Puberty class agreement.....

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

this friday, the pe coach and i are scheduled to discuss puberty with the 5th graders. this year's class of 5th graders is notorious for discussing inappropriate things at inappropriate times...last year, i wrote out an "agreement" that each child had to sign before the "talk" began. basically, the agreement says that they will not discuss what we talk about with any other student outside of the class because 1. i don't want them teaching 2nd graders about stuff like that and 2. i have several parents who don't want their child included in the discussion and i don't want the students running and "educating" these kids....also, it says that if they deliberately embarrass anyone in the class, they will be removed from the classroom and will face consequences. and then the last part says that they are not to make any student who did not participate in the discussion to feel any different, because it was their parent's choice for them not to participate.

i like the idea of the agreement because i don't want them discussing things outside of class that they shouldn't be discussing, but i worry that it makes them think that the subject is "bad" because they can't talk about it. i'm wavering back and forth on whether or not to use it this year....thoughts???

[sharpeimom]

i'm not a school nurse, but my husband has been a volunteer mentor for two boys since they were six and seven. they're now eleven and twelve, and go to different schools. their cousin, who is in seventh grade with the older boy was excluded from that discussion, by parental request. the boys mom told them that there are a few subjects that are best talked about within the family and that everyone has to respect that choice.

the twelve year old just said "ok", but his brother asked why. my husband told him parents get to call the shots sometimes, and that was the end of it. would that approach work?

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

Honestly, I'm more concerned about them telling the younger ones than I am them telling other 5th graders. I'm of the thought process that I would be fine with my daughter learning it in a school setting, with her peers, as long as she was comfortable and we could build on what she learned at home, as a family. I'm just kinda torn as to what to do about the agreement part of the discussion....

[Jolie, BSN]

We always schedule our "talks" for the end of the day on Friday. The kids leave the building directly after the presentation, and by the time Monday comes around, the interest level had died considerably.

I also add that if they have questions, they are to go to an adult at home or school. I tell them that their peers won't have the correct information, and for the most part, they believe and understand that. I'm surprised by the number of kids who come back later with questions.

[caregiver1977]

An agreement is nice, but you really can't stop them from telling other kids; the ones who didn't participate or the younger ones. It is nice to state it, but you can't always be sure you can enforce that. I did like the one about embarrassing someone in class. That is something you can do something about.

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

We are doing it on a Friday afternoon, the only thing they will have after the discussion is recess, which probably isn't the greatest idea, but it's the only way we could work it with the scheduling. I know I can't stop them from telling other kids, but I'm thinking that if they know up front that they don't need to, then that may cut down on it happening. And I may just be wishful thinking! haha!

[Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN]

LACA - what exactly are you afraid they will tell the younger ones? I don't do the 5th grade maturation talk (we consider it an education matter, not a nursing matter, but I am available if needed) and they just talk about parts and hygiene. No discussion of what the parts do, so to speak.

They also have the girls write down their questions - they are not allowed to shout out. And if there is a question the teachers don't feel comfortable with, they refer them to the parents. I would think putting too much of a damper on behaviors after class are going to have the opposite effect, although I do know the type of class you are talking about. In the classes I have sat in on, the girls are as glad to get it over with as the teachers. :)