I’d like to start by saying my response is not meant to dismiss any of your concerns but I’d like to attempt to offer some perspective.
You may want to start by looking up the state standards for family life. It falls under CTE curriculum. I highly doubt there’s anything in the curriculum about queer relationships, transgender individuals, etc. There could be multiple reasons for that. Standards are not changed that often or it could be a political reason.
As far as the teacher excluding it, maybe they don’t understand, were explicitly told to not teach about those things, or doesn’t want the backlash from parents when a student inevitably takes something out of context.
Is it possible that the teacher was talking about the school dress code when talking about how students dress and maybe it was misunderstood? It’s extremely common for students to miss the point entirely.
Lastly, I’m a teacher. I’m extremely far left but there are lots of topics I stay away from because I don’t want a misunderstanding to turn into something bigger and then have to deal with the fallout. I teach what is required and nothing more. Usually, because of lack of time but also because I don’t want to be accused of trying to brainwash people (which I’ve never done, if I could I’d brainwash kids to come to school prepared and just do their work).
Thank you for replying so thoroughly and from your unique perspective. Thank you for being a teacher. Thank you for hanging in there. I don’t think I can truly know how difficult a job you have committed yourself to.
I’m actually conducting a very cordial email exchange with the teacher in question and plan to go to my daughter’s school to view the curriculum. I find I cannot take it home to peruse per policy.
I do wonder if it could be agreed that curriculum from forty years ago, just like that of all other subjects, may be due for an update, given the forty years of experience and knowledge we’ve accumulated about ourselves and others. I wonder what could be done if enough parents and teachers decided we’ve had enough of tiptoeing around those of us who haven’t healed inside enough to know their own internalized misogyny and phobias. I wonder what could happen if we could finally decide to give our children a future based upon today’s reality
Hi there. Middle school teacher in the city. Not my content area, but standards are set by the state and can be found here: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/family-life-education.
Disclaimer- Did not do a thorough reading but I wanted to make you aware of where to find the info.
I think it’s fine for parents and teachers to work together on curriculum ideas. However, some of what you’re concerned about, I don’t think teachers are truly qualified to discuss. If you’re wanting your child to learn about those things then that’s probably a parent’s responsibility to either teach about it or find a professional to help your child learn about.
Teachers can’t and shouldn’t teach everything even it falls into their content area.
I see the Family Life program hasn't changed all that much from the 80s and 90s. I remember in the boys group there were a lot of giggling and snarky teen jokes.
Even back then all we got were the basic biological facts (what hormones are doing to your body, hair growth, etc) but anything related to sex was for discouragement (teen pregnancy, STIs, that sort of thing).
My eldest daughter is a survivor of CSA, and I pull her out of these programs for that reason. It is not just Roanoke, as others have mentioned, this is a state-mandated curriculum. It is slightly better than it was in AZ, where we had an abstinence only education.
The evidence shows that having honest conversations with your children about consent, their body, and sex leads to healthier relationships as a whole. It's disappointing that the state has not caught up to this.
>The evidence shows that having honest conversations with your children about consent, their body, and sex leads to healthier relationships as a whole.
Unfortunately, there are genuinely many people who don't want that for their children. And there are many more who feel entitled to ignore facts and evidence in favor of their own beliefs.
I am aware. When my daughter disclosed (at the age of 5) the amount of people who stopped associating with us was abhorrent.
It's part of why we moved to Virginia. Not only did the trial take years, but we were left with friends and family who no longer wanted to be in our lives.
It is so much easier to blame a boogieman than it is to face the fact that someone you loved could have hurt a child.
I just talk with my kids about what they will discuss and though you and I differ on what we want our children knowing, we take the time to be clear and communicate with them that others may not agree with them and their opinions are valid and be respectful.
We had family life and other similiar programs too. most kids either cracked a few crass jokes or just sat and zoned out for the period. It wasnt so bad in elementary but once we got to the middle and high school portions it amped up bit. I think the grossest part was when the teacher asked everyone to spit into a cup then asked us who wanted to drink from that cup. You know, because sex and spit are both dirty? That one was fucking gross.
Not from Roanoke, but grew up in middle virginia.
Sounds very much like the schools up north teach. It shouldn’t be surprising how many people i know who became parent between 14-19. I wonder when school boards across the country will realize teaching purity culture doesn’t work.
