Sex Education

[The Bellman]

I have encountered many different views on sex education in schools. Many are for it, while many others believe it is the parents' job, and act to prevent their child from receiving such instruction in schools (refusing permission, etc.).

What are people's thoughts on sex education in schools? Is it the schools' job? If it is, should it be something all children have, or should parents be able to elect not to have their children partake? Should moral views form part of sex education classes (for example, teaching children abstinence until marriage, or similar)?

 

[funyun]

I have encountered many different views on sex education in schools. Many are for it, while many others believe it is the parents' job, and act to prevent their child from receiving such instruction in schools (refusing permission, etc.).

What are people's thoughts on sex education in schools? Is it the schools' job? If it is, should it be something all children have, or should parents be able to elect not to have their children partake? Should moral views form part of sex education classes (for example, teaching children abstinence until marriage, or similar)?

I don't have a strong opinion either way. I think the parents should be able to elect their child not to partake, if it is being taught. I never have taken a sex ed class, but I have taken courses on STDs in both health class and biology class.

I don't think morals should be introduced into the course, only the facts. But then ago, I'm an amoral heathen, what do I know.

 

[MikeK]

The science and mechanics of sex should be taught both in schools and by parents.

 

[Cerridwen]

Hey~

I think that sex education should be taught in schools as a regular part of the curriculum, & age appropriate, of course. I don't think that sex education should be a "magic year" class, either, I think it should be taught along with basic health & hygiene from an early age. For example, girls & boys learning about puberty (probably separately, to help the kids feel more comfortable asking questions) from the appropriate age, then as they get older, teach them about pregnancy prevention, STDs, & the like. Purely on a scientific level, but easy for young people to understand. I don't think that sex ed should be a "big deal" class, either, or have a lot of fuss made about it. I think children should learn about sexual processes the same way that they learn about digestive or respiratory processes, in a limited overview type sense, but still enough to know what's basically going on, in a matter of fact way, & as simply another bodily function.

I think that schools should encourage abstinence, at least until adulthood, if for nothing else but safety & responsibility, but as far as teaching sexual morals from a religious standpoint, that should be left to the parents.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[The Bellman]

Hey~

I think that sex education should be taught in schools as a regular part of the curriculum, & age appropriate, of course. I don't think that sex education should be a "magic year" class, either, I think it should be taught along with basic health & hygiene from an early age. For example, girls & boys learning about puberty (probably separately, to help the kids feel more comfortable asking questions) from the appropriate age, then as they get older, teach them about pregnancy prevention, STDs, & the like. Purely on a scientific level, but easy for young people to understand. I don't think that sex ed should be a "big deal" class, either, or have a lot of fuss made about it. I think children should learn about sexual processes the same way that they learn about digestive or respiratory processes, in a limited overview type sense, but still enough to know what's basically going on, in a matter of fact way, & as simply another bodily function.

I think that schools should encourage abstinence, at least until adulthood, if for nothing else but safety & responsibility, but as far as teaching sexual morals from a religious standpoint, that should be left to the parents.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

You annoy me, Cerridwen.

Everything you post...I can NEVER find anything to argue with you about it!

 

[Cerridwen]

Hey~

You annoy me, Cerridwen....

Um...thanks...I think?

Well, you know what they say...."great minds think alike"

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[Alessandra]

I think that both parents and schools should teach it, but the school should leave the morality issues out of it because it is not up to the school to influence in that area.

 

[challenger]

Personally, I can't see any rational reason to object to teaching people how to protect themselves from pregancy or SSIs, the only objections I've ever heard have been daft piles of faith based nonsense. Just look at Lubbock if you want to see where abstinence programs get you.

 

[transientlife]

What are people's thoughts on sex education in schools? Is it the schools' job? If it is, should it be something all children have, or should parents be able to elect not to have their children partake? Should moral views form part of sex education classes (for example, teaching children abstinence until marriage, or similar)?

I think it's a fine idea, because you have many parents out there who aren't parenting to begin with - let alone taking responsibility to teach kids what they need to know outside of school (manners, respectfulness, etc).

Parents should be able to request their kids not partake, but I sure hope those are the parents who are taking it into their own hands to teach their kids. As far as the morality behind sex, that should be the parents job. But, IMO, schools should do both abstinence and protection anyway. If you teach just abstinence, you're sticking your head in the sand of reality, and it's truly doing those kids a disservice and playing roulette with their lives and health. In reality not all kids are going to wait, so you have to take that into consideration. Just teaching abstinence doesn't mean the kid will be abstinent. In the same sense, just teaching sex ed (without abstinence) doesn't mean the kids gonna go out and have sex, either.

 

[no-islam-in-startrek]

My experience of sex education in school was that it was a bit of a joke - but an important joke.

I think it is needed in schools because the people who are at the greatest risk of pregnancy and STDs, wont recieve that kind of education at home.

Sex education should be about letting people know the risks, and the best way to avoid them - giving helpful advice and letting people know the dangers so they can take controle of their own bodies and lives.

 

[Cerridwen]

Hey~

Parents should be able to request their kids not partake,...

