09-17-2001

Monday, February 28, 2005 - 7:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for the support Schoolmarm. I, too, taught many, many years ago. I had fifth graders in a large, inner city school in Charleston, SC. I begged and pleaded with the Principal to bring in some educational information regarding changing bodies to the fifth graders for many of them matured early and their mind set, at the time (1970's) was "don't talk about it. and maybe it will go away". About 75% of my class was African/American, some Asian and some Caucasian.

Not that ethnic background is the only issue, just a consideration, I believe.

I also have a Korean daughter who is almost 13 and still waiting to be regular. Although, I swear, her hormones are cycling whether she has started anything else or not!!1

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Monday, February 28, 2005 - 1:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tex, it was sex ed, the mechanics, not just the changing body stuff.

I agree that all parents should talk to their kids about this. I know a lot don't though...or don't enough re: info. or number of times they talk about it. Not that we as parents should be broken records. However, just one talk isn't enough either. Opportunities for discussion present themselves and I try to take advantage of those times.

I wondered about the hormones having something to do with earlier menstruation. My oldest daughter started at age 10 1/2. I feel that is very young (not nearly as young as 7 or 8 though! poor girls!). I began giving my 2 younger daughters hormone free milk and other dairy products at that time. We don't eat a lot of meat, middle daughter has never eaten any. She is 11 and hasn't started. I started at 12, so did my mom.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Monday, February 28, 2005 - 1:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
nope, no mechanics talks yet in our schools.

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Monday, February 28, 2005 - 8:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
sorry Auntiemike, I didnt mean to imply that you were stereotyping.

Of course, there are exceptions to all races and conditions. I don't think I was trying to sterotype anything.


Yes, there is some truth to ancestry having a bearing on when we 'mature'. I just wanted to make sure people knew 'other' races also mature earlier.

Your doctor was correct as any developmental problems often mean that hormones can be affected as well. Also, it is a known medical fact that most African-american men have a higher testosterone level than an equivalent weight/age caucasian... Therefore better athleticism and muscle development. (this is from memory, sorry no links)

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 10:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ack! The problem with calling something a "known medical fact" is that later it is often superceded by new studies, or new techniques. While it is true that it was once believed that African Americans had higher T serum levels, newer studies and evidence have shown a different picture. Which is why I prefer saying "currently, science shows or believes such and such" versus calling something a fact. So Sunshyne, your information WAS once "believed", but has been disproven recently.


So currently, when adjusted for weight/age differences, testosterone levels in African Americans and caucasians are not statistically different!


quote:

A study from Northwestern Medical School strengthens the hypothesis that lack of vitamin D, and not higher testosterone levels, increases risk for prostate cancer in African Americans. Blood testosterone levels drop in all men after age 30. The authors show that the apparently higher blood levels of testosterone in African American males is not due to racial differences. After adjustment for age and fatness, total testosterone was three percent higher in African Americans, but after further adjustment for obesity at the waist, there was no difference based on race.





It's also been shown that T levels in African Americans in the UNITED STATES are higher than their counterparts in Nigeria or other African countries, which are comparable to whites in the United States. In addition, testosterone levels among the Kung! were high; but only among hunters.

Thus the differences are not genetic, they are environmental - most likely a response to poor diet and the stress of living in more aggressive environments.


Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 10:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay, what I really came here to post (back on topic!)...

Last week a producer from WifeSwap called! My office manager took a message and believe me I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what the heck they would want with me!!!

Turns out one of the products that one of my companies make (Birthday Keepsakes) was hanging on the wall of a child's bedroom in an episode they were about to tape! And they needed my permission to leave it on the wall during taping, or they would have to take it down.

I told her I'd be happy to give my permission if they could kind of zoom in on it and scroll our 800# across the bottom of the screen. Um, she laughed. I gave my permission anyway.



Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 11:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow Kar! That must have been startling! LOL!