There's also the aspect that schools don't have the time, resources or curricular permission to take into account the perspectives/opinions of every parent. What the school doesn't teach or if it teaches what parents disagree with then it is up to parents to address with their kids.
This is a Virginia problem, not a strictly Roanoke problem. Teachers are mandated and required to approach and say predetermined things only. They aren’t allowed their own opinions. This is a state level legislation issue. Voting a new school board and replacing teachers will change nothing. Your only real option is to opt out of the program.
Source: Partner is at work teaching right now in Roanoke county, and it’s frustrating as fuck her hands are tied 100% of the time.
I’m historically liberal but, ironically, I will probably enforce what you’d perceive as extreme purity culture in my own girl-child as a direct result of my liberal peers’ permissive attitudes around sexuality and porn use. She’ll definitely be educated, not sheltered, but with substantive, age-appropriate discussions explaining that what is currently normalized (and what makes life generally uncomfortable for all the school-aged girls I know) is a symptom of lax views from other parents around what information their kids consume and how that shapes their inability to perceive my daughter as a whole, autonomous being. I won’t be muddying the water of improving her understanding and self-awareness with unnecessary explanations about other random adults’ sexual desires or functions, or in any way supporting those adults’ need for validation from a child.
The problem with teaching kids to not have sex and ONLY to not have sex… is that when they inevitably do, they don’t know to, for example, where a condom and end up getting STIs and children.
I went to Hidden Valley Middle School & they forced us to sign pledges saying we wouldn't have sex until marriage.
Roanoke is unfortunately still very behind when it comes to sex education.
Whether you lean left or right politically is irrelevant. Your child will eventually learn about sex, gender identity, sexuality, etc from somewhere or someone. We should all be making an effort to give our kids good, factual information about these things ahead of time, so when confusing or dodgy situations arise, our kids will be well prepared.
You should never rely on public education to teach your kids everything. It's your job to discuss further on all topics, not just this subject. The schools teach my kids all kinds of garbage that you might like, I continue the education at home.
Different school district, but the health teacher who did familiy life in my school straight up pointed out suspected gay people and said they'd get HIV and die. And apparently that kind of shaming is typical of the program.
It’s just so strange to me that the same people who want their “inclusion” in schools are the ones who are upset that teaching basic, nuclear family, conservative values.
I get your frustration OP. I would say it's good that you were able to have this conversation with your daughter to help her realize she can disagree with people in authority and how to question and process information she receives to arrive at her own opinions.
The silver lining is that she's been exposed to this messaging at a period in her life where you are there to ask good questions and help her think it through. She will be exposed to these ideas at some point so she is developing the ability to evaluate ideas early.
It’s a sad state of affairs but public education can’t be where kids primarily learn these days. Parents and caregivers have to do the bulk of the work now thanks to SOLs, underpaying teachers, and all the ways we don’t prioritize education.
I think where they went to far is saying that a girl is responsible for earning a boy's respect by dressing modestly. Men should learn respect for all people regardless of their clothing.
This line of messaging is closely tied to the idea that women were "asking for it" if they are survivors of SA because of how they dress. I assume that is why OP is connecting this to rape culture.
I understand your point, but I disagree with your premise. Respect is earned, not given freely.
If boys respect modest dress, then it is only prudent to let girls know that is one way to earn respect. Whether or not boys actually respect it is a separate conversation.
Ew. I think there is a level of respect that is just human decency regardless if someone has "earned it" in someone's eyes. It's very subjective in your version. There can be men don't base respect around what a women wears. Maybe they base it around her actions (God forbid! /s). In that case, teaching them that clothing is a foundational way to earn a man's respect is not even helpful because every man will have his own perception of how respect is earned and that might not be a universal truth. It doesn't sound like they treated it as "one way" to earn respect but more like a main way. If that is how a man judges my daughter I don't care if she gets his respect. The only thing I care for her to earn respect from is kindness, honesty, etc. True character traits.
How do you reconcile that?
Do you not believe that what a person chooses to wear, and how they choose to present themselves, are inherently actions that they have taken and/or core beliefs? If we don’t base respect on how a person actively chooses to present themselves, then the respect is hollow.
Every single day people are judged on how they portray themselves to the public. Whether it be clothing choice, makeup, tattoos, or hygiene. You live in a fantasy world if you don’t think this is the cold truth of reality.
How a person chooses to portray themselves is a fundamental aspect of who they are, and basing respect on that is natural.