This is the only part where I disagree with you. Parents shouldn't be able to request that children not learn about their own bodies. That's the same as a parent requesting her child to not learn how we breathe, or how our food is digested, or why it's important to wash our hands & brush our teeth. Sex is a normal, healthy bodily process, & should be treated as such. That is why there is so much stigma associated with sex & protection today, because so many people act like it should be so taboo. That's why so many women (& men) grow up to become sexually disfunctional adults, because they are taught that sex is dirty, shameful, secret, & should never be talked about. Like being a little kid & your mother got pregnant...then you knew, even though you already knew, that your parents had actual *gasp* sex!

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

 

[The Bellman]

Hey~



This is the only part where I disagree with you. Parents shouldn't be able to request that children not learn about their own bodies. That's the same as a parent requesting her child to not learn how we breathe, or how our food is digested, or why it's important to wash our hands & brush our teeth. Sex is a normal, healthy bodily process, & should be treated as such. That is why there is so much stigma associated with sex & protection today, because so many people act like it should be so taboo. That's why so many women (& men) grow up to become sexually disfunctional adults, because they are taught that sex is dirty, shameful, secret, & should never be talked about. Like being a little kid & your mother got pregnant...then you knew, even though you already knew, that your parents had actual *gasp* sex!

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

You're doing it again!

 

[Thithy]

I definately believe that schools should be teaching sex ed. And I do feel that parents should be able to request that their kids not be taught in the schools. Sometimes parents want to teach their own children because they may have different beliefs about sex than the school (ie. the school teaches safe sex and parents believe in abstinence). If schools do teach abstinence they need to let the kids know about the consequences behind having sex (ie. STD's, pregnancy, and emotional issues). If it is a public school then it seems that religious issues should be left out, but not morals. Christian/private schools have a right to teach religious reasons for not having sex (or having sex, if a religion teaches that, before marriage that is). I also feel that even if the school does teach sex ed, that the parents should also be there to answer any questions that their children may have, at anytime. Whether it be during the class or months down the road, or even before the class begins.

 

[zoe_uu]

I don't really remember my sex education class in grade school, but I know I had one. I suppose it bored me since my mum had already been very honest with me about sex education, birth control and sexuality. I think it is important and should continue in schools because a lot of parents aren't as frank as my mum was and that leaves a lot of confused kids.

 

[Nietzsche]

Sex education should be MANDITORY its because of a lack of knowledge of sex that aids spreads so rapidly in africa. In africa they belive having sex with a 8 year old virgin will cure you or that Having sex to with a goat will cure you. its clear that a lack of knowledge on sex is what leads to these ideas. That is why a wide spread education on sex is being conducted there to let them know about how to prevent aids and how to prevent child birth. any one who doesnt want sex education is only leading man-kind closer to destruction

 

[The Bellman]

To those who think that parents should be able to elect that their children not have sex education in school...WHY? Most people so far agree that sex education in school should teach the facts, not moral beliefs about them. For example, they should teach they physical "how" of sex, STD and pregnancy avoidance, and so forth - but not that it is good or bad to have sex before marriage, or anything like that.

So why on earth would parents NOT want their children to know the facts? Obviously, those parents can teach their children any moral views they like about sex...but for what possible reason would parents like to keep their children ignorant about the facts of sex?

 

[transientlife]

Who knows why parents would want to prevent the school from teaching their kid about sex...but you know there would be some out there. There always are.

 

[Lifesaver]

What are people's thoughts on sex education in schools? Is it the schools' job? If it is, should it be something all children have, or should parents be able to elect not to have their children partake? Should moral views form part of sex education classes (for example, teaching children abstinence until marriage, or similar)?

I believe that the parents should teach their kids about it. But since not all would, the schools must cover it as well.
Teach how the human reproductive works, and of course, exhort youngsters to be chaste until marriage.

Very unlike how my "Catholic" school did: teaching us all about the importance of condoms, how casual sex is okay, and even the justice of abortion.

 

[artofwar]

how young are we talking here? i would rather tell my kids than the school

 

[aeroz19]

Hey~

I think that sex education should be taught in schools as a regular part of the curriculum, & age appropriate, of course. I don't think that sex education should be a "magic year" class, either, I think it should be taught along with basic health & hygiene from an early age. For example, girls & boys learning about puberty (probably separately, to help the kids feel more comfortable asking questions) from the appropriate age, then as they get older, teach them about pregnancy prevention, STDs, & the like. Purely on a scientific level, but easy for young people to understand. I don't think that sex ed should be a "big deal" class, either, or have a lot of fuss made about it. I think children should learn about sexual processes the same way that they learn about digestive or respiratory processes, in a limited overview type sense, but still enough to know what's basically going on, in a matter of fact way, & as simply another bodily function.

I think that schools should encourage abstinence, at least until adulthood, if for nothing else but safety & responsibility, but as far as teaching sexual morals from a religious standpoint, that should be left to the parents.

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*

.............I agree 100%!!

The issue I feel is most important here is that schools encourage abstinance; someone needs to counter the strong current of sexual peer pressure, not only in the home, but at school too!