Sexual Education

[Rydia]

The other day I was watching the Tyra Banks show and the topic was Teen Pregnancy. They had teen girls on the show who were pregnant, had kids... and wanted to become pregnant.

So do you think they should have sexual education in schools? Considering the age of many of us, I'm going to assume most people are going to say yes. So as a further question, what all do you think should be covered? At what age should children recieve these classes?

Yes I do believe that schools should teach sex ed. As much as it would be ideal for parents to teach their children, that is just not realistic. And the teen pregnancy rate is so high.

As for what they should go over:

I think the classes should be part of health class and split between boys and girls, because the topic can be uncomfortable for some people.

Birth control obviously, including abstinence and rhythm method, but those should in no way be the only forms taught. They should go over how to use each type of birth control and the risks (the possibility of being alergic to latex, blood clotting). They should also go over the failur rates. I remember in my health book it listed sterilization as the most successful and the withdrawl as the one that failed the most.

STDs. I think this is very important. I am surprised to talk to girls and find out that they think the pill will protect them from STDs and that do not know that some strands of cervical warts can cause cancer.

How much a baby costs. I put this because on the Tyra show, a 14 year old wanted to get pregnant because she thought baby's were cute and that having a baby shower would be fun. She also thought that her boyfriends lawn mowing job would pay for everything the baby would need. Back in high school, this was part of an abstinence program but I thought it was a good, we had to pretend we had a baby and budget all the needs such as diapers, medical bills, baby sitters while having a minimum wage job. A lot of were surprised at how much money we would need.

The science behind it all. lol I remember in my class they mentioned a hormone in girls that is released during sex that makes you want to be with that person? Well even if it is wrong, maybe go over all the hormones and the anatomy of everything. But I think some of that is already covered.

As for age. I want to say 16 but I'm afraid that age may be too old now. So maybe 13? 7th grade?

 

[*Serenity*]

I like this thread. And I completely agree with you. Yes, abstinence is the only true safe way to avoid pregnancy and STD's, but most kids aren't going to wait until marriage to have sex. It's just the way it is now, even if parents don't want to think about it. So, abstinence should not be the only thing taught. In my middle school sex ed classes, all they did was tell what STDs were and how horrible they were. We defined different modes of birth control, but were never fully described how they worked or what they looked like. Scaring kids into not having sex will NOT work. it just won't.

Obviously, birth control should be taught. All types, and YES, they should practice putting condoms on bananas. We never did that. I like the idea of separating girls and guys, it would make it much less awkward and the kids would be more likely to speak up and participate.

Emotional issues should definitely be addressed, esp. with girls. Teachers should explicitly state that doing it with a guy wont necessarily bring them closer or make them fall in love. Many girls have that misconception. Also, girls should know just how emotional it can be your first time (and many other times, as well), which is why so many people believe it should wait until they are in love.

STDs are already covered fairly well, since they want to scare the shit out of kids. So keep up the good work with that.

While I am strictly against abortion, I do think it should be discussed. Girls should know that it is an option, but they should also know exactly how it is done and what the consequences should be.

Lastly, cost would be GREAT to go over. That can even be done in health class. It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars of money and time to take care of a child. And that's with TWO parents. Girls in high school really need to know this, especially now with this fad to have babies young cuz theyre so cute and whatnot. Biological aspects such as how a woman changes through pregnancy would be good to explain too.


So all in all, I think middle school would be the best time to go over this. And not just one class, but maybe something that teaches over time, through a period of 2 years or so. Around the ages of 12-14.

 

[CassinoChips]

The other day I was watching the Tyra Banks show and the topic was Teen Pregnancy. They had teen girls on the show who were pregnant, had kids... and wanted to become pregnant.

So do you think they should have sexual education in schools? Considering the age of many of us, I'm going to assume most people are going to say yes. So as a further question, what all do you think should be covered? At what age should children recieve these classes?

Yes. I think it has to be done around 5th or 6th grade, the way things are trending these days. Any later than that is too late, and any earlier I doubt it would stick, or that they would be mature enough to handle it.

I think the classes should be part of health class and split between boys and girls, because the topic can be uncomfortable for some people.

More than that, girls learn better when they are separated from boys. They're more likely to ask questions, be more engaged in class, and are more likely to be actively involved in the process. Also, in general, most questions of that nature are easier to ask among those of your own gender, especially at that age.

