Ontario Sex Ed Curriculum Uproar

[Rhondazvous]

When I was 8, my mother, a professional vocalist, put out a song called Love3 Brought You Here, which pretty much expresses her attitude toward sex education.
http://rhondadenisejohnson.com/lovebroughtyouhere.mp3

I found a book around the house called Love and Sex in Plain Language and asked her if I caould read it. She looked it over and said yes. I thought, good because I already read it.

[Regina]

I can't deal with parents who are against age-appropriate sex education.

These parents are pissed because their kids are learning to use protection and stay safe... and more often than not these same parents will be the ones who will have the biggest meltdown if their teen daughter comes home pregnant.

What are we to do, lock our teenage kids up and pretend they're not curious about sex? Good luck.

[Rhondazvous]

If we don't teach them to understand their bodies, they will teach each other to misunderstand them.

Yeauxleaux made a point—age appropriate. Curiosity about our bodies starts when we first learn that we have bodies. Shame about telling children the proper names for things (I've seen web forum where words like penis, vagina and even breast are replaced with *******) is part and parcel of the Christian agenda to make us feel guilty about our very existence. This shame should be done away with along with all the other superstitions they've bamboozled us with.

[vorlon13]

If we don't teach them to understand their bodies, they will teach each other to misunderstand them.

Yeauxleaux made a point—age appropriate. Curiosity about our bodies starts when we first learn that we have bodies. Shame about telling children the proper names for things (I've seen web forum where words like penis, vagina and even breast are replaced with *******) is part and parcel of the Christian agenda to make us feel guilty  about our very existence.  This shame should be done away with along with all the other superstitions they've bamboozled us with.

"Age appropriate"

{into the abyss}

No kidding,  I was inserting things by 4th grade.  I didn't do it very often till much later, but I did do it.

I'm assuming telling a class not to would result in some experimentation, but as I know for a fact, some experimentation was going on.

I did something else in junior high that resulted in a trip to the doctor, (not the ER however).  I think in that instance, a caution before I did it would have stopped me, or made me sufficiently careful as to avoid a problem.  I suspect (but do not know for sure) that another boy in my class did the same thing with similar results.

[Pyrrho]

If we don't teach them to understand their bodies, they will teach each other to misunderstand them.

Yeauxleaux made a point—age appropriate. Curiosity about our bodies starts when we first learn that we have bodies. Shame about telling children the proper names for things (I've seen web forum where words like penis, vagina and even breast are replaced with *******) is part and parcel of the Christian agenda to make us feel guilty  about our very existence.  This shame should be done away with along with all the other superstitions they've bamboozled us with.

"Age appropriate"

{into the abyss}

No kidding,  I was inserting things by 4th grade.  I didn't do it very often till much later, but I did do it.

I'm assuming telling a class not to would result in some experimentation, but as I know for a fact, some experimentation was going on.

I did something else in junior high that resulted in a trip to the doctor, (not the ER however).  I think in that instance, a caution before I did it would have stopped me, or made me sufficiently careful as to avoid a problem.  I suspect (but do not know for sure) that another boy in my class did the same thing with similar results.

I do not wish to know the particulars of your story (and thank you very much for not telling us!), but you are certainly right that educating people on sexual activity is a good idea.  Every sexual animal manages to have sex without an education, so we know that the urges will work without it.  So the religious zealots are being moronic in supposing that not telling people about sex will prevent sex.  But knowing about it can help one avoid problems, and that is a very useful thing.  Both for the individual, and for society at large, as it may help prevent the spread of disease.

I can also say, with great confidence, that I am sure I did not engage in sexual activity due to education about it.  Indeed, learning about diseases and such things made me more cautious than I would have been if I had been a totally ignorant fool.

[MentalGiant]

Nah, just let em' figure it out the "old fashioned way" whilst the "adults" pretend teens would *never* dream of having sex outside marriage!

I actually never had sex ed until my JUNIOR year of high school when I transferred to a public school (talk about too little too late). My parents never talked about it either besides telling me "it would bring great shame on the family if you ever "shacked up" with a guy and if you get knocked up unmarried, we'll disown you" (they actually almost did disown me when I moved in with my now husband). Thanks Catholicism! I learned from my asshole first boyfriend who filled my head with lies because I was so young and totally naive on the subject, instead of from qualified educators who actually provided sound, unbiased information. I just want to scream at all these people who are anti-sex ed and pro abstinence ed. They put their kids in a position to either unwittingly have to deal with a unplanned pregnancy, diseases or all kinds of fucked emotions they aren't prepared to handle because their parents don't live in reality and want to shelter their "kids" until their 25!

[Rhondazvous]

"Age appropriate"

{into the abyss}

No kidding,  I was inserting things by 4th grade.  I didn't do it very often till much later, but I did do it.

I'm assuming telling a class not to would result in some experimentation, but as I know for a fact, some experimentation was going on.

I did something else in junior high that resulted in a trip to the doctor, (not the ER however).  I think in that instance, a caution before I did it would have stopped me, or made me sufficiently careful as to avoid a problem.  I suspect (but do not know for sure) that another boy in my class did the same thing with similar results.

I do not wish to know the particulars of your story (and thank you very much for not telling us!),

I was going to reply to vorlon, but read this and decided against it.

but you are certainly right that educating people on sexual activity is a good idea.  Every sexual animal manages to have sex without an education, so we know that the urges will work without it.  So the religious zealots are being moronic in supposing that not telling people about sex will prevent sex.  But knowing about it can help one avoid problems, and that is a very useful thing.  Both for the individual, and for society at large, as it may help prevent the spread of disease.

I can also say, with great confidence, that I am sure I did not engage in sexual activity due to education about it.  Indeed, learning about diseases and such things made me more cautious than I would have been if I had been a totally ignorant fool.

Yes, education about the basic birds and bees and various disease is good for all, but we don't need teachers to tell us how to engage. That would probably mess things up because each person is unique and wants what they want, not what you learned in class. Who wants standard sex?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I've met some Canadians. No offense, but they need all the sex education they can get.

Boru

[Dystopia]

I actually agree that sex ed on schools shouldn't be mandatory - Maybe it's because of the culture I've raised in, or it's just my defense of the rights of parents which, in my country, have progressively diminished in the name of "safety" and "health". I do agree with a comprehensive programs from those who wish to have those classes, and I think homosexuality should be included as it is a sexual orientation and not everyone is straight. I don't think teachers should be saying what their opinion this, or if they're tolerant or not, or if they're gay or straight personally, only facts should be exposed. I hate the idea of the government programing its education according to an ideological agenda, even if it's an agenda I particularly agree with.

[MTL]

Keeping your kids ignorant
and keeping them innocent
are not the same thing.