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Sex Education in Schools
BillieTheBot
Posts: 8,721 Bot
I read an article this morning about the terrifying rise in sexually transmitted diseases in schoolchildren, and the consistent lack of sex education in schools.
My question is, why don't schools provide the emotional support that's so desperately needed by teenagers (or scarily, even preteens) today? Do they think that the saying "ignorance is bliss" is true, or actually even safe in this day and age? As said in the article, it's not the biological facts of the penis and vagina that these kids need to know...they need support to assure them that it's alright not to have sex even though "everyone else is doing it", they need to be informed of the laws concerning age of consent (and taught to respect it at least a little more than they seemingly do at the moment!). It's surely important give them concise information on STDs and contraception? Very importantly they need to know how to deal with emotional issues relating to sex...rejection, peer pressure etc. I'm not saying they should be given a step-by-step guide to growing up and getting it on, but something's got to give surely?
My memories of Sex Ed in school were an hour in the music room in front of one of those videos that everyone just cringes or giggles at, and then a brief "talk" on tampons and deodorant (sp?) Obviously things might have changed, but I imagine they're still pretty dire.
Sorry for the rambling, was a bit stream-of-consciousness
Anyone have any input?
My question is, why don't schools provide the emotional support that's so desperately needed by teenagers (or scarily, even preteens) today? Do they think that the saying "ignorance is bliss" is true, or actually even safe in this day and age? As said in the article, it's not the biological facts of the penis and vagina that these kids need to know...they need support to assure them that it's alright not to have sex even though "everyone else is doing it", they need to be informed of the laws concerning age of consent (and taught to respect it at least a little more than they seemingly do at the moment!). It's surely important give them concise information on STDs and contraception? Very importantly they need to know how to deal with emotional issues relating to sex...rejection, peer pressure etc. I'm not saying they should be given a step-by-step guide to growing up and getting it on, but something's got to give surely?
My memories of Sex Ed in school were an hour in the music room in front of one of those videos that everyone just cringes or giggles at, and then a brief "talk" on tampons and deodorant (sp?) Obviously things might have changed, but I imagine they're still pretty dire.
Sorry for the rambling, was a bit stream-of-consciousness
Anyone have any input? Beep boop. I'm a bot.
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Comments
I agree. The sex education at my school was top notch and in depth. I know that isn't the case everywhere but I thin parents need to take more responsibility for their children.
Perhaps the growing rise in detected cases of STDs could be that there is greater awareness so people are coming forward for testing - more testing will undoubtedly lead to more confirmed STD cases.
If it becomes less of a taboo, then on one hand more teens will be careful (sadly there are the ones who apparently don't really care for their health or/and are very short-sighted) but sex ed will be more useful for them and will actually help to avoid more problems.
In that article, there was an incident about a teacher who cried because "the boys were mean to her". Sadly again, I don't think there is a way to make people like those "boys" change, so teachers should somehow be more prepared for this kind of attacks so it won't affect their lesson.
I don't just think it should be left up to the schools. I'm pretty sure most kids have homes to go to after school. Getting a family involved doesn't mean a pair of blushing parents having to get out life sized models of genitalia as in Sex Tips For Girls but I think if families could, I dunno, during a TV programme or something say, "Oh, this person in Eastenders didn't know she was pregnant, what do you think?" or "Why don't you think this girl can stand up to her boyfriend in Hollyoaks?" then I think it could help as a joint effort. Even if it gets teenagers to be in a safe environment (e.g. not looking at porn on the net to see how people get it on, thinking that real life is like that) so that they can at least open up and have discussions with their parents or other family members about sex, relationships etc then perhaps what is taught in schools may be more effective.
Obviously, this is an ideal situation, and I can see why it would be hard for families to get together and try and talk about things which are normally left for schools to do. When I was teaching Sex Ed, a girl told me that she tried to talk to her mum about something, her mum replied, "It's not my job, you have a school for that sort of thing,"
I wouldn't expect a school to potty-train my child, or teach them how to eat or dress, so I'm not going to put all the responsibility on them to teach children and teenagers about something so important.
People need to be taught more about self-worth and more about self-discipline. At the money the attitude seems to be that sex is OK at such a young age, it's certainly permissive, and that is where the big problem is. People need to be taught more about sex only being good in a stable relationship, and about how with pleasure somes responsibilities.
It's an unfashionable view at the minute, but there is something very distasteful about young children having sex. The family rights campaigners would have a point if their solution wasn't "just say no, oh, and wanking is evil too!"
As I've said before, the age of consent is much lower in many European countries, yet the average age of virginity lost is higher. A child of 13 can have sex in Spain, but they don't; a child of 14 can have sex in Holland, but they don't.
And yes, children need to be taught by parents.
they dont teach young people about having sex as PART OF a relationship, but just sex, if 15yr olds were having sex in proper relationship that can be tolerated, but having casual 15, theres something fundamentally wrong with that :no:
like the family planning clinics in some town snot giving out contraceptive cause it isnt girls experimenting with peers bt with older guys, as they can lead on the girls more
but surely if they are taught all the facts by a qualifed teacher/nurse who has all the latest facts/reports then it can only help ?
Many young people and older people 'think' they wont be caught out so just this once wont use a condom. It needs to be pumped into them that 'they' could be that unlucky one to catch an std or be a one that will fall pregnant.
More detail needs to be given in sex education, it needs to go the whole hog cos lets face it people are having sex younger so lets start proper sex education and give them the full facts when they start the Comp School.........thats got to be better than listening to playground bullshit....surely?
we have no leaders.
look at our heroes and icons ...
there will be a backlash one day ...a swinging of the pendalum and i fear that will be even worse.
As for drugs, take 'em to a rehab clinic maybe, show them the real world.
My sex education was shite. I was told to label a womb and we watched a program about ejaculations and another about giving birth. Seriously, it's only recently I've found out anything about babies and child bearing because somebody in work got pregnant and she showed me her books on it. However, my mother educated me on morals and about the consequences of actions rather than just saying no or that's naughty, I'll punish you ect.
And I'm 20 years old and a virgin by choice.