Sex ed. not for kids in Fort Bend Library

Hi- I came across this page while doing research for a children's sex education book for my human sexuality class. It is ridiculious that the library has done such a thing, at least its not banned completely from the library, right? Are people dumb enough to think they can hide their children from the reality of it all? Why do people think that they can deny what's happening around them? Parents who misinform their children are in turn disreguarded by their kids as not trust worthy. Why value your parents what your parents say when one finds outits not the truth…..Anyway I thought it very important to include most things masturbation, family ,types of love and sex, hetero, homo, and bi sexuality, baby making, etc…. My book is for 5-8 year olds what was the target age group for these books? Also since when was frontal nudity and condom usage horrible….a lot of the books I researched showed either cartoon or realistic dipictions of the parents nude……and Abortion, its an option….The kids of these people are the ones having 10s of kids barefoot uneducated and pregnant….

Sounds like the librarian made a good choice to move books containing images and ideas beyond the grasp of a child to the adult section. While the same images and ideas might be beyond the grasp of the adults as well, society has no right to “protect” the adults.

Books containing frontal nudity, discussions of condoms and abortion has as much place in the children's section of a library as books discussion serial killing, metaphysics and the atomic bomb. Just as vaccines over expose our children, ourselves and our animals to diseases under the guise of “protection” — so too does “sex education” over expose those who are not at risk to concepts and ideas which might never enter their heads.

Our society must understand that sometimes it is a good idea not to go down the path…and its not about denying the truth - its facing the reality that as humans we are not always capable to filtering and dicerning the good from the bad —- sometimes the lines need to be pulled back.

I have three children under ten years of age. I personally do not want my children exposed to items related to sex until I feel they are mature enough to understand; until that point I will make the decision as to what type of material they should see. Making it freely available makes it more difficult but it is my duty to watch my children and be responsible for their actions until they have learned to be responsible for themselves. When I see that individuals such as this librarian make choices for all of us regarding censorship it makes me wonder what they have censored for us that we are unaware of. My worry is not the topic such as sex (hetero- or homosexuality), drugs, violence, etc. but the fact that individuals are making censorship choices for the all of us. They may feel as though they are doing the responsible thing but it should go through a formal process and be agreed upon but those it is affecting before a change is made. We need to be careful of censorship and the people censoring even if they think it is a good idea. I am sure that Joseph Stalin felt that his brand of thought was good also but it generally did not work for the people. Ultimately it is my responsbility to watch and control what my children are doing, and I would rather not leave it in the hands of a librarian or anyone else for that matter.

Many people want their children protected from Sex Education and books about sex under the guise of “preserving innocence”. I read the article of a homeschooling mother who bragged that her fourteen year-old daughter was completely innocent with regards to that. Innocence is all very well and good, but there comes a point when preserving innocence is really preserving ignorance. It's the children who aren't educated and aware that get into trouble. Kids who end up pregnant with no idea how they got that way, who are targets for molesters because they are so very innocent, and think they're ill or bleeding to death because they get their first period. (Watch the beginning of “Carrie”, people!)Watch Mermaids where Winona Ryder thinks she's pregnant because she kissed a boy. If they don't learn this information from school or hopefully also from you, they'll fall for all the myths and half-truths that other kids perpetuate. Girls can start their periods as early as nine years old-don't you think they deserve to have information about their own bodies? If you feel uncomfortable talking about it with them, then for heaven's sake buy them a book. Arm your kids with the information they need to be safe in today's world.

As a resident of Ft. Bend, it saddens me that the librarian moved the books without following the review process (under political pressure). I've seen “It's Perfectly Normal” & am curious how many that have written in can say the same.
Most parents (80% by one study) want to be the ones to teach their children about sex. Less than 10% of kids learn about sex (same study) from their parents. I'd ask readers to think honestly on their own experiences. Either way, the strongest points support the books. The point about the library censoring - regardless of your opinion as a parent of what they should read - is great. The fact is that ignorance about sex & sexuality is far more damaging than information about it - even if you disagree with opinions or that information being known by your children. When they ask about what the book says, THAT might be a moment to teach your kids about your value system, rather than ignore that their are values other than yours.
For those who still object: Are your kids checking things out of the library without your notice? Do you not pay attention to the books they read? If the answer to both questions is “yes” then you are the bad parent & thank God your kids are interested in learning & probably smarter than you.