Sex Education in the News

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

23 Oct 2008 06:57 PM

Sex education is a controversial subject for families. Some parents support it, others do not, and still others believe it has its place depending on the age of the students. Like it or not, sex education has been in the news lately, including compulsory lessons on sex education for children as young as five years old.

Let's get to the first piece of news.

An initiative was announced in England that millions of children from the age of five to 16, who attend state-funded schools, will be given compulsory lessons about sex education and drugs.

It is important to note that the schools minister, Jim Knight, seems to be well aware that this is a complicated and controversial pronouncement. As such, a head teacher will be appointed to review the best ways to comply with the proposal. Faith schools may have different guidelines, but no schools are exempt. Knight says that it is government duty to equip young people with the knowledge and skills to deal with the complicated world of today and that the policy is a way of attacking the high rate of teen pregnancies.

Five year olds are expected to learn the proper names of body parts, and I believe, though can't confirm, that discussions about the anatomy of reproduction will be taught to eight-year-olds.

The next piece of news concerns Proposition 8 in California which would define "marriage" as between one man and one woman . Specifically, the proposition states: "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Some proponents for the proposition are concerned that if "marriage" is defined as existing for same-sex couples, schools will then begin teaching about marriage between two people of the same sex, something that many parents fear.

Some of those against the proposition say that the other side is using an obscure tactic to instill unnecessary fear about the proposal. The issue is complicated with both sides quoting law and policy about classroom instruction on sex education related to marriage in California.

According to Wikipedia, "The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law conservatively estimates that more than 11,000 same-sex couples have married in California between June 17 and September 17, 2008."

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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jonesx6 (1606) 24 Oct 2008 07:01 AM

Ohhh Mary Ann, You are discussing some very controversial items. I won't comment about my stance but I will say this; gone are the days of kids being kids. Laura

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 24 Oct 2008 07:35 AM

I think it is important for parents to be informed about what is out there.

jonesx6 (1606) 24 Oct 2008 01:51 PM

Yes I agree w/ on that Mary Ann. It just amazes me. Laura

Andilei (70) 12 Nov 2008 12:20 PM

I think that sex education in the classroom is very important. With so many teen pregnancies these days, something needs to be done. Why not put sex education in the classroom? Students are at school more hours in the day than anywhere else. It is probably very beneficial to expose students to this at a young age just because the age of teenage mothers gets younger and younger every year. But if it going to start out so young then it needs to be age appropriate.