Birth control obviously, including abstinence and rhythm method, but those should in no way be the only forms taught. They should go over how to use each type of birth control and the risks (the possibility of being alergic to latex, blood clotting).

They should also go over the failur rates. I remember in my health book it listed sterilization as the most successful and the withdrawl as the one that failed the most.

Rhythm method? I must have missed that day.

STDs.

I think this is very important. I am surprised to talk to girls and find out that they think the pill will protect them from STDs and that do not know that some strands of cervical warts can cause cancer.

Absolutely. It's amazing how much myth and misinformation is prevalent among teenagers about STDs. Frightening, really.

How much a baby costs. I put this because on the Tyra show, a 14 year old wanted to get pregnant because she thought baby's were cute and that having a baby shower would be fun. She also thought that her boyfriends lawn mowing job would pay for everything the baby would need. Back in high school, this was part of an abstinence program but I thought it was a good, we had to pretend we had a baby and budget all the needs such as diapers, medical bills, baby sitters while having a minimum wage job. A lot of were surprised at how much money we would need.

Certainly. Children are money pits.

The science behind it all. lol I remember in my class they mentioned a hormone in girls that is released during sex that makes you want to be with that person? Well even if it is wrong, maybe go over all the hormones and the anatomy of everything. But I think some of that is already covered.

I think I heard something similar. I don't know if it's as cut and dried as hormone -> want to stay, but something along those lines. This, I think, wouldn't be appropriate for 5th/6th graders. They'd be too young to really grasp the physiological concepts a lot of the time. I would leave this for a high school-level Anatomy & Phys. class.

 

[SaShman]

I can't remember specifically when my primary started teaching Sex ED but I think I was in about grade 5 (so I was about 10/11 years old). It wasn't like "let's teach the kids everything they should know about sex straight away", grade 5 was just simple stuff like teaching us about reproductive organs and stuff.

Each year in primary school, the school taught it as an independent subject for about a week. What they taught gradually progressed and it became more relevant as we grew (It wasn't just about sex either).
I think year 6 covered stuff like puberty and year 7 (Our last year of primary school), covered alchohol, nicotine and other drugs as well as masturbation and safe sex. Because my school was quite small, each grade only had a few people in it. I think it's important to keep the groups smallish for this kind of thing.

In high school, we only really learned about it in year's 8, 9 & 10 and it was mostly stuff like puberty, homosexuality, STD's and safe sex which also included practical exercises like putting condoms on banana's (which naturally was a huge laugh for 13, 14 and 15 year olds).

I think sex education is important and should be taught. It's better to just have it out in the open rather than keeping it taboo. I'd rather have my kids know about things like puberty and sexual health so they don't feel as uncomfortable when these kinds of things happen to them.

 

[Silver Shadow]

Am I allowed to comment, despite being a teen? If not, too bad. You get to hear the voice of a teenager.

And I absolutely agree with all of you. Teenage pregnancy = very bad idea. STDs also = very bad idea. Loss of money, childish notions that babies are easy to take care of... then again, teens today are absolute idiots.

Sexual education is something you are forced to do in Health Class in my school (9th grade for most, though later for some), and god am I glad we do. We learn things we might never have learned, either because we don't want to accept the horrible truth or we just don't really think it's that bad.

A few things I learned: STDs can happen to ANYONE, and the more partners you have over your lifetime, the greater the risk (HA! TAKE THAT YOU SHALLOW FOOLS! No offense intended on anyone on this site.) Most people who have intercourse at an early age generally regret doing so for the rest of their lives. This is generally due to the bad memories.

Pregnancy is NOT a good idea. Quite a few reasons: A. most teens who get pregnant drop out of high school. Career, future, all that fun stuff that your parents most likely have? Down the drain. B. Most teens with babies, if they do manage to finish high school, can't go to college due to the need of a source of income. This also takes away retirement, and generally your child's life won't be that great.

I learned quite a bit of other things, but I'm not going to detail those. Parents do NOT educate children in sexual education in most cases that I have met. I believe that it should be put in school, and 7th grade sounds best as well.

 

[Rasputin]

The other day I was watching the Tyra Banks show and the topic was Teen Pregnancy. They had teen girls on the show who were pregnant, had kids... and wanted to become pregnant.

We need to teach them the risks of becoming pregnant, encourage them not to, but if they choose to do so anyways we need to teach them how to find the support they need to be successful parents.

