ECISD “Puberty Lessons” Classes

Opinion by Max Roemer

 

In October’s East Chambers ISD Board of Trustees meeting, elementary school principal Britnie Bordelon notified the board of her intent to teach “Puberty Lessons” to fifth graders. We asked the District for how many years, if any, that the program has been taught to ECISD fifth graders, but at the time of printing they had not responded.

 

Principal Bordelon said the following about the “Puberty Lessons” in an email with the Seabreeze Beacon, “Meet the New You!” is a program produced by MARSHmedia and is based on national research and consultation with school nurses, health educators, parents and medical professionals. MARSHmedia has been a trusted resource for over 50 years with school educational materials taught to millions of students worldwide.”

 

This program is solely for fifth graders and is an optional course that requires parental consent. We were notified by the District that the topics of the Meet the New You! Include:

  • When to expect the onset of puberty.
  • Physical and emotional changes.
  • Menstruation
  • Importance of good hygiene, exercise, nutrition and sleep
  • Self-esteem.

 

The Seabreeze Beacon has been unsuccessful in discovering more of what this course entails due to nonresponses to our emails and questions by the District. The District has yet to define the course’s primary purpose and explain in detail what will be taught in this course.

 

This reporter is not against sexual education in anyway whatsoever, I simply believe parents have the right to know what is being taught to children and, on a personal note, I would be more comfortable with this being taught to older children.

 

We will update this story as more information comes in from ECISD. We would like to thank the District for providing some information, and we urge the District to release all class materials of this course.

 

If you have an opinion, please email maxseabreeze@gmail.com.

 

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