I was reading the following article and the comments, and thought it would start a very interesting conversation here. So:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...article1542267/

I think this is brilliant. People are absolutely daft if they think that their children don't have access to information, most of which is mis-information. As for the people who yell "that's the parents job blah blah blah", 1. why is it the schools job to teach everything else about the human anatomy, but not the sexual organs? 2. Not all parents are knowledgeable enough to actually teach their children about sexuality (they got worse education than we did), 3. A lot of parents will never speak to their children about sex because it's 'wrong'. Perhaps in your ideal world, parents would bestow all the needed information about sexuality to their children, but the reality is, it doesn't happen. Not to mention that in the cases in which it does happen, mis-information is often re-told, and a lot of the important things are omitted.

We teach our children about everything else, but not something as fundamental and basic as sex? Something that everyone but Nou does in their lifetime?! It doesn't make any sense, especially in a time when sexuality is very present in media, and the consequences of ignorance can be dire.

I went to a catholic school growing up, and I honestly didn't know a damn thing about the male reproductive system, or even my own until I did my own research in high school. I had my period for probably 3 or 4 years before I actually understood what was happening. Had I not done my own research, I probably wouldn't have ever learned anything about it. I also know that I am far more knowledgeable about it than my mother, so she would have been very little help in teaching me about STD's etc.

Personally, I think we need to stop stigmatizing sexuality and just accept it as a normal thing (because it is a fucking normal thing!!) We need to stop shoving our kids heads in the sand and pretending that they are going to be perfect little angels who will never have sex and will never be exposed to information about sex. The sooner, the better too, because kids are coming into contact with this information far sooner than we did as kids. Information is power, and there is nothing harmful in educating our children. It gives them the ability to make smart decision about their sexuality, helps them protect themselves from abuse, promotes healthy sexual lifestyles, and it promotes tolerance of people who are different than you.

Edit:

c0r version - the article talks about how schools in Ontario, Canada are going to have a mandatory sex ed. curriculum. People are freaking out about it, saying its wrong blah blah blah. I think it's great! What do you think?

Agreed. I've said almost the exact same thing here many times before.

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Originally posted by Theresa Information is power, and there is nothing harmful in educating our children. It gives them the ability to make smart decision about their sexuality, helps them protect themselves from abuse, promotes healthy sexual lifestyles, and it promotes tolerance of people who are different than you.

I agree with you...I think it's very important to promote a healthy sexual lifestyle as you noted. In the curriculum, of course, this ought to include discussion of abstaining as the best/safest option, but there's no reason why teenagers shouldn't know about sex.

quote:

Originally posted by Theresa We need to stop shoving our kids heads in the sand and pretending that they are going to be perfect little angels

On a partly unrelated topic - A few weeks back, I was watching TV after not having watched TV in well over a year, and I stumbled on an episode of the doodlebops which gave me a bit of a culture shock when I realized how naive we are in this society when it comes to teaching kids things. We don't respect them at all; we treat them like complete retards and create this artificial reality with bright colors and unicorns where everyone is happy and singing, and then, when they reach adulthood and realize that they have no skills with which to cope with a world that's unknown to them, we wonder why they get depressed, get into crime, commit suicide and resent their parents.

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I think sex education is not enough. Kids should be exposed to behavioural studies, social theories, and everything you have access to in university.

Anyone who thinks kids are dumb is just talking about himself.

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Become a catholic!!!

I hear it has pratical sessions.

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Bring on my soundcloud ya!

quote:

Originally posted by LAdazeNYnights I agree with you...I think it's very important to promote a healthy sexual lifestyle as you noted. In the curriculum, of course, this ought to include discussion of abstaining as the best/safest option, but there's no reason why teenagers shouldn't know about sex.

I don't think kids should be told about 'abstaining'. I think they should be told that they don't 'have' to have sex just because other people are doing it. They should be taught that they are not wrong to deny having sex, even when being pressured. They should be told that sex is not an absolute requirement for a relationship and that if they aren't comfortable, they should say no. But simply saying "don't do it... that's the best way", is just foolish IMO, and further promotes the idea that sex is 'evil'. Everyone has sex eventually, and there is nothing wrong with it so long as safety precautions are taken.

quote:

Originally posted by adi_hanson Become a catholic!!! I hear it has pratical sessions.

Nah, they just have oral tests

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quote:

Originally posted by adi_hanson Become a catholic!!! I hear it has pratical sessions.

They had to cancel that and driver's ed.














The donkey died.

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my old stuff, not quite up to snuff - but I still dig it - UPDATED 9/23/2012

Alright, I'll do it.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/507/

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quote:

Originally posted by Cpt.Cocaine On a partly unrelated topic - A few weeks back, I was watching TV after not having watched TV in well over a year, and I stumbled on an episode of the doodlebops which gave me a bit of a culture shock when I realized how naive we are in this society when it comes to teaching kids things. We don't respect them at all; we treat them like complete retards and create this artificial reality with bright colors and unicorns where everyone is happy and singing, and then, when they reach adulthood and realize that they have no skills with which to cope with a world that's unknown to them, we wonder why they get depressed, get into crime, commit suicide and resent their parents.

We seem to have this unusual desire to mystify everything for children... give them a fantasy world in order to ensure their innocence for as long as possible.

I wont even start on how we do not prepare our children for reality... it's ridiculous how much hand holding we do (especially in education), and then expect them to suddenly be able to take on life as an adult by themselves.

*sigh*