So do you think they should have sexual education in schools? Considering the age of many of us, I'm going to assume most people are going to say yes. So as a further question, what all do you think should be covered? At what age should children recieve these classes?

Children should go through sex ed at the beginning of middle school or end of elementary school. Preferably around age 11 or 12, 10 at the earliest.

I think the classes should be part of health class and split between boys and girls, because the topic can be uncomfortable for some people.

I guess so, as long as it doesn't involve treating the sexuality of the opposite gender as some horrible, mysterious secret.

Birth control obviously, including abstinence and rhythm method, but those should in no way be the only forms taught. They should go over how to use each type of birth control and the risks (the possibility of being alergic to latex, blood clotting).

The rhythm method is terribly unreliable, it ends up failing for about a quarter of the people who use it. Kids need to be taught to use condoms and birth control. And of course abstinence, but a much more realistic abstinence instead of the "save sex until marriage" tripe that some ultraconservative assholes in schools have grown up brainwashing us to believe.

They should also go over the failur rates. I remember in my health book it listed sterilization as the most successful and the withdrawl as the one that failed the most.

STDs. I think this is very important. I am surprised to talk to girls and find out that they think the pill will protect them from STDs and that do not know that some strands of cervical warts can cause cancer.

Well yes, all kids need to know that the only way to prevent STDs is to get your partner tested first.

The science behind it all. lol I remember in my class they mentioned a hormone in girls that is released during sex that makes you want to be with that person? Well even if it is wrong, maybe go over all the hormones and the anatomy of everything. But I think some of that is already covered.

Absolutely. Kids need to know that hormones are released in the brain after sex causing emotional attraction, especially in women. They need to realize that sex does NOT bring long lasting happiness or improve the quality of a relationship. This will also encourage them to be careful about one night stands, etc, as the "high" they receive afterwards can severely affect their judgement.

 

[Rydia]

Of course you can answer Silver Shadow! XD

And yes withdrawl method was above rhythm method in failur rate. Well actually no birth control was the highest. XD Pre cum can be released during intercourse which has enough sperm to impregnant a woman. EDIT: And you also have situations where the guy doesn't pull out on time or the girl doesn't jump off in time. Rhythm method was the second (third?) high failur rate. Though that was back in 2003 so things may have changed. Rhythmm method is actually better to use for getting pregnant XD I don't think people use this that much anymore unless they come from a very conservative house hold.

I liked the idea of starting with the anatomy in the 5th adn 6th grade. I think that is when I learned. That way the kids aren't having so much thrown in their face. And I liked talking to girls about the emotional issues and how it does not mean that the guy will stay with them. In fact, I'm pretty sure the guy is more likely to leave if the girl gets pregnant.

The rhythm method is terribly unreliable, it ends up failing for about a quarter of the people who use it. Kids need to be taught to use condoms and birth control.

Yes I agree. But I think they should tell kids what it is and that it is not a reliable method. Later in life, when the kids are adults, and they want to get pregnant, they will be familur with this method to help them get pregnant if they are not having luck. (I'm sure they will hear about it from their doctors.)

And no, they won't teach that the opposite sex is horrible and evil. It will just create a more comfortable atmosphere and will make it easier for kids to ask questions.

 

[Donald Trump]

Hoho, only in Australia are people so intolerant that they need to tell kiddies it's not bad.
I think abstinence is a terrible idea too, it only weirdo christian fundamentalists are into it.
Sex ed was a joke, it started properly in Year 10, when I was 14, and by then everybody already knew all of that. I don't think I learnt a single thing.

 

[der Astronom]

And make sure sex ed classes tell people about using condoms. They shouldn't listen to the church about condoms being bad, and if anyone disagrees, you should know that they are telling people in Africa not to use them, and it's not helping them any. Condoms are good for preventing pregnancy. They're not a 100% guarantee, and not nearly so good as abstinence, but they work anyways. Contrary to religious opinion, condoms don't give you AIDS, and if you need to have sex, they're usually sufficient.

 

[CassinoChips]

And make sure sex ed classes tell people about using condoms. They shouldn't listen to the church about condoms being bad, and if anyone disagrees, you should know that they are telling people in Africa not to use them, and it's not helping them any. Condoms are good for preventing pregnancy. They're not a 100% guarantee, and not nearly so good as abstinence, but they work anyways. Contrary to religious opinion, condoms don't give you AIDS, and if you need to have sex, they're usually sufficient.

