Sex Ed

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Should it be comprehensive, abstinence-only or should both be offered?

Should parents be able to opt their children out of sex ed?

Do you feel that sex ed encourages sex?

How young is too young to have sex ed?

[Amnesiac]

Should it be comprehensive, abstinence-only or should both be offered?

Should parents be able to opt their children out of sex ed?

Do you feel that sex ed encourages sex?

How young is too young to have sex ed?

Abstinence-only sex "education" is a failure in almost every way; states that teach it have higher teen pregnancy rates than states that teach comprehensive sex ed.

Parents should only be able to remove their children from sex ed if they want to teach their children about sex themselves. Hiding your kid from reality is dangerous and shouldn't be allowed.

Sex ed only encourages sex when it shows it in a negative light. Teenagers would be more inclined to have sex if they think of it as illegal rather than normal.

I believe education regarding puberty should start at 12, and sex at 13.

[huginnmuninn]

comprehensive sex ed

no parents shouldnt be able to get their kids out of sex ed unless the kids get a test to prove that their parents gave them at least a basic understanding of whats going on

no sex ed doesnt encourage sex it tells you how to do it responsibly except in an abstinence only class which tries to discourage sex before marriage

sex ed should be taught aroung 12 years old

[Captor K]

1. Comprehensive. Abstinence-only sex ed taught me nothing. There was a shit load of things that were never covered, or fully covered. I had a basic understanding of STD's, and usually not even how they were transmitted. I don't remember ever being taught much about condoms, birth control.....anything! Basically, the class was a waste of time and I took nothing out of it. Everything I know about sex now I taught myself by studying human sexuality.

2. Unless the parents are going to give a thorough teaching of sex themselves, and not some watered down shit, "When you're ready, be careful." Otherwise, not really. Kids walking around with little knowledge of sex and actively engaging in it can be potentially dangerous. That way, if something bad should happen, they can't really claim, "Well, I had no idea!" Ignorance kills.

3. Honestly, I don't know whether sex ed encourages sex or not. Maybe for some people, it does, and maybe for others, it doesn't. I think if you give kids a good background in sex education, they will at least be well-informed about possible consequences once they do have sex.

4. Twelve or thirteen is a relatively good age to teach sex ed. Girls have hit puberty by then, and most boys will have started, or will start puberty around then.

[Jess]

I learned everything I needed to know in Health class. I don't think my district has sex ed....

[Sith Lord 13]

I learned everything I needed to know in Health class. I don't think my district has sex ed....

Sex ed is often incorporated into health.

At my Catholic high school, however, the only mention of sex was when we did the chapter on STDs in health class. Oh, and religion where we were told about how it was a sin. I don't think anyone in my school suffered for it though. We learned through the internet, porn, and talking amongst ourselves. Very few urban legends too, almost everything was accurate.

Honestly, I think sex ed should be optional on the part of the student. If they're confident they don't need it, and would rather take something else, let them. It should be the student's choice as much as possible, though of course some kids might not take it on their parents orders.

[Sage]

Parents should only be able to remove their children from sex ed if they want to teach their children about sex themselves.



2. Unless the parents are going to give a thorough teaching of sex themselves, and not some watered down shit, "When you're ready, be careful."

The problem is that there is no way to enforce such a guideline.

[Amnesiac]

The problem is that there is no way to enforce such a guideline.

Well, if parents want to remove their children from school and homeschool them, they have to meet certain guidelines under law. The same would go for sex ed. If they remove their child from a sex ed class, they have to fill out forms stating that they will teach their child about sex. If they don't, they could face a fine and the child would be taught in school.

[Sage]

Well, if parents want to remove their children from school and homeschool them, they have to meet certain guidelines under law. The same would go for sex ed. If they remove their child from a sex ed class, they have to fill out forms stating that they will teach their child about sex. If they don't, they could face a fine and the child would be taught in school.

Good luck getting conservatives on board with regulated homeschooled sex-ed.

[Suicune]

Well health class for me started in 5th grade so...I was 11. Sex wasn't mentioned. Maybe in 8th grade or 9th, sex will be covered.
Wether or not it encourages sex depends on the individual.

I don't believe parents should opt out their kids from the class. Your kid can't be shielded forever.

[Amnesiac]

Good luck getting conservatives on board with regulated homeschooled sex-ed.

I don't think it would be hard to sneak it into laws that already regulate homeschooling. Just add "sex education" to the list of things homeschooled children have to be taught.

[Sapphire]

Some sort of basic sex education should be covered from around 10 years old, IMO. When it is not uncommon for girls to have started their periods by this age, it is important that they are given access to accurate information about the changes they are going through.

I am a firm believer in education and think that less information is actually more harmful than more information could be. That said, this info should be given at stages throughout a child's development (from about 10 onwards). Things like sexual orientation and religious attitudes towards sex should be touched upon and then followed up with places where they can get more information on such topics.

When given in the correct manner, sex ed doesn't encourage irresponsible sexual activity. It encourages responsibility and safety as well as enjoyment.