Sex education. Do you think it should be taught in schools? What grades?

[RadishRose]

Age 10 seems about right for Reproduction Education.

 

[CaliS]

As a teacher of science in a girls junior high school I taught some biology including the various systems of the human body. This included the digestive, skeletal and respiratory systems, circulation of the blood, hormones, and reproduction system. We did not talk about, nor teach very much about human sexual behaviour. I did manage to explain the various methods of contraception available at the time and how each one worked to avoid unwanted pregnancy. It was hardly enough but better than what I received at the same age.

When they asked questions, I did my best to give factual answers but steered away from morality. That was not the role of a science teacher.

I actually like the scientific approach best. That's what we got, and even though my Mom never really had the "talk" with me, I learned everything else from friends - and I'm guessing young people still do that as well.

The moral side of sex education is a bit too relative - I would think - depending on various other factors in your life (religion, etc)....

 

[Murrmurr]

I had the class in 8th grade, unfortunately it was a male teacher and coed class. I was not comfortable at all.
In this current state of what is gender and not, I am not sure what would be right or if each student could
select the teacher and classmate attendees. It just could be a bit touchy or maybe kids now are not affected
as much as I was due to the "entertainment" they view anyway. I should just hush up now.

I doubt kids today could be embarrassed. Even boys and girls who don't watch Tik-Tok, or whatever, talk to each other about it. When my granddaughter was 13, her male bestie knew what time of month she wouldn't feel up to go shoot hoops with him, or even get a visit.

Anyway, health class in 8th grade we all watched that Disney movie about the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and what the uterus and testicles are for. That's where it should end.

There shouldn't be a gender class.

Between age 8 and 13, nearly all girls go through a stage when they feel being a boy would be more beneficial than being a girl.

Between age 3 and 7, almost all boys go through a stage when they feel life would be nicer if they were a girl.

This is not dysfunction, and does not mean they are Q, L, or T. It is quite normal, and outgrown in a year or two on average. It is a form of envy and/or admiration at a time when children are unsure of themselves while becoming socialized, trying to fit in with their playmates, are starting pre-school, kindergarten, or jr. high, or who simply very much admire their beautiful loving mommy or strong handsome daddy, or an aunt, uncle, hero, etc., and wish they were like them no matter what gender.

 

[old medic]

When you think back on it, how do you want to remember the first time you made love?

Not the cold pool pump house floor at the campground.... But was what it was

 

[Della]

It used to be a choice between the school or the parents teaching sex education, but these days internet porn is the teacher for far too many kids and they're learning the kinky stuff before the basics. It's a wonder they aren't all terrified.

If I had five minutes with the girls I would just emphasis one thing: Take care of birth control yourself. It's your body that will get pregnant. Before you have sex go to your mother, your doctor, or the free clinic and get something reliable and use it. Don't believe a word the boy says about it.

 

[HoneyNut]

but these days internet porn is the teacher for far too many kids and they're learning the kinky stuff before the basics.

I like to read books for free on online websites, and I prefer the books that just have a story without the constant sex scenes, so I mostly read from the 'young adult' category, and the site used to just have innocuous ads but now every time a reader clicks Next to go to the next page, it redirects to a cartoon porn site with very sick women-objectifying and harming content. It's really awful stuff to encounter as an adult, I'd think terrible for young people.

 

[CaliS]

If they talk normal and explain stuff it's no problem, but my son got it when he was 10 or so and mrs said it's spring and it's totally normal to have sex in spring and find a date and she showed them a movie. It wasn't real porn, but animated with sex sounds.

One boy joked: can't we see the real stuff? And they had to answer questions. She asked my son what porn was. He said entertainment for adults. He thought the lessons were utterly stupid, but they have to get them in this country.

See, this is what I do not agree with --- teaching what is basically an opinion. I don't think school should talk about porn either.
Keep it biological / educational .... even functional is fine - but minus the commentary.