Sex Education: Science, not BS, please

Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
"No matter what individual beliefs may be regarding sexual education, it is a public matter. Access should be easily available and the literature should be accurate."

This really struck a cord with me today and I find myself in total agreement.

Parents are allowed have their children to "opt out" of nearly all sex ed types of classes, so that religious beliefs are not contradicted or so that parents can teach sex ed as they choose, at home.

But I truly think that, should a child be taught sex ed in school, the most important thing is the requirement that all info being given to our children is accurate and up to date and made available to them, not hidden away or lied about. That they be presented with age appropriate choices and facts that reflect research and science, not personal opinion or local mores.

Your thoughts?

I'd also like to thank ALL the folks who have tacked the SexIs Subjective question this month! It's been interesting reading!
04/22/2013
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Contributor: LoveX LoveX
I agree, it's as a said in my article on this subject. Teachers are there to teach, that is what they went to school for, trained for, and got hired to the school for. I think the hard facts of sex should be taught by a teacher. I think parents should be responisble for teaching the emotional aspects of sex. Such as the love, hate, trust, and distrust that goes into it. I know that sounds silly in a way. You don't have to love someone to have sex with them. But the odds of a teenage girl giving her virginity to a boyfriend in high school, and him telling the whole school the next day can breed all sorts of bad emotions. And parents need to make their kids aware of that.
04/22/2013
Contributor: Ryuson Ryuson
I feel that there are topics the parents should be able to opt out of, but certain parts that they should not. I feel like non-opt out able topics should be like:

Basic anatomies of males and females
How conception works
What can go wrong
and STD information

I feel like the more personal things, such as choosing contraception, how it reflects an individuals life and beliefs, and the emotional benefits and problems that surround sex maybe could be opt-outable.

On the other hand, I feel that if you see the curriculum and have a topic you disagree with, you can just talk to your kid after class. Explain WHY you disagree with what they were taught, and then tell them your view on the topic. If they're old enough to be talking about contraception, they're old enough to be thinking on their own and to consider different views.

I dunno, I feel like it really SHOULD be a parents job to teach the kids things (Having a teacher tell you to be careful about how much you drink and to respect your body will rarely change the chance of date rape, but they listen to their parents), but that there are many parents who WON'T talk about it. I dunno, I feel like opting out of the even the general anatomy part of sex ed is what has kids douching with Mountain Dew for contraception. :/
04/22/2013
Contributor: tweetybird0963t tweetybird0963t
Quote:
Originally posted by Ryuson
I feel that there are topics the parents should be able to opt out of, but certain parts that they should not. I feel like non-opt out able topics should be like:

Basic anatomies of males and females
How conception works
What can go ... more
I completely agree with you! There are some *basics* that everyone should know at the very LEAST. If not taught properly they can learn the wrong things on their own and possibly end up hurting themselves, which is never good.
04/22/2013
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by Ryuson
I feel that there are topics the parents should be able to opt out of, but certain parts that they should not. I feel like non-opt out able topics should be like:

Basic anatomies of males and females
How conception works
What can go ... more
Yes, yes, yes! You said it way better than I did.
04/22/2013
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by tweetybird0963t
I completely agree with you! There are some *basics* that everyone should know at the very LEAST. If not taught properly they can learn the wrong things on their own and possibly end up hurting themselves, which is never good.
So agreed.

When my son (now 19) had sex ed in high school, they actually told his class that condoms are not effective in the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

So a few HUNDRED teenage kids decided they didn't need condoms.

What they *meant* was that a condom isn't 100% effective against HIV/AIDS (or anything, for that matter) -- but there is a huge difference there and they potentially caused so, so much harm.

GRR!

Basic facts should be actually factual and everyone should be required to learn them, dang it.
04/22/2013
Contributor: gwenevieve gwenevieve
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
"No matter what individual beliefs may be regarding sexual education, it is a public matter. Access should be easily available and the literature should be accurate."

This really struck a cord with me today and I find myself in total ... more
Absolutely! Sex Education in the United States is a complete joke. I cannot even remember the mention of condoms or birth control when I was in school, and that was only 2 years ago.

The only thing our teachers taught us is that you can get pregnant, or get STDs if you have sex, and then explained how sperm and eggs work. It was a disgusting excuse for sex ed.
04/23/2013
Contributor: StormOfSnakes StormOfSnakes
I didn't even get sex education: I got abstinence-only shit....
We had a decaying old lady come in to tell us that you shouldn't even KISS someone until you're married, only showed us the advanced stages of some STD's, completely dismissed anything same-sex or for non-procreation.

Oral sex was a no-no for women, condoms are sinful and not useful at all, masturbation will send you to hell/make you become a prostitute. Dear god, if I wasn't FORCED to sit through this in my 2nd year of high school, I'd have skipped class all the time.

I live in fucking Wisconsin and this poison is still in high schools. (Irony: several girls were pregnant in the class and a few guys were deadbeat dads.)
04/23/2013
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
Agreed so much. Kids are going to learn eventually, but they need to learn before they get pregnant or get STDs!
04/23/2013