I don’t want to be a grandma yet!
So, I found this story on the newswires:
Sex Ed Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Comprehensive sex education may help reduce teen pregnancies without increasing levels of sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted diseases.
So find U.S. researchers who reviewed data from a 2002 national survey of more than 1,700 heterosexual teens, ages 15 to 19.
The findings, published in the April issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, support comprehensive sex education, concluded Pamela Kohler, the study’s lead author. “There was no evidence to suggest that abstinence-only education decreased the likelihood of ever having sex or getting pregnant,” she said in a prepared statement.
This study offers “further compelling evidence” about the value of comprehensive sex education and the “ineffectiveness” of the abstinence-only approach, said Don Operario, a sex education expert and professor at Oxford University in England.
And here’s my take:
My daughter, Freckles, is in fifth grade, although she’s only 10, and she recently brought home a notice from school that they’re going to be learning about the changes the body undergoes during puberty - in other words, sex ed. They’ll be separating the boys and the girls and showing them each different movies, which we as parents are invited to preview. We are also allowed to opt our kids out of this program entirely.
I plan to preview the movie but mostly to prepare my daughter in case I need to. I absolutely do not intend to opt her out of sex ed.
In fact, I’ve been talking to my kids about sex fairly openly and pretty honestly for a long time - in terms and using concepts that are age appropriate. Mostly this results in a lot of giggling on their part and a lot of blushing on my part. But, I think it’s important. Especially since Freckles has been bringing home ideas and terms that she’s picked up from friends who clearly have not been talking to their parents - or to anybody who knows anything.
So, like it or not, they’re hearing about sex whether from friends, videos, commercials, TV shows, the internet or pop music. Best to get correct information in my opinion. I honestly don’t know if it will help my kids avoid becoming a teen pregnancy stat, but for sure it can’t hurt.
What do you think?
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Newsvine4 Comments
Post a comment
Loading ...
Dear Sarit: This is a touchy subject among parents who come from a strong faith-based perspective. And yet, it is a subject we cannot afford to ignore. I grew up in a strongly Christian family — and out of four of us, two had children out of wedlock, one had an abortion, and at least two were sexually assaulted. “Don’t” simply isn’t enough information.
About a year ago I wrote a column for CatholicExchange advocating for the HPV vaccine that caused QUITE a stir: http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/61736
I’m also attaching a link for a post I recently did on this subject. The key, I think, is finding ways to reconcile the desired end result (helping our children form healthy patterns of relating to other people, especially within marriage) with the reality that, in the end, our children need to be empowered to make those choices for themselves.
This is not throwing in the towel or abdicating responsibility. This is a simple recognition that, as parents, we need to be working ourselves out of a job.
P.S. In USA Today yesterday there was a story about the “National Caring Awards” that listed Dallas Jessup, the teenage girl who wrote and produced an excellent self-defense video for teens called “Just Yell Fire!” I have a link to it at “Mommy Monsters”: http://mommymonsters.blogspot.com/2008/04/caring-awards-ordinary-people-making.html
sex ed is great for kids. even 10 year olds. unplanned pregancies occur because of poor education.
Thank you for posting this information.