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As a recent product of public sex ed, I can tell you there are many things being left out including gender identity, sexual orientation, how/where to get contracepetives, how to use condoms and masturbation.  I do believe it is up to the parents to teach their children about sex, and that what is taught in schools ought to be review by the time it's brought up there.  However for many it is not. Your kids are turning to the internet instead, which can be a wonderful resource, but can also be filled with misinformation.

Your kids will be sexually active, around half of them are by the time they're out of high school.  You can only scare them away from it so long before hormones override guilt and fear.  Fear based education does not work, and will later cause confusion and resentment.  And as any parent ought to know, the more secretive you are about something, the more curious the kid will become.  If you take away the taboo, and present rational reasons why something is bad, then a child will be far less likely to engage in that action.  Abstinence only isn't working; even Texas is looking at expanding their curriculum (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/DN-sexed_09met.ART.State.Edition2.4b781ac.html).

Your kids are smart, but no one can outwit biology.  Parents must talk to their kids early, in a safe supportive environment to reduce the risk of an unwanted pregnancy or worse.  Kids make bad decisions, but they can reduce the damage if they are armed with knowledge.

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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