Sex Ed in Schools

Published on August 22, 2005 By msladydeath In Politics

What is the difference between teaching nutrition and sex ed in schools? Sex has to do with the body's health also, abstinence is always best because there is no risk of pregnancy or STD's, but kids that don't learn that STD's can be transmitted by non sexual activities, or how to prevent STD's and pregnancy if they choose sex are more likely to be fooled by "more mature" persons that just want sex and don't care about the youth in question. Like jumping up and down will keep you from getting pregnant, or don't worry, I don't have AIDS, do I look sick?

Now I don't think that Abortion/Adoption should be taught of even touched on in a school setting, but these children's LIVES depend on them knowing something about sex, and even responsible parents will get flustered or embarrassed to talk to their own kids about sex. There is also a HIGH possibility that our youth will learn about sex from their friends (whom of course are smarter than their parents *cough*), Harlequin Romance, TV, and the "more mature" youth that only want to take advantage of them.

It should be an opt out class at the parents discretion, but it NEEDS to be offered! I don't care if it's after school, I don't care if it's taught by qualified volunteers, and it has NOTHING to do with religious beliefs! We teach children that exercise is healthy, good nutrition is necessary, to respect others and themselves. Heck, some schools teach teens how to rent an apartment, deal with landlords, how to create a resume and interview, and home repair (none of those are required classes though).

Link
The Caliber of Sex-Ed Instruction in Public Schools

The Delivery of the Message

The public controversy centered around sex education in public schools has shifted. Where the question was once whether or not sexual education should be taught in public schools, the fray now questions the methodology of what is being taught. The division exist between advocates of an "abstinence only" approach (supported by the "No Child Left Behind Act") versus the more traditional sexuality programs that include the correct usage and protective qualities of contraceptives. Many parents however, find themselves more concerned about the environment their children find themselves exposed to when sex-education classes are being taught.

In many schools across the country, these classes are gender exclusive, however teachers can quickly find themselves out of control when facing a room full of adolescent students. With classes full of immature children titillated by the subject matter, giggles, whoops and hollers echo into the halls as middle school children are exposed to the deadly serious aspect of approaching their sexual development responsibly. Their teachers constantly struggling to keep the children focused on the gravity of what is being discussed. Consequently, because of the loose and casual atmosphere of sex ed classrooms, thousands of parents question the validity and the effectiveness of sex-education being delivered in public education. If the message can't be delivered responsibly then should it be delivered at all?

The sexual education of adolescent children is presented to parents as a necessary and legitimate course of study. Shouldn't the demeanor of the class and the accountability regarding the subject material be just as serious and in depth as any other class centered around health and science? Why is such a serious subject encapsulated within a few days? Many parents feel that sex education programs in public schools today amount to no more than a 3 day sex talk complete with giggles, immature commentary, and very little real instruction taking place rather than being approached in a true academic manner.

Taught properly, sexual education and development could easily become part of any other scientific course of study like Human Biology, Human Behavior, Human Anatomy or Health. More importantly, perhaps if administrators present a more dignified and academic approach to the delivery of sexual education, complete with test and grades, it may just impress upon our children that they should view sex a serious part of their human development rather than a recreational activity.

Comments (Page 2)

itgirl

on Aug 23, 2005

Personally, I think sex education should be something that is taught in schools from the age of 5.

Now don’t all jump at once. It would be better to dispel myths about where babies come from than persist in foolish notions about storks and gooseberry patches. Being open and honest about sex makes it less taboo, reduces the titter factor, and equips young people for adulthood. Starkly biological sex education, taught by an embarrassed biology teacher, won’t engage young people; they will ignore it, and be more susceptible to infection and underage pregnancy.

Being taught about feelings and relationships might be of more value than “what fits where”.

If you look at Holland, having comprehensive sex education there means that people have sex later and are less likely to get pregnant or catch a sexually transmitted disease when they do have sex.

