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Romney Can't Take His Mitts Off Human Relations Education

Republican presidential candidate andJersey, my home state, mandates sex
former Massachusetts governor Mitteducation for all grades K through 12.
Romney has fired two salvos on sexHuman relations and sexuality are one of
education since July, attackingsix modules of a comprehensive health
Democratic candidate Barack Obama forand physical education program. The
his support of age-appropriate,Garden State mandates 150 minutes of
medically accurate sex education forhealth education per week for all
elementary school children, then goingstudents and has a graduation
after the broader Democratic field forrequirement of 3 ¾ credits per year for
not rejecting the inclusion ofhigh school students. However, New
gay-related issues in sex education forJersey law does not state how much time
second-graders. "Not one candidate wasmust be devoted to sex education,
uncomfortable with young childrenprobably to allow educators flexibility
learning about same-sex marriage in theto address a bigger health and fitness
second grade," Romney said on Septemberpicture. Does the Garden State suggest
26. "This is a subject that should bethat second graders learn about same-sex
left to parents, not public schoolmarriage? The answer: no, only that a
teachers," he said. Democraticsecond grader should be able identify
front-runner Hillary Rodham Clintondifferent kinds of families and
shared Romney's view, in my opinion,understand that families may differ for
saying that it should be parentalmany reasons. There is no mention of
discretion to discuss same-sex marriagesame-sex relationships; that leaves such
with young children. Clinton also favorsinstruction in the hands of parents and
civil unions over same-sex marriage; sheteachers. I wonder why Governor Romney
might be aiming for consistency in herkeeps up the attack on sex education,
views on these two issues. But would awhen it's essentially a non-issue in the
second grader understand civil unions,presidential campaigns. Sex education
or even care? First, I wanted to findpolicies, for better or worse, are
out if same-sex marriage is taught inratified by state legislatures; national
states that offer sex education toguidelines have almost no chance for
second graders; Illinois, for instance,passage by a highly partisan Congress.
Senator Obama's home state, does notIf parents and teachers have been able
mandate sex education before the sixthto work together, must the President be
grade. The Sexuality and Educationinvolved? There are numerous policies
Council of the United States (SIECUS)and practices among the states from
provides guidelines for comprehensivecomprehensive approaches, to abstinence
sex education for grades K-12. Theseis best to abstinence-only to abstinence
guidelines recommend introductoryuntil marriage. Governors, including New
instruction on homosexuality andJersey's Jon Corzine, have refused money
tolerance in the early elementary gradesfor abstinence-until-marriage
(ages 5 through 8) and that "two peopleinstruction under federal guidelines;
of the same gender can live in loving,their medical accuracy and educational
lifelong committed relationships." Novalue has been put in question in
mention of marriage or civil unions;academic circles, as well as political
those are not the only suchcircles. Romney says his Democratic
relationships. So, SIECUS, the leadingopponents are out of touch with the
advocates for sex education instruction,American people on sex education. It's
advises teaching a bigger picture,Romney who is out of touch; the voters
knowing that same-sex couples cannotin every state have already told their
have legally recognized marriages ingovernor and legislators, as well as
some states. They are not asking parentstheir teachers and school boards, about
and children to lend political supportthe sex education they want-and they
for same-sex marriage. They aredon't want to lose the chance to change
educators, not politicians. Sextheir minds. I doubt they want Mitt
education professionals rely on theseRomney, or any other candidate who grabs
guidelines; they were developed over 40the brass ring, to take that chance away
years ago, continually revised asfrom them.
science advanced and policies changed.Stuart Nachbar has been involved with
Educators and parents must work togethereducation politics, policy and
towards a successful sex educationtechnology as a student, urban planner,
curriculum, not in an adversarialgovernment affairs manager, software
relationship. That view is shared by sexexecutive, and now as author of The Sex
educators and those who historicallyEd Chronicles.
oppose some units of sex education. New



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