5 MORE WEEKS TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT ON DESE'S NEW HEALTH FRAMEWORK!

Let's "Get Real"... Planned Parenthood has big plans for MA public school students.

It's time for another friendly reminder to send DESE your public comment on the new draft Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Framework.

Every week until the public comment period is over we will be highlighting one objectionable area of the framework and providing you with an example of a curricula that would align with the Framework.

To see our previous countdown posts, click HERE and HERE.

Today we are highlighting this 7th grade lesson on sexual behavior from the Get Real curriculum. This curriculum was produced by the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Shira Cahn-Lipman, Planned Parenthood’s Associate Director of Education Strategy served as a Review Panelist for DESE's draft Framework, and this curriculum has been recommended by the state in the past. DESE has not released their list of recommended resources for this Framework yet, but if DESE’s past recommendations and their choice of review panelists tell us anything, we can expect to see Get Real on their list!

The lesson “Deciding About Sexual Behavior” correlates to several standards listed in DESE’s draft Framework for grades 6-8. Two examples of correlating standards are below. You can also find these on page 30 of the draft Framework:

Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Sexual Health [6.1.GS]
3. Describe possible short- and long-term consequences (positive and negative) of engaging in sexual activity and identify ways to avoid negative or potentially harmful consequences.

Healthy Relationships [6.1.HR]
1. Analyze the similarities and differences between friendships, romantic relationships, and sexual relationships and discuss various ways to show affection within different relationships (e.g., holding hands, hugging, kind words, acts of kindness, kissing, sexual behaviors).

A few notable quotes from this lesson:

“Explain that in order to make decisions about sexual behaviors it’s important to understand why people have sex… Ask students to name some positive outcomes of people engaging in sexual behaviors when they are ready (for example, getting to know yourself or another person, expressing affection, taking healthy risks, feeling good)… Ask student to silently reflect on the question: How does what you’ve learned from parents or other influences play a role in the decisions you make around sexual behaviors? Ask student to reflect silently on the pros and cons of what they have learned from parents and other influences.” (p. 7-41)

“After placing the behavior cards, tape wrapped condoms onto the cards for oral, anal and vaginal intercourse. Ask students what condoms do to reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs (keep fluids from being transmitted). Explain that abstinence is the healthiest choice for seventh graders, but for people who choose to engage in oral, anal or vagina intercourse, one protection method will help prevent unplanned pregnancy and STI transmission: the condom. Explain that they will learn more about condoms in a future class. Explain that when condoms are used correctly every single time, they greatly reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs. Move the behavior cards to new categories to reflect anal sex with a condom, vaginal sex with a condom, and oral sex with a condom or dental dam.” (p. 7-42)

“How does information about condoms change the way you think about risk?” (p. 7-43)

Defenders of this curriculum would be quick to point out the nods given to abstinence, but if abstinence was really Get Real’s goal, why would it spend multiple lessons talking about condoms? And why would it ask leading questions that push kids to accept sex with condoms as less risky, when even the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists puts the condom failure rate at 18 out of 100 - and common sense tells us it would be even higher amongst impulsive middle schoolers?

And not only does the lesson give fake nods to abstinence while pushing condoms, it asks kids to reflect on the “positive outcomes” of sexual behaviors while considering the “cons” of what their parents have taught them about decisions about sex. It’s all so transparent, really. Regardless of their insertion of some obligatory abstinence language, Planned Parenthood has never been in the business of promoting sexual restraint, and they certainly aren’t going to start now.

But again, don't take our word for it. Read the lesson for yourself!

“Could you have a discussion about these behaviors with a parent or other caring adult? Why or why not?” WHY IS A TEACHER ASKING THIS QUESTION?

There is nothing normal about teachers talking to 12 year olds about ‘grinding’, masturbating, or non-procreative sexual intercourse.

Oh, and maybe this is a good time to remind the folks at Planned Parenthood that SEVENTH GRADERS CANNOT LEGALLY CONSENT TO SEX?

Because it feels like maybe they forgot.

Not to mention, do you want your child’s teacher talking to them about “grinding?" Or dental dams? Or defining oral or anal sex to them? How is ANY of this appropriate for the public school classroom?

It’s not.

So, will DESE list Planned Parenthood’s Get Real, the curriculum that contains this lesson, as one of their recommended resources? We’re pretty sure they’re “planning” on it!

This is just ONE of the many reasons we urge everyone to contact DESE and tell them that is Framework is not appropriate and cannot be accepted.

To submit your comment today, click HERE to use MFI's easy submission form.

You can also read THIS POST for other ways to submit your comment. You’ll also find lots of other useful links including our extensive 33 page evaluation of the most concerning content in this draft Framework.

And finally, for folks who prefer a quick look at the issues with DESE's draft Framework, click HERE to download our pdf one-sheet. This little document is perfect for the TLDR people in your life who don't have the time for a deep dive but still want to be in-the-know.

As of today, there are only 35 more days until public comment ends. So far 641 people have commented through MFI's easy online system. If you aren't one of them, send your comment in today!