Someone, please tell me, what is this really all about? Some Board members asked to discuss separating by gender the middle and high school kids for certain portions of Sex Ed. You know, the talk on, as one board member put it, "Part A goes into part B and produces the phenomena of C and produces X and Y". Of course, real terms are used, but you get the graphic picture. Also included in the proposed gender separation, was the condom, etc. demos and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. All in all, this takes about 2 or 3 days of the Human Growth and Development course. The Board members asked for a very small thing in the scheme of the school year, and it would only encompass 8th and 10th grades (grades 4 and 5 already separate by gender).
The four Board members who liked this idea were VP Williams, Clerk Weigand, Pheng, and Treasurer Parks. President Marquardt said very little and seemed on the fence, and Miller and Seitzer were very much opposed.
Some of the reasons the members gave for wanting gender separation were:
*Better discussions will be generated. It will be less stifling with boys and girls separated during these discussions.
*It is an innovative way to support better schools.
*Protection of children, especially the most shy and easily embarrassed
*Keeps the dignity and modesty intact, especially girls
*It is very doable with minimal changes to current way course is taught
*Some in community are shocked this isn't already being done
*It will allow kids the most comfortable setting to ask questions
*Why not try it, we might be surprised at how well it works!
By state statute, the school board must make the decision about whether or not to separate kids by gender for all or part of this course. Here is where I am totally confused. Why would a district administrator(s) fight this?
The director of curriculum, who makes well over $100,000.00 annually with salary and benefits, was red-faced as she chastised the board toward the end of the meeting.
One job of the board is to carry out mandatory laws of the state, which they were doing by deciding about this issue. They are also to determine policies to guide the administrators. They also approve the employment of all personnel with whom contracts are required (that is, they are the bosses of the administration)
It was a shocking event to see a red-faced administrator badgering the Board about their decision.
It leads me to ask again, "What is this really all about?"
Let's put this into context. This is just a couple of days from the school year. No curriculum changes were requested from any board member. The board members who liked this idea gave very good reasons why they wished to see this implemented. By law, it is their decision. The Board knew the administration was not recommending this change, but 4 members liked the idea. Finally, after sufficient badgering from the administration, it was decided to send out a survey asking parents if they are aware the class is not separated by gender in 8th and 10th grade, and if they would prefer that it is. Amazing, for 2 or 3 days of instruction, a survey is sent out! Weigand requested the Board have input into the survey. Neitzke commented, "It's your right."
Again, why would an administrator get so emotional and chastise the board for "mandating" this and taking away "choice"? Why would the Superintendent sit back and allow this? What is this really all about? I don't get it.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Surprise, Surprise! The administration speaks...
The administration of the West Bend School District recommends keeping mixed company in sex ed class, even during condom demos, discussions about sexually transmitted diseases and very, very intimate details, among kids as young as 12 years old:
The WBSD administration is recommending that the Human Growth and Development Unit continue to be taught to heterogeneous groups of students in the Health I and II courses.
The WBSD administration is recommending that the Human Growth and Development Unit continue to be taught to heterogeneous groups of students in the Health I and II courses.
This will be discussed Monday night:
Committee of the Whole
Monday, September 10, 2012
Location: Education Service Center, 735 S. Main Street, West Bend
5:45 pm, Fishbowl Conference Room
5:45 pm, Fishbowl Conference Room
Sep 10, 2012 - Committee of the Whole
Subject
Gender-based Human Growth & Development instruction
Access
Public
Type
Discussion
Public Content
Topic and Background:
According to Wisconsin State Statute 118.33, at least a half [0.5] credit of health education is required for high school graduation. This credit must be successfully completed sometime between grades 7-12.
Currently in the West Bend School District the half credit of health education is divided into two courses: Health I (offered in 8th grade for ¼ credit) and Health II (offered in 10th grade for ¼ credit). The instructional delivery model for these courses is as follows:
Under Wisconsin State Statute 118.019, section 2, subjects:
Rationale (General Purpose):
Historically, the WBSD Human Growth and Development curriculum is reviewed every three years by an advisory committee. The last review of the health curriculum was conducted in April, 2012. The advisory committee reviewed the curriculum against the Wisconsin State Statute 118.019 (of 2010) and used any information that was available in draft form for the new Wisconsin State Statute 118.019 (2012) to ensure that the Human Growth and Development Units are in compliance with State Statute 118.019.
The WBSD administration is recommending that the Human Growth and Development Unit continue to be taught to heterogeneous groups of students in the Health I and II courses. Currently, the WBSD families and students have the option to opt-out of any or all of the Human Growth and Development topics in Health I and II. The following opt-out process is in place for family choice:
The purpose for this committee meeting is for the full board to have a discussion regarding gender separation of students during any or all topics in the Human Growth and Development unit.
Budget: No additional funds will be needed.
According to Wisconsin State Statute 118.33, at least a half [0.5] credit of health education is required for high school graduation. This credit must be successfully completed sometime between grades 7-12.
Currently in the West Bend School District the half credit of health education is divided into two courses: Health I (offered in 8th grade for ¼ credit) and Health II (offered in 10th grade for ¼ credit). The instructional delivery model for these courses is as follows:
- Health I (Grade 8; ¼ credit): One semester every other day. Large group “traditional” classroom instruction.
- Health II (Grade 10; ¼ credit): One quarter every day. Large group “traditional” classroom instruction.
Course Name
|
Unit Title
|
Duration of Unit
|
Topics
|
| Health I | Human Growth and Development |
14 Days
|
|
| Health II | Human Relationships and Sexuality |
9 Days
|
|
| Grade 4 Separated by Gender |
Human Growth and Development |
3 Days
|
|
| Grade 5 Separated by Gender |
Human Growth and Development |
3 Days
|
|
Under Wisconsin State Statute 118.019, section 2, subjects:
A
school board may provide an instructional program in human growth and
development in grades kindergarten to 12. If the school board elects to
provide an instructional program under this section, when the school
board establishes the curriculum for the instructional program, the
school board shall make determinations as to whether and, if so, for
what subjects covered in the curriculum the pupils shall be separated by
gender. If an instructional program is provided, the following
instructional program is recommended:
Historically, the WBSD Human Growth and Development curriculum is reviewed every three years by an advisory committee. The last review of the health curriculum was conducted in April, 2012. The advisory committee reviewed the curriculum against the Wisconsin State Statute 118.019 (of 2010) and used any information that was available in draft form for the new Wisconsin State Statute 118.019 (2012) to ensure that the Human Growth and Development Units are in compliance with State Statute 118.019.
The WBSD administration is recommending that the Human Growth and Development Unit continue to be taught to heterogeneous groups of students in the Health I and II courses. Currently, the WBSD families and students have the option to opt-out of any or all of the Human Growth and Development topics in Health I and II. The following opt-out process is in place for family choice:
-
Parents
will be notified multiple times about their right to request that their
child not participate in instruction in Human Growth and Development
(HGD). This notification will also inform parents of their right to
review the complete curriculum and instructional materials.
- Parents will be notified at the beginning of the year in the school handbook.
- Parents will be notified approximately 2-3 weeks prior to the HGD curriculum being taught by mail.
- Parents will be notified approximately 1 week prior to the HGD curriculum being taught by email.
- Parents will have the option to opt their child out of the entire HGD curriculum or from selective parts of the curriculum.
The purpose for this committee meeting is for the full board to have a discussion regarding gender separation of students during any or all topics in the Human Growth and Development unit.
Budget: No additional funds will be needed.
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