Good article!

msladydeath

on Aug 23, 2005

Thank you, and you most definitely get an insightful from me.

I can't disagree with you at all, and you bring up great points about it too. For me personally, I would would need a little more information/statistics before I said I support the idea or not.... Off to research!

Champas Socialist

on Aug 25, 2005

mslady death I hoped you might come up with a better argument than "because I don't think it should". One of the biggest problems we are facing is that adoption is shrouded in secrecy and treated as taboo, a dirty secret, thus leading to mass feeelings of guilt for anyone who chooses to give their children to a "better" family. Why should people be madfe to feel that they should be ashamed of adoption? Shhhh shh honey, we don't talk about those things in public. It's not dignified.

ParaTed2k

on Aug 25, 2005

I, for one, respect any woman who gives her baby up for adoption much more than one who keeps the baby but refuses to take the responsibility of parenthood seriously. Parents are supposed to do what is best for their kids, if that means allowing the baby to be raised by people who want to be parents, that is a great decision that should be supported, not criticized.

On the subject of the age appropriate for sex education. I know my wife and I started teaching our kids about sex about the time they were old enough to point at each other in the bathtub and say, "Hey,what's that?"... or "Hey, what happened to yours?"

When I was running ambulance, there were situations where asking a patient if she was sexually active is indicated. The age when the question is appropriate keeps getting younger. Now it is to the point where I would ask when she had her last period, if she has started menstruating, (sadly) asking about sexual activity is no longer out of the question. With patients as young as 11, all too often the question is answered with "Does it count if we just used our mouths?"

Demosthenes Locke

on Aug 25, 2005

It should be STRESSED (and I should have said it before) by the instructors, that the student NEEDS to discuss the matters learned in class with their parents.

If parents find it difficult to bring up, though, wouldn't it likely be even more difficult for the child to do so?

I agree with Para in terms of age appropriateness, and remember similar situations when I was in the tub with my sister as a young child. As soon as the child is able to recognize things external to themselves that are different, it's good to give them straightforward answers. It becomes difficult to reconcile the fantasy with the reality, the longer that that fantsay goes on. This may lead to a child understating the gravity of certain issues.

My parents did so for me, and it made me significantly more mature than classmates, and I think helped me to make better decisions for myself.

msladydeath

on Aug 25, 2005

Ok, so far, while trying to type this (which I subsequently deleted since this makes my point better *L*), I had 2 people ask this question. Why not teach it. Here is what I said to them:

"I think that it's a personal discussion that should be had between the pregnant child and her parents/partner.

I think that advocating adoption in school would undermine the entire prevention part of the class and educating young males that if they pressure their partner into adoption, then they will not have to deal with the consequences of the pregnancy and unsafe sex would be horrible and emotionally devastating"

msladydeath

on Aug 25, 2005

Demosthenes Locke

I would have to agree with you.

Demosthenes Locke

on Aug 25, 2005

My parents did so for me, and it made me significantly more mature than classmates, and I think helped me to make better decisions for myself.

Yikes, shoulda read that sentence before posting, I must be feeling rather narcissistic today.

I think that advocating adoption in school would undermine the entire prevention part of the class and educating young males that if they pressure their partner into adoption, then they will not have to deal with the consequences of the pregnancy and unsafe sex would be horrible and emotionally devastating

I can agree here, since how do your post-pregnancy alleviation options(abotion, adoption), help to limit risky behavior. These are things that should be brought to the table after the fact, but preventing the trouble by educating young people of the risks they take should be the goal here. Isn't the purpose of health and sex ed classes to make people aware of the potential problems that could arise from their choices, be they dietary, sexual or otherwise?

In teaching children about healthy eating, we don't bring up things like liposuction.

msladydeath

on Aug 25, 2005

In teaching children about healthy eating, we don't bring up things like liposuction.

Or Jenny Craig for that matter. Hey, can we teach Channel Surfing in PE?

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