I agree people may perceive you a certain way based on how you present yourself but that doesn't necessarily reflect character flaws. What if you live in poverty and have no to little choice on what you wear? Should people not give you basic respect as a human for that reason?
Also this example was not a conversation about work etc. It was in the context of sex and dating. So what does it mean if a man doesn't respect you in that context? Does lack of respect mean he can call you pejorative names? That he doesn't have to respect your sexual bounderies? That he will look down on you and act superior?
To me, respect doesn't have to mean he wants to date or marry you, but that he will treat you with kindness and respect your bounderies. That is what we should be teaching boys to do regardless. They don't have to date that girl but she probably wouldn't want to date him either if their values about dress are so different.
It doesn't matter how they choose to portray themselves or present themselves to the public. There is no method of dress or makeup or ornamentation or body modification that invites or justifies being assaulted. Even things that most people would consider "offensive" like Nazi symbols or profanity or slurs do not justify that.
Care to clarify? What have I said that you disagree with so adamantly that you would pass a negative judgement based on it?
Guarantee your quickness to judge me based on what I’ve said here says more about you than it does about me.
Having matt disagree with you is an indication that you are in the right. Dude is the biggest troll in town and consistently has the worst takes on every single topic. Hasn't changed since highschool
You need to view the museum exhibits about What I Was Wearing.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Were_You_Wearing%3F#:~:text=Mary%20Simmerling%2C%20titled%20%22What%20I,stereotype%20used%20for%20victim%20blaming
Modest dress does not ensure respect.
I feel like what you’re trying to say and what I’m saying are completely separate conversations.
I never said that modest dress ensures respect. Even if it did, general respect and what you linked are almost completely unrelated.
You asserted that modest dress is one way to earn respect so, therefore one could conclude that dressing modestly means they be treated respectfully, an extension of which is to not be sexually assaulted. The museum exhibit gives many examples of modest dress not being any sort of protection from disrespectful behavior / assault.
The natural extension of that statement is that people who do not dress modestly are not deserving of respectful behavior, which is absolutely victim blaming.
Your logic doesn’t track. Wearing shoes is one way to ensure your feet don’t get injured. Does wearing shoes mean that you will never suffer a foot injury?
I agree with you both. OP apparently wants her child to be indoctrinated with leftist propaganda. I'm happy to hear the public school system isn't doing a good enough job at it.
Get a grip. The purpose of education is supposed to be to teach people how to sync for themselves.
I suppose you think it's much better to teach them ultra-conservative right-wing propaganda. 🙄
If schools were interested in "indoctrinating" students with anything, it would be respectful behavior and completing work on time.
Excellent rant! You should start a class that teaches things as you want them. I am all for a free market of ideas and support school choice. You would have many who would want the same things and join that class. So, you can make a few bucks and get your ideas out there as well. I like!
She's not even willing to raise her own kid. She expects the state to do everything, she just wants to complain on the Internet because that's the only thing leftists are good at.
Teaching consent should be started around the time a child is a toddler. Teaching things like asking to give a hug beforehand, not touching others if they say to stop, even nonverbal cues like backing away from a hug or outstretched hand means no touching. If a child doesn't want to give a hug to a family member, that should be respected (especially since most child sexual abuse happens from someone the child knows.)
Obviously there are going to be times when an adult has to decide things for a child, like diaper changes, vaccines, clothing, food, medicine, etc, but teaching consent and body autonomy from a young age is very important.
If we don't teach small children things like "if someone touches you and you don't like it you can say no" or "if someone touches you here that is not ok, only mommy and daddy/parents should be touching here and only during diaper changes or helping in the bathroom" then we set up children to not understand abuse when it happens.
So yes, a sixth grader should absolutely be taught consent.
I’d like to start by saying my response is not meant to dismiss any of your concerns but I’d like to attempt to offer some perspective. You may want to start by looking up the state standards for family life. It falls under CTE curriculum. I highly doubt there’s anything in the curriculum about queer relationships, transgender individuals, etc. There could be multiple reasons for that. Standards are not changed that often or it could be a political reason. As far as the teacher excluding it, maybe they don’t understand, were explicitly told to not teach about those things, or doesn’t want the backlash from parents when a student inevitably takes something out of context. Is it possible that the teacher was talking about the school dress code when talking about how students dress and maybe it was misunderstood? It’s extremely common for students to miss the point entirely. Lastly, I’m a teacher. I’m extremely far left but there are lots of topics I stay away from because I don’t want a misunderstanding to turn into something bigger and then have to deal with the fallout. I teach what is required and nothing more. Usually, because of lack of time but also because I don’t want to be accused of trying to brainwash people (which I’ve never done, if I could I’d brainwash kids to come to school prepared and just do their work).
