Reader comments
Readers' forum: Sex education needed

Anonymous | 2:01 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

You are kidding aren't you?

educate yourself | 7:12 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

What you are asking for, contraception and STDs instruction, are already included in the curriculum. Implementation of the current curriculum is the solution - not a two track system. State language that "prohibits advocating or encouraging contraception" needs to be clarified so that teachers feel they can educate without advocating. And don't think that health teachers are up to date and fully prepared to teach this subject. In fact, many teachers feel the same way you do. With the exception of ob gyn doctors, even medical professionals will admit they are not prepared to teach it. That is why a suggestion has been made to create a standard video that gives accurate and age appropropriate information. Many teachers have expressed support for this idea. Parents could check it out for home use. Don't sell yourself short on the ability to provide this information. There are many good resources on the web on both these topics. The Parent Speak Up Campaign created by the US Health Department has detailed information on both topics. You could even educate yourself in the process.

Getting it right | 7:51 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

The writers are correct. Information and knowledge better leads to good decisions and action. Fear, mystery and lack of knowledge leads to more problems, including abortion, STD's and broken lives.

Comments continue below

Unfortunately, we've seen . . . | 8:03 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

. . . with our sons' friends that the kids who need the sex education the most (because their parents can't or won't give their chidren comprehensive sex education) are the ones whose parents can opt them out of the classes.

We never worried about what was taught in sex ed classes -- our sons had a complete and accurate sex education over time, and knew more than what was taught in class. As a result, they remained celebate . . . didn't experiment . . . and didn't put themselves in the position to have to deal with unwanted pregnancy or STDs. The kids who got in trouble were the ones whose parents taught "just say no" and didn't give them any accurate or complete information.

If there were any way it could be done, I'd like to see ALL school-age children receive comprehensive age-appropriate sex education. They would be much better off as a result.

Roland Kayser | 8:14 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

European teens are just as sexually active as their American counterparts, yet teen pregnancy and abortion rates in Europe are about half of ours. The difference is education.

Sex Education | 8:15 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Keep your pants zipped and your legs crossed. Worked for generations. Somehow, the human race continued to figure out how to propagate.

worldly wise | 8:32 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Today's children are very worldly wise, especially about sex. What is needed is morality.

Brother Chuck Schroeder | 8:34 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Well there Jennifer Webster of Holladay, how can ya'll provide accurate scientific information about STDs and pregnancy?. Enlist your boys into the Military, they'll tell them and show them movies and pictures to there. Planned Parenthood's - the efficacy of different birth-control methods (MURDERING A CHILD) Is this what you want?. If you want your sons to have this information, they already got it, the education system is providing it from K-12, you don't need your Legislature to decide to allow parents to choose a comprehensive sex-education course for their kids. Religion and the Holy Bible does just well. All they need to learn is to keep it in their pants until married.

Roland Kayser | 9:26 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

To Brother Chuck Schroeder: Birth control is MURDERING A CHILD?

Joe Moe | 10:57 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Just have local health clinics set up a course that runs for a few weeks a couple of times a year, which fills in whatever gaps you see in the current curriculum. Anyone who wants to sign their kids up can do so (making it free wouldn't be a stretch).

Leave schools, teachers, and students out of this loaded, political polemic.

It's the only way I can see to avoid having one group force their view of sex ed on the other group, other than having two types of Health courses in our schools, which I think has it's own problems (does anyone know of a school system actually doing that, or should we try a pilot somewhere?)

To Jennifer | 11:02 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Jennifer,

Why do you complain that the School District won't give it to your kids? You said you and your husband already talk to your kids about it. I think that's GREAT. You SHOULD be talking with your kids about it. But you DON'T need to insist that YOUR philosophy on it be taught to EVERY child by the School District.

Personally I don't care if they teach it in the Schools or not. MY KIDS are going to hear it from ME.

If the School District feels it's THEIR JOB to contradict what I'm teaching my kids... that's THEIR decision. But I'M not going to leave this important topic up to some district official or some teacher to decide how or when to teach MY kids about this VERY important life topic.

Personally... I think it is the School's job to teach my kids about Math, English, History, Science, etc. But I wish they would leave teaching my kids about marriage, sex, gay lifestyles, etc, to the kid's family.

I realise those on the Left think this is the school's job though, so we endure it.

Mr Barack Obama | 1:17 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Sex Ed is in schools already, that's why we need to shut them all down. President Barack Obama is coaxing states across the country to rewrite education laws and hopefully get back to Home Schooling and cut deals with unions as to jump off the nearest and highest building on earth if they don't like it, as Parent's will now pursue his vision for home schooling and to shut down all public schools as true school reform.

Rob | 2:29 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Jennifer,

Have you ever heard of a Pediatrician? Or do you want your school to provide that too?

So, schools should take over everything and anything that you feel inadequate to teach your boys? Do you take any responsibility for your own level of competence? Should everyone relinquish their responsibility because you fail to take yours?

