How did you learn about sex? The red state of Texas has focused on teaching abstinence-only sex education in its school for over 20 years, but members of the Texas Board of Education are considering adding new topics to the sex ed program. The new areas include: ‘sexual risk reduction methods,” “healthy relationships” and “anatomy.”
There has always been criticism of abstinence-only sex education in schools because it does not deal with the reality that most teenagers will have sex or, at least, experiment with sex. Many religious groups have strongly supported abstinence-only sex ed because those programs assume the moral approach of teenagers not having sex.
Kathy Miller, President of the Texas Freedom Network, which is asking for changes to the abstinence-only programs, says, “It is about time that Texas come into the 21st Century.” An abstinence-only approach to sex ed is like having no sex ed.
But the overriding question is: should schools have the responsibility of teaching children about sex?
There are debates today about how schools should teach factual history, and the controversies that would swell around the idea of schools teaching children about sex is a given.
The responsibility of teaching a child about the very personal and confusing subject of sex should fall on parents or a close family member, but that would mean that many children would never get sex education because many parents are embarrassed and reluctant to talk to their kids about sex. I’m not opposed to sex education in schools, but that should not be the responsibility of the schools. Concerns about political correctness could easily reduce sex ed to such a generic level that it would be ineffective.
I have memories of a few teachers I wish would have taught me about sex, but that remains in my childish fantasies.
The proposed changes in the state of Texas include starting sex ed in kindergarten, which may seem outrageous, but the earlier you start of talk to kids about sex the less you have to tell them.
At a very early age, children have no reference to the sensual aspect of sex; but as they mature, the physical and sensual side of sex cannot be avoided.
But let’s think about sex ed in kindergarten! Imagine the colorful and creative visual aids! And I would assume there would be no oral exams!