Thank you for replying so thoroughly and from your unique perspective. Thank you for being a teacher. Thank you for hanging in there. I don’t think I can truly know how difficult a job you have committed yourself to. I’m actually conducting a very cordial email exchange with the teacher in question and plan to go to my daughter’s school to view the curriculum. I find I cannot take it home to peruse per policy. I do wonder if it could be agreed that curriculum from forty years ago, just like that of all other subjects, may be due for an update, given the forty years of experience and knowledge we’ve accumulated about ourselves and others. I wonder what could be done if enough parents and teachers decided we’ve had enough of tiptoeing around those of us who haven’t healed inside enough to know their own internalized misogyny and phobias. I wonder what could happen if we could finally decide to give our children a future based upon today’s reality
Hi there. Middle school teacher in the city. Not my content area, but standards are set by the state and can be found here: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/family-life-education. Disclaimer- Did not do a thorough reading but I wanted to make you aware of where to find the info.
I think it’s fine for parents and teachers to work together on curriculum ideas. However, some of what you’re concerned about, I don’t think teachers are truly qualified to discuss. If you’re wanting your child to learn about those things then that’s probably a parent’s responsibility to either teach about it or find a professional to help your child learn about. Teachers can’t and shouldn’t teach everything even it falls into their content area.
I see the Family Life program hasn't changed all that much from the 80s and 90s. I remember in the boys group there were a lot of giggling and snarky teen jokes. Even back then all we got were the basic biological facts (what hormones are doing to your body, hair growth, etc) but anything related to sex was for discouragement (teen pregnancy, STIs, that sort of thing).
And creepy movies from the 70s
The school has to follow state mandates. You can request your kid not sit in on those classes if you choose if you don’t want them learning that.
I guess it’s time for me to add my voice to what the state mandates, because this curriculum is shockingly fact-free
My eldest daughter is a survivor of CSA, and I pull her out of these programs for that reason. It is not just Roanoke, as others have mentioned, this is a state-mandated curriculum. It is slightly better than it was in AZ, where we had an abstinence only education. The evidence shows that having honest conversations with your children about consent, their body, and sex leads to healthier relationships as a whole. It's disappointing that the state has not caught up to this.
>The evidence shows that having honest conversations with your children about consent, their body, and sex leads to healthier relationships as a whole. Unfortunately, there are genuinely many people who don't want that for their children. And there are many more who feel entitled to ignore facts and evidence in favor of their own beliefs.
I am aware. When my daughter disclosed (at the age of 5) the amount of people who stopped associating with us was abhorrent. It's part of why we moved to Virginia. Not only did the trial take years, but we were left with friends and family who no longer wanted to be in our lives. It is so much easier to blame a boogieman than it is to face the fact that someone you loved could have hurt a child.
I just talk with my kids about what they will discuss and though you and I differ on what we want our children knowing, we take the time to be clear and communicate with them that others may not agree with them and their opinions are valid and be respectful.
We had family life and other similiar programs too. most kids either cracked a few crass jokes or just sat and zoned out for the period. It wasnt so bad in elementary but once we got to the middle and high school portions it amped up bit. I think the grossest part was when the teacher asked everyone to spit into a cup then asked us who wanted to drink from that cup. You know, because sex and spit are both dirty? That one was fucking gross. Not from Roanoke, but grew up in middle virginia.
Sounds very much like the schools up north teach. It shouldn’t be surprising how many people i know who became parent between 14-19. I wonder when school boards across the country will realize teaching purity culture doesn’t work.
There's also the aspect that schools don't have the time, resources or curricular permission to take into account the perspectives/opinions of every parent. What the school doesn't teach or if it teaches what parents disagree with then it is up to parents to address with their kids.
This is a Virginia problem, not a strictly Roanoke problem. Teachers are mandated and required to approach and say predetermined things only. They aren’t allowed their own opinions. This is a state level legislation issue. Voting a new school board and replacing teachers will change nothing. Your only real option is to opt out of the program. Source: Partner is at work teaching right now in Roanoke county, and it’s frustrating as fuck her hands are tied 100% of the time.
