Q "I am worried about what is being taught in our schools
regarding sex education. I am seeing kids exposed t to sex
at a younger age. I am particularly concerned about what
my son is going to learn at his school, some of it is graphic.
Why is it OK to teach about sex in school at all?"
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A Effective sex and relationship education is essential if
young people are to make informed decisions about their
lives. Accurate information from trained professionals is given
by schools to help support adolescents through the physical
and emotional change they go through. Studies show that
children are less comfortable talking to their parents about
personal issues such as sex.
Surely you would want your child to learn about puberty before
experiencing it, ask yourself if you have informed factual
information to pass along. If your local school teaches sex
education ask them for a curriculum outline so that when your
child comes home relaying graphic details of what they have
learned, you are not shocked!
I think that you will find that a well planned sex education
programme should not only teach about attitudes and values
but also personal and social skills. Respect others as well as
yourself is another point to consider. Look at the news, sex
and sexuality is everywhere! So called role models in the
media are always in the newspaper or on television dressed
explicitly and even showing intimate body parts to the World,
some role model!
I learned of a so called club in a local high school and the way
to be initiated into it was for the girls to perform oral sex on
the boys. It was considered an honor and the girls thought
nothing of it! Teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases are on the rise. I think we need as much help as we
can to teach young adolescents about sex and the
consequence of having unprotected sex. The best lessons
begin at home so make sure that you can communicate with
your teen and are approachable if they have questions. I
would love to hear from parents or teens to share their
thoughts on this subject!