Beginning in January, students in public intermediate and high schools will be required to take sex education courses
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis is opposed to the city Department of Education's sexual education program, set to start in January.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island assemblywoman is joining a call on the city to offer parents an alternative to sex education, set to start in January.
Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn), along with Rep. Bob Turner and state Sen. Marty Golden said parents should be given a choice of which kind of sex ed to receive. The lawmakers are partnering with the NYC Parents' Choice Coalition on the issue.
"Legislatures across the nation spend millions upon millions of dollars to combat sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy, highlighting the importance of sexual education," Ms. Malliotakis said. "However, this particular curriculum being forced on children by the New York City Department of Education contains material that is both explicit and graphic. We are calling on the city to offer an alternative program, which is more focused on abstinence, while teaching the potential dangers and consequences of engaging in sexual activity. Parents should have a choice as to what level, and in which time frame, their children learn about sex."
Students in public intermediate and high schools will be required to take sex education courses after New Year. Lessons will range from the risks of unprotected sex, teen pregnancy. avoiding abusive relationships and the proper way to use a condom.
According to NYC Parents' Choice Coalition, which has obtained a copy of the curriculum, the program directs students to a website that discusses topics such as bestiality, pornography and mutual masturbation.
"The DOE should have a very simple and straight forward sex education curriculum that teaches children about their bodies and the changes they go through," said Sam Pirozzolo, president of Community Education Council 31, in a news release."They should be taught about sex and pregnancy and how not to become pregnant. Any other conversation about sex, straight sex, gay sex, sexual positions, multiple partners, and so on, goes far beyond what any child or person needs to know to keep themselves safe."
Parents will only be able to opt out of classes that focus on condoms and other birth control methods.
"It is unacceptable that parents will only have an "opt out" option in regards to birth control methods," said Michael Reilly, also of the Community Education Council, according to the release. "The parents should have more options concerning sex education and their children. The lack of transparency with this program has only inflamed tensions between parents and the DOE."