Sex ED. Part Two

Part One of my Sex Ed blog was a story told at an assembly for my middle school students this past April. My mouth was wide open in utter awe, and by the end of the story I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “This is sexual education in Mississippi,” I thought to myself. “If I were in middle school and being fed this crap, I would think that all the talk about safe sex was bullshit, too.” If we are going to educate children and young adults about safe sex, it needs to be like any other education – truthful. How the hell is anyone going to believe that a young girl had sex, got fluid on her clothes, the fluid remained wet enough for at least 24 hours to transfer to someone’s hand, that it got from a person’s hand into his eye (singular), and then had the power to render both eyes(plural) permanently blind? WHAT?!! Saddened, but not surprised, I did a little bit of minor research into Sex Ed. In Mississippi. Here are a few things I found:


Mandate: Code §37-13-134 (2007) requires 45 minutes of instruction in health education for grades K-8.

State Assessment Requirement: None.



No Sex Ed. Was ever mentioned in the Mississippi Health Framework until Grade Eight, and even then, only in the following contexts:


Eighth grade students should gain an understanding of how health is influenced by the interaction of body systems. Students should become familiar with the interrelationship between mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and physical health during adolescence. Students should also become more competent in developing a fitness plan. Teachers should reinforce how family and peers influence personal health and how appropriate health care can prevent premature death and disability.


Invite a nurse to discuss sexually transmitted diseases, contraceptives, and simple ways(i.e., hand washing) to prevent communicable diseases.



Mandate: Mississippi does not require students to receive instruction in HIV, STD, or pregnancy prevention, although the grade 9-12 portion of the Comprehensive Health Framework (2006) addresses prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases if schools choose to offer sex education. Code §37-13-171 (1998) states, “abstinence education shall be the state standard for any sex-related education taught in the public schools” and ”any course containing sex education offered in the public schools shall include instruction in abstinence education. However, the local school board may authorize, by affirmative vote of a majority of the members, the teaching of sex education without instruction on abstinence. In such event, the curriculum offered in the schools relating to sex education must be approved by a majority of the school board members.”



While wandering around the internet, I found this website which I thought I might share as a potentially useful tool for any students, teens, or teachers interested in the topic of Sex Ed.

http://www.sexetc.org/state/?state_us_id=MS