'Protecting kids from further trauma': State lawmaker aims to change sex education classes
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to change the way sex education is taught in school. Amanda Swope says children would benefit from learning about what's legal in a relationship.
Swope tells Fox 25 when she worked in juvenile justice, she saw lots of kids getting in trouble for something they didn't even know was illegal. It's why she's proposing House Bill 2118.
"I don't really think we should be assuming that anybody knows any information that we're not taking the priority of telling them," Swope said.
In HB 2118's case, Swope wants sex education classes to also teach kids about the age of consent.
"A freshman can be as young as 14, and a senior can be as old as 18. That feels problematic, and regardless of my opinion, it's also against the law."
She says those under 16 need to understand what is considered child pornography.
"That can be very difficult for any kid that gets wrapped up in that as an experience. Whether that's a friend taking a picture, or it's them sending it to their boyfriend, girlfriend or intimate partner, and it being distributed from there."
With or without your partner's permission, Swope says children need to know the problems that would come from sharing that content with others.
"They're just not really aware that it's something that really can get them criminal charges, for doing that kind of stuff."
According to Swope, sex education is not just about health, but also having healthy relationships.
"You may not want to provide the information, but that doesn't change the standards of the law that exist. You can still get in trouble for it even if you don't know that you're breaking the law."
Swope tells Fox 25 that at some point, she also wants kids to learn about domestic violence in sex education classes.
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