| Republican presidential candidate and former | | | | educators and those who historically oppose some |
| Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has fired two | | | | units of sex education. |
| salvos on sex education since July, attacking | | | | New Jersey, my home state, mandates sex |
| Democratic candidate Barack Obama for his support | | | | education for all grades K through 12. Human relations |
| of age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education | | | | and sexuality are one of six modules of a |
| for elementary school children, then going after the | | | | comprehensive health and physical education program. |
| broader Democratic field for not rejecting the | | | | The Garden State mandates 150 minutes of health |
| inclusion of gay-related issues in sex education for | | | | education per week for all students and has a |
| second-graders. | | | | graduation requirement of 3 credits per year for high |
| "Not one candidate was uncomfortable with young | | | | school students. However, New Jersey law does not |
| children learning about same-sex marriage in the | | | | state how much time must be devoted to sex |
| second grade," Romney said on September 26. "This | | | | education, probably to allow educators flexibility to |
| is a subject that should be left to parents, not public | | | | address a bigger health and fitness picture. |
| school teachers," he said. | | | | Does the Garden State suggest that second graders |
| Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton shared | | | | learn about same-sex marriage? |
| Romneys view, in my opinion, saying that it should be | | | | The answer: no, only that a second grader should be |
| parental discretion to discuss same-sex marriage with | | | | able identify different kinds of families and |
| young children. Clinton also favors civil unions over | | | | understand that families may differ for many reasons. |
| same-sex marriage; she might be aiming for | | | | There is no mention of same-sex relationships; that |
| consistency in her views on these two issues. | | | | leaves such instruction in the hands of parents and |
| But would a second grader understand civil unions, or | | | | teachers. |
| even care? | | | | I wonder why Governor Romney keeps up the |
| First, I wanted to find out if same-sex marriage is | | | | attack on sex education, when its essentially a |
| taught in states that offer sex education to second | | | | non-issue in the presidential campaigns. Sex education |
| graders; Illinois, for instance, Senator Obamas home | | | | policies, for better or worse, are ratified by state |
| state, does not mandate sex education before the | | | | legislatures; national guidelines have almost no chance |
| sixth grade. | | | | for passage by a highly partisan Congress. |
| The Sexuality and Education Council of the United | | | | If parents and teachers have been able to work |
| States (SIECUS) provides guidelines for | | | | together, must the President be involved? |
| comprehensive sex education for grades K-12. These | | | | There are numerous policies and practices among the |
| guidelines recommend introductory instruction on | | | | states from comprehensive approaches, to |
| homosexuality and tolerance in the early elementary | | | | abstinence is best to abstinence-only to abstinence |
| grades (ages 5 through 8) and that two people of | | | | until marriage. Governors, including New Jerseys Jon |
| the same gender can live in loving, lifelong committed | | | | Corzine, have refused money for |
| relationships. No mention of marriage or civil unions; | | | | abstinence-until-marriage instruction under federal |
| those are not the only such relationships. | | | | guidelines; their medical accuracy and educational |
| So, SIECUS, the leading advocates for sex education | | | | value has been put in question in academic circles, as |
| instruction, advises teaching a bigger picture, knowing | | | | well as political circles. |
| that same-sex couples cannot have legally recognized | | | | Romney says his Democratic opponents are out of |
| marriages in some states. They are not asking | | | | touch with the American people on sex education. Its |
| parents and children to lend political support for | | | | Romney who is out of touch; the voters in every |
| same-sex marriage. They are educators, not | | | | state have already told their governor and legislators, |
| politicians. Sex education professionals rely on these | | | | as well as their teachers and school boards, about |
| guidelines; they were developed over 40 years ago, | | | | the sex education they wantand they dont want to |
| continually revised as science advanced and policies | | | | lose the chance to change their minds. |
| changed. Educators and parents must work together | | | | I doubt they want Mitt Romney, or any other |
| towards a successful sex education curriculum, not in | | | | candidate who grabs the brass ring, to take that |
| an adversarial relationship. That view is shared by sex | | | | chance away from them. |