The talk
I agree that it should up to the parents, but I also think sexual health is an important part of an overall health curriculum.
I'm a product of an abstinence-only education, and let me tell you, it wasn't just limited to "no sex is the safest sex of all." After showing us slides of genital warts, my gym teacher held up a heart made of construction paper. She ripped three or four pieces from it, then pointed to the torn-up stump and said, "Every time you have sex with someone, you give him a piece of your heart. When you get married, this is all you have left for your husband."
My parents never had the talk with me (I don't know why), but if they had, I might have been less influenced by such "lessons." While I think it's important to teach teenagers to protect their hearts and choose their partners wisely, there are much better ways of communicating this. And, as you can imagine, there was no instructional time devoted to birth control, condoms, responsible sex, etc.
I'm a product of an abstinence-only education, and let me tell you, it wasn't just limited to "no sex is the safest sex of all." After showing us slides of genital warts, my gym teacher held up a heart made of construction paper. She ripped three or four pieces from it, then pointed to the torn-up stump and said, "Every time you have sex with someone, you give him a piece of your heart. When you get married, this is all you have left for your husband."
My parents never had the talk with me (I don't know why), but if they had, I might have been less influenced by such "lessons." While I think it's important to teach teenagers to protect their hearts and choose their partners wisely, there are much better ways of communicating this. And, as you can imagine, there was no instructional time devoted to birth control, condoms, responsible sex, etc.
05/30/2011
Quote:
I completely agree. I think it should be the sole responsibility of parents, but there should be sexual education systems in place in case parents don't feel like they are able to do it.
Originally posted by
Airen Wolf
It is the responsibility of the parents but if they shirk that duty then teachers, clergy or doctors should take up the slack.
05/30/2011
It is a parent's responsibility. Not only that, but I would prefer teaching my child my value system relating to sex, and how they should value themselves, etc. Of course, if the parents don't do it, someone has to - so the school has to pick up the slack. But it's sad, because talking about that openly would only help the parent/child relationship. It's a missed opportunity, I think.
05/31/2011
It should almost always fall on the parents shoulders, however that's something that often doesn't happen and when it does, many parents aren't very educated themselves and therefore can't address the questions in an honest, authoritative and informative way. I think it should be offered in schools with the option for parents to opt their children out of the class. However at the end of the term or course, the children will get tested just like the others. That way the parents will be expected to find a way to educate their children and take responsibility for their actions, or lack thereof.
06/01/2011
Quote:
This would be a good idea.
Originally posted by
KaraSutra
It should almost always fall on the parents shoulders, however that's something that often doesn't happen and when it does, many parents aren't very educated themselves and therefore can't address the questions in an honest, authoritative and
...
It should almost always fall on the parents shoulders, however that's something that often doesn't happen and when it does, many parents aren't very educated themselves and therefore can't address the questions in an honest, authoritative and informative way. I think it should be offered in schools with the option for parents to opt their children out of the class. However at the end of the term or course, the children will get tested just like the others. That way the parents will be expected to find a way to educate their children and take responsibility for their actions, or lack thereof.
06/01/2011
I agree with the idea that schools should make sure students have access to facts. I think that school sex educators should assume that they will be the only reliable source for information that a kid may run into in high school, because it is often true. Peers don't know anything and many can't approach their parents, or their parents stick to a morality-only message and/or don't know how to answer questions about, say, why one would need to use a condom for non-PIV sex.
Abstinence-only education does it all wrong: it doesn't provide facts (or provides misleading or incorrect facts), and instead teaches a very specific morality that many disagree with - including many parents. I might even say, most parents.
Abstinence-only education does it all wrong: it doesn't provide facts (or provides misleading or incorrect facts), and instead teaches a very specific morality that many disagree with - including many parents. I might even say, most parents.
07/06/2011
Quote:
School can teach BIOLOGY and ANATOMY..that is fine. Maybe even general sex ed, but when it come to romance and values...that is a PARENTS job. Ashamed most don't live up to that assignment, however.
Originally posted by
Akira
Responsibility for teaching safe sex should fall more upon the school or the parents?
07/15/2011
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44
Unique posters: 42
Unique posters: 42