Deseret News | Sex ed is Pandora's box

Reader comments
Readers' forum: Sex ed is Pandora's box

Crawfish | 4:57 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Yeah, guys. Parents have done a great job on their own in the past, right?

Crazy | 6:13 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Sex has been a fact since the beginning of time. Pretending that the world has changed and new types of relationships have come into existence simply is childish.

Understanding the function of your body is more important that math, science, drivers education, etc. Many parents fail to educate their children. I don't understand why many want to leave this function up to some mystery person. That is simply irresponsible.

Do what works | 6:51 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

If sex ed can be shown to improve the health and or the life choices of young people, it is a legitimate subject of study in the schools. If not it ought to be abandoned in favor of academics.

Studies have now proven that abstence only sex education doesn't work in the schools. Now we need to try a comprehensive approach. If this works great, if not scrap sex altogether.

Comments continue below

"Nongovernment-funded" | 7:40 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

"Nongovernment-funded entities" -- what is this writer talking about, Energy Solutions or Walmart to take responsibility for educating our children?

Darrel | 7:44 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

If kids aren't taught about sex, they will figure it out on their own anyway. The only danger is they will not learn about controls or safety measures. While I agree abstinence is best, a teenager caught in the moment will not be rational. The best place to learn these ideals is in the home, but when the word "sex" still make Mom and Dad blush...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the topic will not be brought up in the home and left to church leaders and seminary teacher to do their job for them.

Sensible | 8:26 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

The basic mechanics of reproduction is an appropriate academic topic for schools. How to behave sexually is not -- that discussion belongs in the home.

Sadly | 8:42 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Many kids learn about sex on their own, and probably know quite a bit more than their parents on the subject.

glendenb | 9:00 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

No, Cynthia, those different relationships do not require different forms of sex education. You've gotten hung up on the forms and missed the deeper realities - successful relationships are characterized by behaviors and attitudes which strengthen and support both partners. Sexuality education programs - effective, comprehensive ones at least - invite students to examine what they believe makes a good relationship - things like commitment, shared values, open communication, love, consent and mutual respect. Sexuality education programs will empower people to make decisions throughout their lives concerning their sexuality.

The types of relationships you pointed to aren't new; they've been around forever. Recent research showed that 95% of Americans report engaging in pre-marital sex. One night stands have happened forever. Same sex couples have always existed. And polyamorous relationships have been around forever. They aren't new; our awareness of them is new.

Other nations offer comprehensive sexuality education in their public schools; the behaviors of American teens and teens in other nations are all but indistinguishable; it's just those nations have far lower incidents of STIs, unintended pregnancy and abortion.

Leave them alone | 9:14 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Although the world has become crass and ugly, some children manage to maintain their innocence regardless of the attempts of adults to engage them in these issues.

Anonymous | 9:24 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Ignorance is Pandora's Box. It leads to more abortions, more STDs, more broken lives.

Felix Urioste | 9:32 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

People don't have sex until marriage. Only immoral people do that.

Just One Dad | 9:45 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Sex education is not teaching about the act of sex, it is more about teaching about what parts of the body do, how they function, their purpose, risks, pregnancy, love, passion, and feelings.

I'm glad my parents were open enough to discuss it with me early enough that I was balanced when my classmates talked "the talk". That I can be open with my sons as they reach the age to discuss it.

I don't mind if schools teach sex education because my kids go not to learn about sex but to add to the information I've hopefully answered and provided already.

Robert | 9:46 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Public schools are not the place for this type of education. Which teachers will teach the classes? Teachers are not trained to provide sex education.

Ultra Bob | 10:02 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I believe the worst place in the world to learn about Sex ed is in a classroom filled with other students.

I think that people develop sexually at different ages and different ways and that the best way for an individual to get the best information about his/her case is one-on-one discussions with an educated councilor.

If the parent can do this great.

If not there needs to be competent professional help available from the school, church or government.

The best way might be for the councilor to be counseling both the child and the parent.

Yeah | 10:17 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Leave them alone (9:14 a.m.) is right! We should not teach our children anything about sex. They don't need to know about it because it will only encourage them to have sex.

Planned Parenthood | 10:19 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I think the writer wants Planned Parenthood, a "nongovernment-funded" entity, to teach our kids about sex.

Bro Chuck's Rant n Rave's | 10:26 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Oooooooooooh please. Sex ed is in Pandora's box, don't believe it, sit in on a class, in any grade, K-12, read it, hear it and even watch video's on it to. It's all there. There is NO MORE innocence today in children. By the time they are 8, they want to get pregnant, and go on welfair. Because gang's and adults do engage them in these issues. Like it or not, it's all true.

Anonymous | 10:45 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Robert... teachers aren't trained in Sex education??? Neither are parents. IF we had Sex Education, teachers would be required to provide the most accurate, up to date information... unlike mom and dad.

CB | 3:00 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Seems to me that we have plenty of sex training
going on in the school already. How many teachers have
been intimately teaching some of our students this past year. I'm in favor of educating the educators about their responsibility to the youth. I find that those who are all for sex education are more interested in limiting parental responsibility than teaching the youth. The best approach is to have sex education for parents, who then can teach their own children that which they think is applicable in the privacy of their own homes.

amen... | 3:04 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

to Cynthia

Mike Richards | 3:06 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Sex. Sex. Sex.

Adults have found a way to make money from it - just visit your local grocery store and glance at the magazine covers. Movies entice viewers by including sex in every imaginable way. Books would never be sold without sex. Clothing is advertised with sex as the objective.

What does that have to do with children? Aren't the owners of the advertising agencies adults? Aren't the owners of the publishing companies adults? Aren't the studio heads adults? Aren't the owners of the clothing manufacturers adults?

Why then are we surprised that our "educators" can't find morals in an immoral world? How many of them refrain from sex outside of marriage? How many of them have a desire to remain faithful to one and only one person throughout their entire lives?

Good people know that sex is the door through which our lives are blessed with children. Evil people know that they can make money by preying on sexual appetites. Educators should know the difference - but they just don't care. They could just as easily be teaching a class on mechanics - but then they couldn't make the students blush.

leave them alone | 3:18 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

@yeah When my kids wanted to know, they asked. Then I told them. They also got their dose of sex ed from the school and then came home and talked to me about it if they wanted more info. They seemed to think a lot of it was yucky. Some of the parts that stuck in their young heads were the sweat glands. Poor things, thought they were going to start sweating like pigs. To each in their own time; not all kids are the same, panting to know everything and morbidly clinical.

With the apparently over-sexualized teachers we have out there, I wonder why you are so anxious to turn the subject over to them for indoctrination and desensitizing.

We must have been successful, healthy family having no unwanted babies or nasty diseases.

Duh | 3:45 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Oh yeah, let's leave kids to find out about sex on their own, with each other, without their parents knowing anything about it.

You parents really need to open your eyes. If you won't teach your kids the truth, they will find out about it on their own, and by then your opinions on the matter will fall on deaf ears.

We teach kids about the respect for life and that murder is wrong, is that encouraging your kids to become murderers?

Anonymous | 4:09 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

When I was a teen the last thing me and my friends wanted was to listen to mom and dad talk about the birds and the bees... I bet that still hasn't changed amoung teenagers.

@Anonymous 4:09 | 4:34 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Now there is the truth.

Bryan | 5:59 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Who gets to teach who? (whom?) The teens I know could/should be teaching the teachers!!

So?? | 8:06 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

But common to all sexual relations is the need to understand STDs. Utah needs a sex ed program that works or at least the choice to get that education if a student and their parent so choose.

Anonymous | 8:58 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

The school systems fail on sex ed and financial planning.

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