When it comes to sex education for the protection of our youth, it is CRUCIAL! 69% of children, particularly elementary age, are sexually assaulted by members of their family or someone close to the family. The reality is that understanding basic medical terminology of the body, the discussion of good touch and bad touch and elementary style consent (ex: if you don’t want to hold Johnny’s hand, you can say no. OR If Sally asked for a hug and want to hug her, you can say yes). This nonsense that has invaded the media and social media conversations has clouded the reality of what most parents, like myself, want…protection for our children, in the school and at home! Even the best parents, who think shielding their children from sexual conversations, are heartbroken to discover their child has been abused by someone they trusted, or taken advantage of through social media/online, simply because their child never knew the risks. There’s also some misunderstanding on who would be discussing these topics. These topics are NEVER in a classroom setting with boys and girls, but always in a setting where the girls and boys are divided and taught by a professional, such as the school nurse and/or the health teacher. I hope that those who have adamantly opposed sex education in our schools, particularly elementary school, and are outraged by my title, take the time to read this in its entirety. Please understand we both want the same things, our children, within our diverse community, some of which live in circumstances we could never fathom, to be safe and have the tools to remain as such.