What's age appropriate sex ed for kindergartners?

The Obama camp seems to think they've gotten away with pointing the finger back at the McCain camp over accusing Obama of supporting a bill that would mandate teaching kids about sex before they learn to read. 

Not so fast.

National Review's Byron York has a great piece today on SB 99, the bill Barack keeps trying to say was only to protect kids from inappropriate touching and encouraging age-appropriate sex education.

This sex ed thing is a peculiarly touchy one in liberal circles (pardon the pun).  They're incredibly sensitive to this issue (pardon the pun again.) Just what is "age appropriate" sex ed?  Who determines what that is?

In Illinois circles, those groups promoting comprehensive sex ed often referred to the standards set up by SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States). SIECUS standards for comprehensive sex ed are available online here in the 2004 form.  The legislation and standards set the year before on SB 99 were the same as these.

This is what Barack Obama voted to promote among Illinois kindergartners (age 5) through 2nd grade (age 8)  with his support of SB 99:

Developmental Messages: Level 1 (ages 5-8)

• Each body part has a correct name and a specific function.
• A person’s genitals, reproductive organs, and genes determine whether the person is male or female.
• A boy/man has nipples, a penis, a scrotum, and testicles.
• A girl/woman has breasts, nipples, a vulva, a clitoris, a vagina, a uterus, and ovaries.
• Some sexual or reproductive organs, such as penises and vulvas, are external or on the outside of
the body while others, such as ovaries and testicles, are internal or inside the body.
• Both boys and girls have body parts that feel good when touched.

• Vaginal intercourse – when a penis is placed inside a vagina – is the most common way for a sperm and egg to join.
(Page 26)

Developmental Messages, Level 1 (ages 5-8)

• Most children are curious about their bodies.
• Bodies can feel good when touched.

(Page 51. Interesting language, "Most children are...."  Wouldn't be any peer pressure there, now would there?)

Topic 2:Masturbation
Subconcept: Masturbation is one way human beings express their sexuality.
Developmental Messages:
Level 1
• Touching and rubbing one’s own genitals to feel good is called masturbation.
• Some boys and girls masturbate and others do not.
• Masturbation should be done in a private place.
(Pages 51-52)

Topic 3:Shared Sexual Behavior
Subconcept: Individuals express their sexuality with a partner in diverse ways.
Developmental Messages:
Level 1
• People often kiss, hug, touch, and engage in other sexual behaviors with one another to show caring and to feel good.

(Page 52)

Topic 5:Human Sexual Response
Subconcept: Female and male bodies respond both similarly and differently to sexual stimulation.
Developmental Messages:
Level 1
• Both girls and boys may discover that their bodies feel good when touched.

(Page 54)

*********

Thanks to Wisconsin's Arlen Williams for helping us locate this info. . . more to come.