I’m sick of groups filling us up with propaganda to justify their cause. Whether it’s breastfeeding, natural birth or the education equivalent – sex-ed, hardly a day goes by without a study released pointing to the same old conclusions. Whilst these causes all have merit, there comes a time when one gets sick of being lectured to via an endless cycle of propaganda.
There is some validity behind the push to enforce sex ed on classrooms around the world. Like any other area, knowledge about safe sex in particular, makes a great deal of sense. But having witnessed various programs in action, I can’t help but think that sex-ed is extremely overrated.
The idea, as a recent study claims, that children in the absence of sex-ed turn to porn is ludicrous:
Australian researchers Maree Crabbe and David Corlett said children were turning to adult films because schools were not handling the positive aspects of sex.
The researchers presented their findings at a conference at London University’s Institute of Education.
“Discussion of sex and intimacy is too often avoided in schools,” they said.
“Porn has become a cultural mediator in how young people are understanding and experience sex. Porn is our most prominent sex educator.”
Diane Abbott, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, said: “The rising numbers of girls having under-age sex is alarming. It is not a cost-free phenomenon.
“It poses public health policy challenges and social challenges. The underlying cause must be the ‘pornification’ of British culture and the increasing sexualisation of preadolescent girls.
“Too many young girls are absorbing from the popular culture around them that they only have value as sex objects. Inevitably they act this notion out.
“Government needs to respond to spiralling under-age sex, not with pointless schemes to teach abstinence, but with better PSHE teaching in schools for both girls and boys.”
I find the conclusions of this study extremely difficult to believe for the following reasons:
1. It seems to be inferring that if provided with a sex-ed course children wouldn’t turn to porn. Yeah right!
2. That mandatory PSHE classes would radically minimise the number of under-age sex and boys would come to show more respect to girls having taken the course.
“Up until my sex-ed course, I was treating women like objects, but since my classes, I am a changed person.” Yeah right!
3. I have sat through these classes and an inordinate amount of time is spent on the differences between the male and female anatomy. Whilst this is obviously of some value, most porn stars themselves don’t know the difference between a vulva, clitoris or vagina (even the female porn stars!).
4. Is it really the teachers job to “handle the positive aspects of sex?” If so, I quit! I’ve got more important things to do than promote sex to under-age children. This assertion is downright irresponsible. Can you imagine the outcry if kids came home telling their parents that they want to lose their virginity because their teacher told them that sex is a wonderful thing?”
5. Parents, follow my advice on this one. Your child’s sex education is primarily YOUR responsibility.
I refuse to promote sex in my classroom! I would sooner quit my profession than get involved in such downright immoral and undignified behaviour! If you are worried about girls being treated poorly and kids engaging in under-age sex, don’t point at a lack of sex-ed classes or blame the proliferation of porn. Instead remind parents to do the job they were entrusted with when they decided to bring life into this world.
Let’s cut the propaganda and get back to what we signed up to do – let’s teach the curriculum!
Tags: British Association of Sexual Educators, David Corlett, Diane Abbott, Education, Maree Crabbe, Mary Clegg, Parenting, Porn, PSHE teaching, Schools, Sex, Sex Education, Sex-Ed, under-age sex
Topical Teaching 
December 18, 2011 at 1:31 am |
When I gave birth naturally to my son and breastfed him, I wasn’t aware I was participating in the spread of propaganda or an annoying cause. Silly me, I thought that was what my body was designed to do. 😉
That study seems a bit bizarre. Personally, I don’t understand why such a fuss is made about sex. It’s another biological function just like any other. I’m not sure why reproduction can’t be taught as simply as digestion or respiration. Moral aspects should probably be left to the parents.
When I was in 7th grade back in the 70s, I had a radical hygiene teacher. We learned how to polish our nails one week and how to use a condom the next. Part of our homework was to discuss the day’s teaching at dinner that night with your family. Needless to say, we had some interesting conversation at my house from 5 – 6 PM. In hindsight, I think that was a good thing for all of us. It made us much more comfortable talking to each other about “sensitive” topics and opened the lines of communication in ways they wouldn’t have been open without this exercise. My parents still laugh about it to this day.
I’m glad that my son feels comfortable talking to me and asking me questions. I hope that is always the case.
December 18, 2011 at 11:49 am |
Thanks for the comments. I’ve missed reading your incisive take on things. Just on the breastfeeding issue, I understand your point, it is just hard for my wife and I to be reminded of how disadvantaged our child is (socially, academically and healthwise) because our daughter wasn’t breastfed. It was traumatic enough when we were forced to make the decision in the first place.
December 18, 2011 at 3:55 pm
I can totally understand that. I’m not into pressure no matter which direction it comes from. We all do the best we can. And when nature doesn’t cooperate, we can be thankful we have the brains to invent equivalent solutions. Enter baby formula.
It’s one thing for scientists to cite statistics and another thing for individuals to condemn others for not doing what they think to be the best thing. The first helps us make an educated decision. The second is just plain bullying.
January 5, 2012 at 6:07 pm |
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