Just as a point of clarification, the Catholic Church isn't telling anyone that condoms are "bad." They're saying that condoms are unnecessary because sex should only be used for procreation, so there's no reason to have casual sex inside or outside of marriage, thus no need for condoms. If you're only doing it for procreation, a condom, or any form of birth control is pointless, and defies the point of sex.

To be clear, I disagree with that viewpoint as well. But there is misinformation about the subject, as well as misinformation about the misinformation.

 

[blakstang98]

I want to say that the first time I had an sexual education was when I was in 5th grade. I actually agree that around that time or 6th grade are probably the best times. Unfortunately, getting kids to understand the dangers of sex is tough because they're still young and they're just laughing that an adult just used words like sex, penis, vagina and testicles in front of them in a serious discussion. But I've actually heard of girls being pregnant in middle school, and informing them at that time would have been good timing. It's possible that 7th grade would be better for such a discussion, like Rydia said because kids are a little more learnable at that time.

I think the issue on having a baby is the most important. Even people my age don't realize how much it costs to have a kid. I'm an engineer, and I'm not confident that I make enough to support a child, and I want to have 2 or 3. But yes, it is a small fortune you spend, especially when the baby is newborn. We actually had the flour baby project as well, in 11th grade. They stamped a bag of flour and gave it to us to carry for almost the whole quarter. Then we had to protect the flour like it was a real baby. We also had to strap a Cabbage Patch doll or something of the like to it. This wasn't easy when seniors were trying to damage the flour. But I do like the whole financial part attached to that project. We didn't have that, but that would have helped a lot I think.

STD's are a pretty important topic as well. I mean, HIV/AIDS and Syphilis are deadly diseases, so a lack of knowledge can cost a person their life. And with HIV, especially, it's a disease you carry for a long time and suffer pretty badly when all is said and done. Knowledge of the other diseases is certainly helpful, but it won't cost a person their life and it can be treated pretty quickly for the most part. I think this should certainly be incorporated with the pregnancy talk, considered they're contracted the same way babies are conceived.

Naturally, contraception would get tied into the prevention discussion for the above topics. I would say to advise the use of a condom in the early stages of learning, and save the more advanced methods for high school. I'm not sure a girl is eligable for an IUD insertion until she's at least 18 anyways. Other forms of birth bontrol have so many different types now that I have no idea what's out there now. You have the pill, the transdermal kind and the ring. I'm not educated enough on these to go into great detail, but I know for some you need a doctor's presciption, so they would be ones used when a woman is in high school (at least) as well. But the conventional condom will do the trick just fine until kids are of legal ages to get something better and more advanced.

 

[Channizard]

The first time they introduced sexual education was in sixth grade for me. And even still, that was basics... Boys have this, girls have that.. together they have this and that. Girls parts are here and do this, boys do that and are there... and a bit of pregnancy and periods.

We didn't have any extensive STD/Pregnancy talks until ninth grade. And then again, in grade twelve... they really spread it out for us, and these lessons lasted maybe a week, tops. We didn't have an actual health class here, so we learned at the teacher's convenience. And I must say, after the way my grade turned out (5 out of 44 students preggers) we should have gotten it way sooner.

 

[Shu]

There is a reason most folks call sex a grown up thing because of the risk of a kid. There are preventative measures one can take form having a kiddo, but most teenagers these days are learning faster and at a scarrier rate. I mean two of my buds had sex at the age of 13 but, condoms can only prevent so much.

What needs to taught and what needs to be ingrained in folks head is the fact that kids period are life changing. For the good or bad, I've heard people say they are miracles, and they are cancer on their lives. It's hard for me to hear "cancer" when it is a newborn.

For one it could prevent the girl from ever going to college. The funds these days to raise a child is getting ridiculous because of the inflation. No one should try to scare the kids, though STDS and the risk of pregnancy are out there, but they make good and sure to teach them before the age of 12 and and again around 15 proper usage of birth control.

Personally if I have a girl I might think of getting her on birth control ASAP, because I know the realism of today's society. That would not mean though that I'm condoning her to have sex, but I know it controls acne, and if I wasn't an overprotective father at the time.. she would probably have a date or a few. Some parents go as far as to tell their kids they can't date till 18, because of the sex reasons.

I was a typical fella, sex was of course on the mind, even without my buds pushing it in my face, though then again I didn't even have it till 18. So to each his own, I'd just say educate the ladies a little more than the men. The men just have their testosterone to keep in check just like anger. So that's all I got.

