New York Sex Education Criticized for Graphic Content
A new sex-ed curriculum in New York is causing uproar among parents who are concerned it might be inappropriate.
Reports have indicated that workbooks include a number of controversial assignments such as high school students going to stores to record condom prices, brands and features.
Kids aged 11 to 12 were required to evaluate the safety of certain sexual activities including "Intercourse using a condom and oil-based lubricant," mutual masturbation, oral sex and anal sex.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The workbook also revealed high school students would be directed to resources like Columbia University's Web Site Go Ask Alice. The website covers sexual topics such as "sadomasochistic sex play" and different sexual positions.
The curriculum is set to be implemented next spring.
The Department of Education says the course material "stresses that abstinence is the best way to avoid pregnancy and STD/HIV" and informed the New York Post that parents have the choice to take their kids out of lessons on "methods of prevention."
Shino Tanikawa, mother of two daughters, was surprised by the material.
“I didn’t know how much detail they would get,” she told the New York Post.
Another mother said of the topics: "They seem pretty outrageous."
One father didn't seem to have a problem with new curriculum.
"I think it's a good idea," he told WSBT. "They're going to have sex. They know it exists. Teaching them about it in my mind doesn't sanction it or encourage it."
Deputy Mayor Linda GIbbs praised the decision to bring back mandatory sex-ed. Gibbs said the DOE wants to offer kids the correct information about intercourse if they decide to engage in it.
"We want to help kids to delay the onset of sexual activity, and if they choose to engage in sexual activity, to do it in a healthy way," she said.