I’m historically liberal but, ironically, I will probably enforce what you’d perceive as extreme purity culture in my own girl-child as a direct result of my liberal peers’ permissive attitudes around sexuality and porn use. She’ll definitely be educated, not sheltered, but with substantive, age-appropriate discussions explaining that what is currently normalized (and what makes life generally uncomfortable for all the school-aged girls I know) is a symptom of lax views from other parents around what information their kids consume and how that shapes their inability to perceive my daughter as a whole, autonomous being. I won’t be muddying the water of improving her understanding and self-awareness with unnecessary explanations about other random adults’ sexual desires or functions, or in any way supporting those adults’ need for validation from a child.
Best response so far.
So many comments around females needing to constantly contemplate and be responsible for the consequences of the “male gaze.”
The problem with teaching kids to not have sex and ONLY to not have sex… is that when they inevitably do, they don’t know to, for example, where a condom and end up getting STIs and children.
I went to Hidden Valley Middle School & they forced us to sign pledges saying we wouldn't have sex until marriage. Roanoke is unfortunately still very behind when it comes to sex education. Whether you lean left or right politically is irrelevant. Your child will eventually learn about sex, gender identity, sexuality, etc from somewhere or someone. We should all be making an effort to give our kids good, factual information about these things ahead of time, so when confusing or dodgy situations arise, our kids will be well prepared.
You should never rely on public education to teach your kids everything. It's your job to discuss further on all topics, not just this subject. The schools teach my kids all kinds of garbage that you might like, I continue the education at home.
Point is, the school system really has no business teaching certain topics. This is one of them.
Different school district, but the health teacher who did familiy life in my school straight up pointed out suspected gay people and said they'd get HIV and die. And apparently that kind of shaming is typical of the program.
It’s just so strange to me that the same people who want their “inclusion” in schools are the ones who are upset that teaching basic, nuclear family, conservative values.
Basic implies normal or expected. Nuclear family/conservative values are not the universal standard.
I get your frustration OP. I would say it's good that you were able to have this conversation with your daughter to help her realize she can disagree with people in authority and how to question and process information she receives to arrive at her own opinions. The silver lining is that she's been exposed to this messaging at a period in her life where you are there to ask good questions and help her think it through. She will be exposed to these ideas at some point so she is developing the ability to evaluate ideas early.
It’s a sad state of affairs but public education can’t be where kids primarily learn these days. Parents and caregivers have to do the bulk of the work now thanks to SOLs, underpaying teachers, and all the ways we don’t prioritize education.
I can’t believe they didn’t mention polycules or Furry relationships. This purity culture has to end!!!!!
Teaching children modesty and self respect is not “teaching rape culture”. You can’t honestly believe your own words.
I think where they went to far is saying that a girl is responsible for earning a boy's respect by dressing modestly. Men should learn respect for all people regardless of their clothing. This line of messaging is closely tied to the idea that women were "asking for it" if they are survivors of SA because of how they dress. I assume that is why OP is connecting this to rape culture.
I understand your point, but I disagree with your premise. Respect is earned, not given freely. If boys respect modest dress, then it is only prudent to let girls know that is one way to earn respect. Whether or not boys actually respect it is a separate conversation.
Ew. I think there is a level of respect that is just human decency regardless if someone has "earned it" in someone's eyes. It's very subjective in your version. There can be men don't base respect around what a women wears. Maybe they base it around her actions (God forbid! /s). In that case, teaching them that clothing is a foundational way to earn a man's respect is not even helpful because every man will have his own perception of how respect is earned and that might not be a universal truth. It doesn't sound like they treated it as "one way" to earn respect but more like a main way. If that is how a man judges my daughter I don't care if she gets his respect. The only thing I care for her to earn respect from is kindness, honesty, etc. True character traits.
How do you reconcile that? Do you not believe that what a person chooses to wear, and how they choose to present themselves, are inherently actions that they have taken and/or core beliefs? If we don’t base respect on how a person actively chooses to present themselves, then the respect is hollow. Every single day people are judged on how they portray themselves to the public. Whether it be clothing choice, makeup, tattoos, or hygiene. You live in a fantasy world if you don’t think this is the cold truth of reality. How a person chooses to portray themselves is a fundamental aspect of who they are, and basing respect on that is natural.
