Wednesday, March 14, 2007, 12:35 pm

Teaching the 'O': Beyond sex ed...

Quote of the day (from LiveJournal):

I thought half the fun of sex as a teenager was not knowing what you were doing and then quite by accident "rescuing the princess" and making your girlfriend soak the sleeping bag and wake the children in the next campsite.

This came as a reaction to a sex education class in Illinois teaching students how to find the G-spot... among other lessons. Parents found out, the teacher has been dismissed.

Now, clearly I'm no prude. However, I have to agree with this reaction. Maybe there's a bit of old-fashionedness in me. I think sex education is valuable, because there are a lot of scary things out there you can get that don't just wash off...

But beyond an explanation of what equipment you carry, how it works, and how to keep it safe and clean, I don't believe students need to be taught much more. To me, this is one step closer to pairing off as "lab partners", and finding a section of the room to experiment under the watchful eye of the instructor.

Which is going too far. Parents need to take responsibility for teaching their children about sex... even (or should I say especially?) if they do NOT want their kids to have sex. It is not the government's responsibility, nor the school's, to instill a value system in these kids. Only to educate them and provide a safe learning environment and safety.

I'm not one of those people who believe that by teaching sex ed, we give children our blessing to go try it out. I also don't believe that good kids who are waiting to have sex will change their minds based on the typical sex ed class or an HPV shot or whatever and rush out and have sex.

Sure, some might... but if you look at how they are raised you'll probably see some accountability needs to fall on the parents.

For the most part, good kids are just that... good kids!

However, adding the education of some of the mysteries of sex... well that falls into the realm of marketing. We are not only showing them how it works, but by explaining about the G-spot and soaking the sheets, an element of temptation, wonder and awe is added that is better discovered intimately with one's special partner.

Not in a classroom. Next thing you know there'll be a bed in the classroom and the instructor will demonstrate how things work... which positions are most challenging... stuff 13 year olds don't yet need to know.

When they are adults, they can research this stuff on their own.

Am I wrong in thinking this?

The article that spurred this lives here: Illinois Sex-Ed or 'Porn 101?'

What i'm listening to:
You Know My Name You Know My Name
Chris Cornell
You Know My Name