So what do we have? A possibly hoax story about preschoolers being taught something about HIV/AIDS. The "something" isn't defined, which tends to validate Kelzie's assertion that it was a hoax. Let's pretend it's real.
Kelzie claims that it's good to teach young kids to beware of the risks of raw blood. Fair enough. Of course, I've never met a pre-school kid that not only isn't totally grossed out by blood. I don't know how much I'd have to pay one to touch the stuff.
What most parents try to do with their kids is teach them that they shouldn't panic when they see blood - they're usually seeing their own after a cut or a scrape - and to remain calm and get an adult to help them. Reinforcing a basic fear with horror stories about disease could easily be more damaging than beneficial. I don't know how anyone could do a scientific study on this one.
As for teaching HIV/AIDS? Again, my limited sample set of the six and younger set, and I'll include my girls' classmates in this, is that they've never heard of it. OKay, inner city kids are probably different. I understand that. Most of those people probably have drug addicted cousins with HIV, or know someone who knows someone. There's reasons why I choose not to live in a central urban area, after all.
But lets face it, and again we're bumping up against the limits of a possible rumor established by Navy and don't have solid facts to guide us...what can they teach a four year old about HIV/AIDS that they'll understand and need to know? Okay, blood contact may make you sick. So will spitting. Should pre-schoolers also get a formal lesson in the hazards of coprophilia?
HIV/AIDS, as far as pre-shooler is concerned, is nothing but "getting sick". No need to go into details, no need even to name the diseases. All that would be needed is to tell kids, "if one of you is cut on the playground or in class, go to the teacher. If you see someone cut, don't touch the yucky blood." Not that the second part is necessary anyway, like I said above.
That's all. I'd like to see anyone demanding that pre-shoolers be taught about HIV specifically explain why we shouldn't also teach them about trigonometry, or better yet, safe handling of grenades.
At least I can link to the following story. I suppose we could relate it to the thread by demanding that preschool boys be taught to watch out for Lorena Bobbitt?
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-ouch17.htmlMan severs own penis, throws it at officers
Before cops threw the book at him, Jakub Fik threw something unusual at them -- his penis.
Fik, 33, cut off his own penis during a Northwest Side rampage Wednesday morning. When confronted by police, Fik hurled several knives and his severed organ at the officers, police said. Officers stunned him with a Taser and took him into custody.