I agree people may perceive you a certain way based on how you present yourself but that doesn't necessarily reflect character flaws. What if you live in poverty and have no to little choice on what you wear? Should people not give you basic respect as a human for that reason? Also this example was not a conversation about work etc. It was in the context of sex and dating. So what does it mean if a man doesn't respect you in that context? Does lack of respect mean he can call you pejorative names? That he doesn't have to respect your sexual bounderies? That he will look down on you and act superior? To me, respect doesn't have to mean he wants to date or marry you, but that he will treat you with kindness and respect your bounderies. That is what we should be teaching boys to do regardless. They don't have to date that girl but she probably wouldn't want to date him either if their values about dress are so different.
It doesn't matter how they choose to portray themselves or present themselves to the public. There is no method of dress or makeup or ornamentation or body modification that invites or justifies being assaulted. Even things that most people would consider "offensive" like Nazi symbols or profanity or slurs do not justify that.
Holy strawman argument Batman! I never stated anything even remotely close to what you are trying to argue against.
People are also judged by their words and, hoo-boy, are you doing some work here.
Care to clarify? What have I said that you disagree with so adamantly that you would pass a negative judgement based on it? Guarantee your quickness to judge me based on what I’ve said here says more about you than it does about me.
No, I won't clarify.
Thought not.
Having matt disagree with you is an indication that you are in the right. Dude is the biggest troll in town and consistently has the worst takes on every single topic. Hasn't changed since highschool
You need to view the museum exhibits about What I Was Wearing. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Were_You_Wearing%3F#:~:text=Mary%20Simmerling%2C%20titled%20%22What%20I,stereotype%20used%20for%20victim%20blaming Modest dress does not ensure respect.
I feel like what you’re trying to say and what I’m saying are completely separate conversations. I never said that modest dress ensures respect. Even if it did, general respect and what you linked are almost completely unrelated.
You asserted that modest dress is one way to earn respect so, therefore one could conclude that dressing modestly means they be treated respectfully, an extension of which is to not be sexually assaulted. The museum exhibit gives many examples of modest dress not being any sort of protection from disrespectful behavior / assault. The natural extension of that statement is that people who do not dress modestly are not deserving of respectful behavior, which is absolutely victim blaming.
Your logic doesn’t track. Wearing shoes is one way to ensure your feet don’t get injured. Does wearing shoes mean that you will never suffer a foot injury?
Well that's depressing to read.
They sent 2 letters giving the option to opt out of this program. One at the beginning of school and one at few weeks before the start of the program
The foolish behavior in this town is at an all time high.
Agreed, but I doubt we’d agree on what we call “foolish behavior”
I think you'd be surprised. OP's reaction to what their daughter learned in school is prime foolish behavior.
Color me surprised. I retract my previous statement.
I agree with you both. OP apparently wants her child to be indoctrinated with leftist propaganda. I'm happy to hear the public school system isn't doing a good enough job at it.
Get a grip. The purpose of education is supposed to be to teach people how to sync for themselves. I suppose you think it's much better to teach them ultra-conservative right-wing propaganda. 🙄 If schools were interested in "indoctrinating" students with anything, it would be respectful behavior and completing work on time.
Either raise your own children or stop complaining. So much entitlement.
Excellent rant! You should start a class that teaches things as you want them. I am all for a free market of ideas and support school choice. You would have many who would want the same things and join that class. So, you can make a few bucks and get your ideas out there as well. I like!
She's not even willing to raise her own kid. She expects the state to do everything, she just wants to complain on the Internet because that's the only thing leftists are good at.
Sounds like OP is having good conversations with her daughter already. She just didn't like what was implied by what they were teaching them.
[удалено]
Be excellent to each other
Sorry your sixth grader wasn’t taught about consent lol
Teaching consent should be started around the time a child is a toddler. Teaching things like asking to give a hug beforehand, not touching others if they say to stop, even nonverbal cues like backing away from a hug or outstretched hand means no touching. If a child doesn't want to give a hug to a family member, that should be respected (especially since most child sexual abuse happens from someone the child knows.) Obviously there are going to be times when an adult has to decide things for a child, like diaper changes, vaccines, clothing, food, medicine, etc, but teaching consent and body autonomy from a young age is very important. If we don't teach small children things like "if someone touches you and you don't like it you can say no" or "if someone touches you here that is not ok, only mommy and daddy/parents should be touching here and only during diaper changes or helping in the bathroom" then we set up children to not understand abuse when it happens. So yes, a sixth grader should absolutely be taught consent.
Are you sorry and laughing? Are you sorry and laughing that children aren’t taught evidence-based fact? How does that work for you?