BellaOnline Forums Education School Reform Parenting classes

My son has a sex ed class coming up in a month or so and he is in the fifth grade. The school wants the parents to come in and take the class before so we know what exactly is going to be taught and if we have any questions we can ask them then. This is a good idea to have the parents take the class beforehand but my question is why don't they have parenting classes?

All kids should be required to take parenting classes starting with the 8th grade and through to the senior year. What do you think?

I think your school's idea is wonderful! That way parents can be totally involved in what their children are learning.

As far as the parenting class... what are they going to teach?

I'm not being snide here, but there are so many different schools of thought on how to parent children - how do you decide which one is right?

Or are you just talking the basics; like diaper changing, bottle feeding, etc.?

Our school got a new principal this year and she had an SOL night. Basically all the parents were invited to the school and we went from class to class learning what the kids would be learning this year. We were given an updated syllabus.
This was different from back to school night because it was in more detail...anyway...we were also given the lesson plans for the "specialty classes" so we would know exactly what they were learning.
I also check in with ALL of my kids teachers at various points during the year via email to find out what they are currently learning and how my child is doing (besides checking the teachers gradebooks every Friday through edulink. At first they always seem surprised that a parent cares. But once they get used to my emails, they welcome the constant communication.

But as far as parenting classes for the kids, that's a tough one. I'm not sure how that would work, but would love to hear ideas.

We have a parenting class. Its part of Home and Careers. We have to take home a doll that crys alll the time and has some type of substance come out of it like every hour. And it has a computer that the teacher can see if you killed it, hurt it, damaged the brain, shook it, dropped it, didnt tend tp it, or was a great parent. We also have a sex ed class(aka Health) home and careers parenting class is taken in eigth grade and health is taken in 7th and 9th. And you take the baby doll over the weekend. We have like six. if you dont want to do that you have to write a research paper or something.

Darci