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I would not opt out, but I went to a small, Christian school and a lot of people opted out of this kind of stuff if they wanted to have more control over what information and how said information was to be conveyed.

Also, depending on the age, there might be an issue of someone feeling their child is to young for exposure or couldn't emotionally handle / understand it. For example, my cousin's children went through this training and had a lot of issues understanding that their mother having one drink did not mean she was an alcoholic. Some kids see very black and white.

I think it's a great thing to start teaching kids.

My elementary school didn't introduce this until 5th grade, and I could have seen my parents wanting to opt out at 1st grade - I was a VERY sheltered child, and they probably would have preferred I stay that way. I didn't hear my first cuss word until 8th grade!

@Mamaof2: I think it depends on the kid! This school was also small and Christian and just took the route of "don't drink at all," etc. As a result, the kids just couldn't wrap their heads around their Mom drinking. It led to the whole discussion of exceptions and being a certain age (which their program did not address). When I think about it, I definitely can see how the issue emerges. I personally think that in this context she should have been cognizant of the type of school they attended and inquired more about the content of the program.

I do think that if your son understands that alcohol isn't for him right now, that y'all are already doing a great job at teaching him it's for adults!

Education is power! I can't see how this isn't a good thing, provided it is done right.

They should also have one on sex education, but everyone would flip out about GOOD sex education and prevention being taught to their 100% abstinent teens and pre-teens

@BakerBee: DH remembers feeling this way towards his mother's occasional beer. Said it took him awhile to understand that "a few" beers on a holiday/weekend does not mean you're a raging alcoholic.

@cmomma17: I remember hiding or breaking my parents' cigarettes! Having an open conversation with us would have gone a long ways. Sometimes the message you get at home is so different from the one at school, and THAT is where the confusion lies! I am now 28 and my parents have finally quit because my dad's cardiologist said he had to.

@blackbird: Conversation would have been nice! And I think the piece of the message I missed was how powerful addiction can be, and how hard it can be for some people to quit. My dad had a heart attack when I was in college and his cardiologist made the same recommendation, but no dice. My dad is really sick now and I'm waiting for the call to confirm that he has lung cancer. I'm glad your dad quit!

@cmomma17: ugh I hate that. My cardiologist basically said he won't go on the transplant list and I guess he decided to quit. I am frankly amazed with all the smoking and sun bathing that neither he nor my mom have cancer yet. I was hot boxed plenty as a child! I'm sorry you're in that situation