 

[GalaxyFlare]

Its true we australians are an Intolerant group of people.

Anyway, Sex Ed is a tricky subject. should it be done in schools, should it be taught at home? Its one of those things that has implication in all our lives because of the nature if its consequences if it goes wrong.

I noticed the other day when I was at a Service station buying a hotdog and pepsi and 2 peppermint aeros, how available Adult material was for children, not to purchase but to be exposed to.

Its as if society has left the last barrier with the parents of these children to protect them from Adult content, and yet we are careful of how to show them in schools and the consequences of reckless actions.

Its a strange Situation where we are forcing more and more Sex and Depravity on kids yet we still have no defined way to teach children the consequences of there actions.

Parents cant be there all the time to watch there children and the best they can do is tell them about the what it means to have sex and the true nature of lovemaking and how it is not something to do just for fun.

Its a hard balance to strike regarding how mutch and when to tell them kids, I think it really should be left up to the parents because the "one size fits all" approach of schools may not cover broad enough spectrum of topics and consequences.

Or maybe a way to do it is for schools to share what they will tell/show students and they combine there efforts to co-ordinate when the child will be present at school
to avoid any undesired results.

 

[Ayumi Hamasaki]

Sex Ed should be taught at schools, IMO. My school doesn't (well didn't since I graduated) teach it beyond the basics and guess what? Everyone alive is pregnant. You actually see girls in the hallway crying over pregnancy tests. I'm not even joking.

Sex Ed doesn't make you have sex. It's a part of a well rounded education. It's not telling people how to do it or training them. It's telling them how to protect themselves when they go to do it.

I mean, let's be honest, do you really need someone to tell you how to have sex? It's more of an animal instinct, isn't it? That argument has never made much sense to me.

 

[M1ghty Mous3]

THey should teach the use of condoms! Kids are gonna have sex anyway why not let them be aware of condoms instead of abstinecne. Not saying abstinecne should be ruled out, but just add the use of condoms somwhere in the ciriculume. (SP)

 

[Rydia]

I forgot all about the baby project! lol or the flour or the egg project. We had something like that at my old school and it was only offered as part of home ec. The students took home a life like baby that would cry and you had to figure out why. (it could be from hunger, needing to be changed, or absolutely nothing) There were also settings for how much the baby would cry. The baby would also record if its cry had been neglected or if there was any abuse. So if you dropped it, I think the baby would shut off. I think these would show girls that taking care of a baby is more than just about it being cute and fun and that it is a 24 hour job.

It's kind of scary when you have to convince teenage girls not to get pregnant. It is unfair to their mothers too, because they are the ones who have to help take care of the baby. I felt bad for this one mother on the Tyra show because her daughter was pregnant and the family was already tight on money. (Pregnancy was also planned by the daughter)

And random, but ever since I made this thread I've been having dreams where I am pregnant and its making me paranoid <.< How far along I am varies as the dream progresses. One moment it's 3 months, the next it's 8, the next 4...

 

[Big Casino]

I must have been around 9 years old when i first got sexual education in school. Living and growing was the name of series. As kids of that age we didnt really take it that seriously, we just kinda laughed when there were naked people on screen.

From what i remember it never really covered the dangers like STDs and consequences of unprotected sex. It really was more a video on how to make babies but with the message 'wait til your older'.
I think the dangers are what should be covered first and foremost, thats the most important part in my oppinion. WHat age should it be taught at? Id say around the age i was at when i first got it was fine even if i was a little immature. I dont think however that the couple of videos we watched were enough. Through the school years you sit in lessons for subjects you might never utilise (french?) why not spend more time on subjects/topics that will matter for almost every teenager, and people older of course.
STIs are alot more common than people think and schools have a responsobility to make children aware exactly what can happen.

 

[GalaxyFlare]

we just kinda laughed when there were naked people on screen.

We had some wierd ass Movie from the 80's and a youth centre down the street affilated with me H.School that had a basket of condoms on its front counter obviously they gave up trying to prevent sex and found it easier to promote safe sex.

 

[RedJeepXJ]

I think it is amazing the number of countries with widely differing policies and we can't look at them and see what works and what doesn't and go with that. most of west europe has much lower ages of consent and much more liberal sex education but they have MUCH lower std and teen pregnancy rates.