Do They or Don't They?

Well we were both right, and both wrong.

I looked up the county in Ohio where she works.  16 school districts, and 8 teach "Comprehensive" sex ed, covers everything but homosexuality most of the time.  And 8 teach abstinence only, two having electives for more comprehensive classes. 

It seems to be (at least in Ohio) left up to the school board and the parents.

Very interesting.

If I recall we got the "abstinence is 100% safe" or whatever....and I believe they threw some general safe sex stuff in there.  Strangely enough I recall dry humping with clothes on as one of their ideas...

I'm a staunch opponent of abstinence-only.  You need to learn about all your options...I believe that about any and everything.  Abstinence works, but only if kids want to follow through with it...and lots of them won't, so you might as well tell them about safe sex or we're going to have more dripping genitals, teenage parents, and immunodeficiencies than we can deal with.

I'm not sure if whipping out a phallic object is necessary.  Condoms are actually pretty intuitive...and I think there are directions on or inside the box.

~Zoo

You're assuming they're old enough to read. 

I really really really stress abstinence with my son in secular and faith based ways.  However, I have talked to him about disease, and how people who don't want to catch an STD or get pregnant may use a condom, but that condoms break, so you know, its still a big risk.  Still a poor choice.  And life is about choices, yadda yadda.

It's a tuff call.

I don't have a problem with that.  Your kid, your values, your way of teaching.  Actually, I don't think any parents actively coach their kids on the fine art of getting laid. 

The fact that you let him know of the other stuff is what I care about...and thank you for doing that.  I just think that only teaching about one option and not even bringing up the others is a bad idea.  I'm a stickler for critical thinking, so analysis of all facets is extremely important to me...even if I'm clearly biased to one particular view I appreciate knowing the others.

~Zoo

*shudder* 

Voice recordings perhaps?  "Roll rubber thing over dong!"

~Zoo

At my high school we learned it where all good red blooded young men are supposed to learn it -behind the bus barn smoking cigarettes while skipping English class or in the locker room after football practice. Then we practiced what we "learned" on Saturday nights at the drive in movies (if we were lucky, that is). Hmmm....but never tried puttin' a rubber on a banana though....

It's how you control fruit flies.

~Zoo

We had sex education classes that were fairly basic.  Similarly to Roy, most of our education came from doing rather than learning, although I think a lot of the 'doing' was more wishful thinking than real.

:LOL: 

I wonder what sort of things you believed, getting the information from such credible sources and all, that in reality you found out...WOW, not even close. 

My son is too inquisitive.  He knew right away, without being told there was some way to prevent pregnancy/disease transmission.  He figured with all the married couples in America there should be many more children.  And HIS mom and dad only had two kids..so it naturally led to the conversation.

Having said that though, do you think you, as a young college student with no children should decide what my kids do and don't get as far as sex ed?  Do you think it is better left up to the local community (school board and parents)?  How do you feel about parents removing their children from classes they feel are immoral, or go against their family values?

I always wondered about that.  Most of the guys I knew in highschool claimed to be having sex, and most of the girls claimed they weren't. 

Since I don't have any kids I don't know if I have any rights to ask this but, why do a lot of parents want schools to do their jobs for them?

Her Daughter : Mom, I'm pregnant.

Her : What? How? Didn't you do anything they taught you in sex ed? Didn't he use a condom?

Her Daughter : Yes, I'm not dumb. We stopped at a store and bought condoms and a banana.

Her: How was the party last night?

Her Daughter: OMG! I got so drunk last night. I think I might've done things I going to regret.

Her: What kind of things?

Her Daughter: You know.

Her: With who?

Her Daughter: You don't want to know.

Her: Well, I hope you made sure the guy wore a condom.

Her Daughter: Oh I did. I'm so glad I practice on bananas though I should have practiced on grapes.

Her: Grapes??

Her Daughter: Yeah, cause there were a bunch of them.

I dunno.  I do know in 1996 the Federal Gov started giving money to schools that teach abstinence only.  Obama's supposed to get rid of that.

58% of secondary school principals describe their sex education curriculum as comprehensive, 34% abstinence only.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_education

LOL

Well, Duh.  Here's how to prevent unwanted pregnancy!

My younger daughter actually teaches 'health' at the middle school level, and while she does tell the kids that abstinence is the only 100% effective method of birth and disease control, she also teaches the others.  When the girls were in school themselves, we had to sign a permission slip saying that it was okay with us for them to have any 'sex ed', and I believe it was maybe a total of 2 hours.  JLO does a whole unit on it.  I sat in on one of her classes and couldn't believe these were tweens and young teens.  Yikes!

I think the reason why it's part of so many school curriculums these days is because parents aren't talking about these things at home.  That's hard for me to believe to, but research shows it's true--most parents aren't comfortable talking to their kids about sex.  So the schools felt something had to be done to reduce the increasing statistics for teen pregnancies and STDs.  I personally never sent my girls to school to be parented, but a lot of parents did and do. 

I'll have to ask JLO if she does the banana/condom routine, and if she discusses alternate lifestyles--or if she's allowed to...

Of the 16 school districts in the county I looked up...only 4 of 16 discuss homosexuality at all...and 4 of 16 discuss abortion.

I'm thinking now that my classmates issue is with the homosexuality issue, since she works in Dayton and they have a comprehensive sex ed classes.

Hmm...should I decide?  Well, I'd certainly like to have that kind of power...but it's not my call.  I have ideas and opinions, sure...but as for making the ultimate decision it's up to the parents as it is with most things involving children.

I reckon communities and parents can decide what to teach...I just hope in my heart of hearts they make a wise decision.  Although recently with the allowance of creationism in science class I'm beginning to wonder about some of the wisdom from these school boards....but that's another topic for another day.

If parents want to take their kids out of 'immoral classes' (which I would assume would be something like "Mistress Sophia's The Fine Art of S&M") then I suppose they can.  There was an option for that very thing at my school.  You had to have parental approval to even take the sex ed class...at least in 6th grade or whenever it was.  Although there's nothing about (regular) sex that seems immoral to me.  I've seen some crazy shit online that someone needs to go to hell for, though.

~Zoo

No accusation here, I was just wondering about it from your perspective.

Thank you Tova7 for writing this article and promoting discussion on government school sex education.

I received a superb public education in the mid 50's and 60's. Then, only facts and subject matter on good health, diet, and hygeine were taught in the classroom. Of 250 graduationg in my class, one girl was pregnant and she married her boyfriend and was still married at our last class reunion.

Along with federal law, each state has their own education laws stating their education philosophy.

Federal Public Law 96-88, Title I, Section 101 states:

“…Parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children, and states, localities and private institutions have the primary responsibility for supporting that parental role.”

And  Maine Education Law, Title 20, Section 1221, which is still on the books states:

“Instructors in public or private institutions shall use their best endeavors to impress upon the minds of the children and youth committed to their care and instruction the principles of morality and justice and a sacred regard for truth; of love of country, humanity and a universal benevolence; the great principles of humanity as illustrated by kindness to birds and animals and regard for all factors which contribute to the well-being of man; industry and frugality; chastity, moderation and temperance; and all other virtues which ornament society; and to lead those under their care, as their ages and capacities admit, into a particular understanding of the tendency of such virtues to preserve and perfect a republican constitution, secure the blessings of liberty and to promote their future happiness.”

Thanks Lula.  I am going to look this up and read it all when I get a chance.  It is just the sort of information having on hand can prove beneficial in certain situations.