NY State Senator Samra G. Brouk has proposed a bill to provide “comprehensive sexuality education” to children.
- State Senator Brouk introduced a bill regarding sexual education in schools.
- The new curriculum will be “age-appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive of all students.”
- It will affect New York children from kindergarten up to 12th grade.
State Senator Samra G Brouk, a Democrat, introduced a bill that requires “comprehensive sexuality education in schools.” As UNILAD reports, if accepted, the legislation will affect children from kindergarten right up through to twelfth grade.
According to the State Senator, the proposal will cover issues, including “healthy relationships, body image, and self-esteem.”
Currently, schools in the state can choose the extend of sexual education their students receive. However, the new bill will present a universal curriculum for every school in New York. Senator Brouk explains:
“In kindergarten, that looks like basic lessons about friendship and communication, providing students with the building blocks they need to tackle issues like consent and sexual health years later in middle and high school. At older ages those lessons include health matters like preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).”
The State Senator claims the program will be “age-appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive of all students.”
Additionally, Brouk clarifies that the new form of sexual education at school will address “physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of human sexuality.”
Furthermore, the senator explains that the lessons will be “trauma-responsive and culturally appropriate.” They will aim to prepare children to form relationships based on mutual respect and affection when they grow up.
As stated in a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, comprehensive sex-ed helps students feel more informed and motivates them to make safer choices. Hence, proper sexuality education results in fewer unplanned pregnancies and better protection against sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
Besides, the Division of Adolescent and School Health of CDC insists that sexual health education can even improve a student’s academic performance. Answering the question: “What are the benefits of delivering sexual health education to students?” they explain:
Promoting and implementing well-designed SHE programs positively impacts student health in a variety of ways. Students who participate in these programs are more likely to:
- Delay initiation of sexual intercourse
- Have fewer sex partners
- Have fewer experiences of unprotected sex
- Increase their use of protection, specifically condoms
- Improve their academic performance.