To the editor:

My last letter pictured a classroom full of parents gaining helpful advice on speaking with their children about sexual development. I offer this as an alternative to a classroom full of 10-year-olds learning about sexual development, while the background holds one student coloring a picture of a kitty cat because the topic is boring — embarrassing. Offering sex education to young children is like putting a child in the driver’s seat, starting the engine, and saying, “Now, don’t hurt yourself!” (Or anyone else.)

Public schools have accused parents of being inappropriate teachers for their children concerning sexual development. Conversely, public schools (and social welfare agencies) want parents involved in their child’s education.

You can’t have it both ways. Public schools insist on including sex education in curriculum of young children at the cost of segregating schools whereby parents are forced to homeschool or choose private alternatives because they disagree this is appropriate.

Allow parents the inroad. Budgeting is a concern to public schools. Instead of funding sex education coursework for young children, perhaps community or faith-based organizations would provide free alternatives offering parents helpful advice on handling this topic with their children. Why couldn’t this be a requirement of having a child in public school?