"Sex Ed" for Kindergarten

When Barack Obama is talking about sex education for kindergarten aged children, what is he talking about? Recent quotes make it appear as though he's talking about teaching children how to avoid pedophiles and what is inappropriate behavior from adults. This doesn't really strike me as "sex ed" so much as teaching the children how to avoid societal dangers. Teaching children that they should report "inappropriate touching" and what types of touching is inappropriate doesn't strike me as more problematic than teaching them to look before crossing the street or wear a helmet while biking.

Sex Ed for Kindergartners? Romney-Obama Debate Heats Up
Romney Asks, 'How Much Sex Education Is Age Appropriate for a 5-Year-Old?
ABC News

When Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama reaffirmed to Planned Parenthood this week that he believes elements of sex education should begin in kindergarten, Republican Mitt Romney saw an opening -- and he pounced.

"I was governor four years,' said Romney. "I never had one person coming to me and say, 'You know what, governor, I'm concerned about something.' What's that? 'I'm concerned about sex education. I'm concerned my kids aren't learning enough about sex.' I never heard that."

Romney may have never heard that because Massachusetts -- the state where he served as governor from 2003 to 2007 -- has a decidedly progressive sex education curriculum. Under the state's non-binding framework, school districts can begin working towards the state's sex education goals as early as pre-kindergarten.

By the end of the fifth grade, it not only encourages schools to teach children the basics about puberty and the reproductive system, it also encourages them to know how to define "sexual orientation using the correct terminology (such as heterosexual, and gay and lesbian)." Before the end of fifth grade, the Massachusetts framework also aims to teach children about inappropriate touching.