Simple solution | 2:37 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

The best option would be to have two different courses taught in schools. One with abstinence based and one that could still be abstinence but also discuss birth control. Then let the parents decide which one they want their children to take.

It is a simple solution that everyone would agree to yet our legislators refused to consider it.

@ "Simple solution | 2:37 p.m." | 5:39 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Simple solution | 2:37 p.m.

The best option would be for kids to learn about this from their parents. What a concept!

Then the kids wouldn't have to take valuable school-time off to take EITHER of the State sponsered Sex Education classes, and the parents wouldn't have to be concerend about what agenda the teacher at the school has or the direction the teacher at school decided to take the class that day. If she's trying to peak their interest, or just educate them about the facts, or teach them ways to cheat and get around the rules their parents taught them, gay sex is OK, it's OK to do it whenever you want just watch out for the consequences, etc.

But I realise I am in the minority so what the heck. Do whatever you gotta do.

Needed like a hole in the head | 8:49 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Yeah -- for 2-3 million years, we've gotten along just fine without paying teachers to show kids how to have sex. But, lately, it's become a requirement for the survival of the species.

What conceit! What hubris!

What a crock!

Simple Solution | 9:12 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Of course parents are the best source for this info.

You sound just like my local legislator on his facebook page.

The problem is that there is a large group of kids that have parents that don't do anything in regards to sex ed in the home. What do we do with them?

Do they just remain ignorant forever?

Those are the ones that are getting pregnant as young teens. Those are the ones that end up on welfare. Those are the ones that cost you and I more money every year.

Saying parents should teach it is the easy way out. Then you can blame the parents. What about the kids with pathetic parents?

What about it?

Christy | 9:16 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

My, what paranoia some of you have RE: teachers and the mandated state curriculum they MUST adhere to! Do you honestly think that teachers tell their students how to get around what their parents have told them at home? Or that they're going to teach kids about gay sex? Or that abortion is a form of birth control? Or SHOW them HOW to have sex?? I worked in a middle school here in OREGON (waaaay more liberal than Utah) for 3 years as the Health Specialist's assistant. I sat through 9 trimesters of 6/7/8th grade Sex Ed. This is what it looked like:

*Male/Female physiology, and reproduction is taught.
*Contraception is discussed in this way -- condoms keep people safe from STD's (STD's are discussed at length in grade 8), and condoms prevent pregnancy. HOWEVER, abstinence is the ONLY 100% effective way to stay safe and not get (someone) pregnant. The extreme physical, emotional and social consequences of getting an STD or having a baby as a teen are discussed at length.

(cont'd)

Christy | 9:18 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

(cont'd)

*Abortion is NOT addressed and any questions students have about it are re-directed to their parents.
*Students participate in role-playing in order to help them learn various ways and situations in which to say NO to peer-pressure (sex/drugs/alchohol).
*Gay sex is not taught.

From grade school on up, students are taught that there is not just one kind of family. There are lots of types of family, and it's ok, because all families, no matter what they look like, love and help each other. Tolerance is a good thing people.

What exactly is objectionable about any of this?

still Christy! | 9:28 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Also, it's always opt-out, although in 3 years, I saw less than a handful of kids pulled. One was an LDS boy, and the others were Muslim kids who weren't supposed to learn Sex Ed. in mixed company.

To "Simple Solution | 9:12 p.m." | 10:02 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009

Simple Solution | 9:12 p.m.

I agree with your sentiment, but you and I both KNOW that's not the real motivation behind the people who insist this be taught in our schools.

S2 | 10:52 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009

You think the teacher's time (at our expense) on getting "up to speed" on the recent medical journals and taking time away from the three R's is worthwhile? Seems you are interested in presenting scare tactics instead of morality.

What else do you want to push off on teachers, ceding more control, power, authority to a most unworthy and improper choice? And in the wrong setting....

Jeesh. Who raised you?

Jeffrey | 11:27 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009

If driver's education was taught the same way this state's conservatives teach sexual education it consist something of this: "Here's a car. Never drive it, or you will die!"

Studies have shown that the more religious a person, the higher the incidence of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The states with the highest incidence of both are the most Red states in the nation.

I suspect that is because religious fundamentalists like to "leave everything in the hands of God", whatever that means, and not educate their children about such obviously "dirty" things. From young ages the children are made to feel ashamed of their "naughty" parts. Natural maturing processes are referred to as "immoral". Comprehensive sexual education is never taught. And parents are so embarrassed to talk about the subject their children are afraid to ask them basic questions, and instead gain their "knowledge" from whatever societal source they encounter.

Our children would be far better off if parents would actually work to educate their children, or encourage others more qualified to do so, instead of filling their heads with mumbo jumbo and scare tactics.

S2 | 2:33 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Kids in England in the elementary grades are taught different positions as different means to provide pleasure for their sexual partners. Necessary? Biology?

Kids in Maryland are subjected to gays introducing life with two dads/moms, and different sodomy choices. Anyone in Utah for providing time/access for these conversations with kids in a public setting?

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