Fabian Arnet
Schools in the U.S. are increasingly becoming political battlegrounds for politicians and parents. Florida now bans teaching children from kindergarten through third grade about sexual orientation and gender identity (Eisele, 2022). However, several studies show that sex and gender education from an early age can have a great influence on the development of children and their later social behaviour.
Florida Senate has passed a bill that would forbid instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity (Wilfredo Lee/AP, 2022).
The “Don’t say Gay” bill
In Florida, it will be illegal to educate children from kindergarten to third grade about sexual orientation and gender identity. This was decided by the Florida State Senate in March 2022. Older students will also be subject to more regulation on how sex education is discussed in the future. The Republican bill aims “to protect children from issues they cannot handle, and they want to strengthen parents’ rights.” The Parental Rights in Education Act now allows parents to sue schools that do not comply with it (Eisele, 2022).
In the U.S., however, the debate over the proposed law is leading to a whole different set of concerns. Many fear that alternative gender identities and non-heterosexual orientations will once again become a taboo subject, leading to increased discrimination and violence against people of such groups. For this very reason, thousands of students and LGBTQ members took to the streets to protest the bill (Eisele, 2022).
Sex education already makes sense in kindergarten
At what age and how to properly educate children is a much-discussed debate. A new study by Montclair State University professors Eva Goldfarb and Lisa Lieberman shows that sex education from an early age can have several positive effects such as to prevent child sex abuse and intimate partner violence, increase appreciation for sexual diversity and improve environments for LGBTQ students (Montclaire State University, 2020).
In their research, they concluded that sex education is best started in kindergarten. “This landmark study establishes once and for all that quality sex education that begins early, is developmentally appropriate and builds sequentially through middle and high school can improve young people’s physical, mental and emotional well-being,” says Goldfarb, a professor of Public Health at Montclair State. “While many people think of sex education only in terms of pregnancy and STD prevention, these findings speak to the broader impact of quality sex education” (Montclaire State University, 2020).
After analysing 30 years of different publications around the world, they concluded that sex education is most effective when it is educational. Children should be taught a basic knowledge at an early age and then go deeper into the subject as they get older. She believes that children as young as kindergarten age are able to discuss topics such as gender diversity, gender nonconformity and gender-based oppression, so it is important to start teaching about them as early as possible (Montclaire State University, 2020).
“Waiting until eighth grade algebra to first introduce the subject of math would be absurd. The same is true for sex education,” says Goldfarb. “Basic foundational concepts such as personal boundaries, different family structures, healthy friendships, treating others with respect, and social-emotional skills need to be introduced early in elementary school. These become the building blocks for more sophisticated discussions in later grades” (Montclaire State University, 2020).
Sex education against bullying
Especially LBTQ students unfortunately still experience victimization and discrimination at school. In fact, these students do have “worse educational outcomes and poorer psychological well-being”. Addressing such issues and trying as a school to reduce homophobic bullying and increase understanding of sexual diversity among students leads to a generally better school climate for all students. This in turn leads to a safer environment that provides a better learning environment for all (Goldfarb & Lieberman, 2021).
Early measures not only protect the children themselves; they also significantly influence their future social behavior. Thus, from an early age, children gain a better understanding of self-protective skills, appropriate/inappropriate touching, parent-child communication, and disclosure of abuse. With older students, more concrete topics such as intimate partner violence, as well as bystander interventions, can then be addressed (Montclaire State University, 2020).
Raising children’s awareness of LGBTQ issues from an early age can help individuals who identify as part of such groups feel safer in society, including lower levels of homophobia and bullying for all students, specifically decreasing homophobic bullying. Also, sex education that addresses LGBTQ issues leads to better mental health outcomes for LGBTQ students, such as less alcohol and drug use, and lower likelihood of suicidal thoughts. “If students are able to avoid early pregnancy, STIs, sexual abuse, and interpersonal violence and harassment, while feeling safe and supported within their school environment, they are more likely to experience academic success. This is particularly important for LGBTQ students who regularly face more hostility in schools and are more likely to drop out,” says Lieberman (Montclaire State University, 2020).
Other studies can confirm the results of Lieberman and Goldfarb. Scientists of the University of Pittsburgh conducted a study testing whether “youth in states with higher proportions of schools teaching LGBTQ-inclusive sex education had lower odds of reporting being bullied in school and experiencing adverse mental health outcomes, including depressive symptoms and suicidality”. In fact, they found a correlation between homophobic school climates and increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes for sexual minorities. They found that the higher the percentage of schools in a state that taught LGBTQ issues, the less likely lesbian and gay youth were to be bullied at school. Bisexual youth also had significantly less trouble with depression than in other places (Proulx, Coulter, Egan, Matthews, & Mair, 2019).
Conclusion
In summary, it is quite obvious that schools where LGBTQ issues are addressed have fewer problems with bullying and psychological impairment of students. LGBTQ-oriented education also gives students a real picture of society and that problems with discrimination against such groups exist. They also have the opportunity to deal with their own sexuality at an early age in a neutral place like school, where they are not influenced by the opinion of their parents.
Personally, I find it very critical when parents have more and more say in what their children are taught at school. Schools should be a neutral place for children to learn about other perspectives and opinions. This is how you educate them to be able to form their own opinions. If children are only taught in school what their parents want, they will never be able to do that properly.
We have also seen that sex education makes sense hen it is thaught from an early age. I am also of the opinion that sex education must be adapted to the age. Nevertheless, a teacher must be allowed to answer children’s questions about sexuality and gender even in kindergarten. This is precisely because children develop an understanding of different types of sexuality and gender at an early age, and this can have a massive influence on their social behaviour in the future.
References
Eisele, I. (2022). Don’t Say Gay”-Gesetz in Florida: Wenn Sexualität in der Schule Tabuthema wird. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/de/dont-say-gay-gesetz-in-florida-wenn-sexualität-in-der-schule-tabuthema-wird/a-61178673
Goldfarb, E. S., & Lieberman, L. D. (2021). Three Decades of Research: The Case for Comprehensive Sex Education. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(1), 13–27. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2020.07.036
Montclaire State University. (2020). Experts: Sex Education Should Begin in Kindergarten. Retrieved from https://www.montclair.edu/newscenter/2020/12/14/experts-sex-education-should-begin-in-kindergarten/
Proulx, C. N., Coulter, R. W. S., Egan, J. E., Matthews, D. D., & Mair, C. (2019). Associations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning–Inclusive Sex Education With Mental Health Outcomes and School-Based Victimization in U.S. High School Students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(5), 608–614. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2018.11.012
Wilfredo Lee/AP. (2022). Florida Senate has passed a bill that would forbid instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. Retrieved from https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d1b7811191665897cf70daf6a10fac97a20e9804/0_153_5515_3309/master/5515.jpg?width=700&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3f8cec56d2cfe01995e2b76477e3f465