You're right. Parents are also very embarrassed for some reason. Why?
I taught PSHE to Yr 8 last year, and even the mention of the words menstruation/period produced mortified expressions from both boys and girls. They were so embarassed they were all rendered completely mute and unresponsive.
Where's the sense there? It's a perfectly normal bodily process.
The sooner everyone can be more frank the more informed everyone can be about appropriate interactions, make informed choices etc.
I think there is little wonder we have such problems with teenage pregnancy etc in this country when the poor things are garnering their information from hearsay and internet porn.
Do you think starting Sex & Relationship education earlier will help reduce some of this embarrassment that seems to be hampering education when it's started at a later date? Normalise the discussion of such things a bit more?
Do you think starting Sex & Relationship education earlier will help reduce some of this embarrassment that seems to be hampering education when it's started at a later date? Normalise the discussion of such things a bit more?
I do. Its the secrecy that makes it taboo when actually its just life and information should be given. Obviously 6 yr olds dont need to be given the same facts as a 14 yr old but introduce it at a younger age rather than make it the unmentionable.
I was given a book on puberty and sex by the late Claire Rayner when I was about 10 years old - which included a drawing of an erect penis and a cartoon of a naked man laying on a naked woman on a rug, who were having 'pleasurable feelings' - and it was fine. I had a bit of a giggle but I certainly didn't feel the need to go out and have sex and was very much aware that it was something only adults did, though masturbation was fine at that age ..
I think 10-11 is the best age to learn about sex..
Kids need to learn the basics. We are still having thousands of kids leave school still illiterate.
We aren't though! We're having children leaving school who are below average (as is the nature of averages) and this is being dubbed 'illiteracy' for political purposes. Very few are actually truly illiterate.
I do. Its the secrecy that makes it taboo when actually its just life and information should be given. Obviously 6 yr olds dont need to be given the same facts as a 14 yr old but introduce it at a younger age rather than make it the unmentionable.
I totally agree. I can't see why people would object to children being educated on these things if it has a chance to make their lives turn out even just a bit better, or help them become better people.
So nobody who has an unplanned pregnancy, doesn't have yet another? Or somebody who acquires a STI doesn't get another one?
Of course they do, some people never learn. That wasn't what I was saying in my post though. I was saying that it's more likely that someone uneducated about contraception will get pregnant than someone who has had a comprehensive education on the subject.
Waste of time then. The daft kids will ignore it anyway.
On the contrary, it's been shown that good sex education can reduce rates of teenage pregnancy. I think its already been referenced here, but look at the Netherlands and their teenage pregnancy rates and their sex education policy.
Absolutely kids should be getting sex education at school. I'm not sure parents should be allowed the chance to "opt out" for their kids.
We put a simple kids sex ed book on the kids book shelf when they were about 8, I think it was called "where did I come from". We've had "the talk" with their dad covering most of it as we felt it would be less embarrassing for them (two boys), and they've been told to come to us if they want to ask questions.
They have a sex ed/health class at school which they have both taken.
I was glad to see it was so much better than what I was told at school. I was confused at the time and looking back I wonder if the teacher who talked to us had actually had sex...
Absolutely kids should be getting sex education at school. I'm not sure parents should be allowed the chance to "opt out" for their kids.
We put a simple kids sex ed book on the kids book shelf when they were about 8, I think it was called "where did I come from". We've had "the talk" with their dad covering most of it as we felt it would be less embarrassing for them (two boys), and they've been told to come to us if they want to ask questions.
They have a sex ed/health class at school which they have both taken.
I was glad to see it was so much better than what I was told at school. I was confused at the time and looking back I wonder if the teacher who talked to us had actually had sex...
I think I agree. Do you know of many parents who would object.
I think I agree. Do you know of many parents who would object.
As I said we did for my brother because we didn't see the point of it when he and the other members of his class only had the mental age of 1- 5 year olds (my brother has the mental age of a 2-3 year old) and even the teachers admitted wouldn't have understood anything at all.
We wouldn't have mined if it was as some said age appropriate like the difference between boys and girls but this was full details what other 13-14 year olds would have being learning.
Even now 12 years later if we tried to tell him he wouldn't understand any better now my other brother who is also disabled who has the mental age of a 7 year old we were OK with as at least he would have a basic understanding.
Again it was the same as them wanting to give them French and German lessons to children who could not speak or understand English we thought trying to learn him and the others just how to talk would have being a better thing and less confusing.
As I said we did for my brother because we didn't see the point of it when he and the other members of his class only had the mental age of 1- 5 year olds (my brother has the mental age of a 2-3 year old) and even the teachers admitted wouldn't have understood anything at all.
We wouldn't have mined if it was as some said age appropriate like the difference between boys and girls but this was full details what other 13-14 year olds would have being learning.
Even now 12 years later if we tried to tell him he wouldn't understand any better now my other brother who is also disabled who has the mental age of a 7 year old we were OK with as at least he would have a basic understanding.
Again it was the same as them wanting to give them French and German lessons to children who could not speak or understand English we thought trying to learn him and the others just how to talk would have being a better thing and less confusing.
I would probably do the same in this situation as you have to take into account individual physical and cognitive needs.
However, in a mainstream school where the main difference is maturity levels between the youngest or oldest pupil in the year or parental concerns should these stand in the way of the education that pupils need.
Comments
School is (and should be) about learning the skills to live in society as much as it is to learn how to spell.
Do you think starting Sex & Relationship education earlier will help reduce some of this embarrassment that seems to be hampering education when it's started at a later date? Normalise the discussion of such things a bit more?
I do. Its the secrecy that makes it taboo when actually its just life and information should be given. Obviously 6 yr olds dont need to be given the same facts as a 14 yr old but introduce it at a younger age rather than make it the unmentionable.
I think 10-11 is the best age to learn about sex..
We aren't though! We're having children leaving school who are below average (as is the nature of averages) and this is being dubbed 'illiteracy' for political purposes. Very few are actually truly illiterate.
I totally agree. I can't see why people would object to children being educated on these things if it has a chance to make their lives turn out even just a bit better, or help them become better people.
That may be because they have been taught what to do at school.
Yep, instructed to go out and get pregnant. If they'd been at that lesson they'd should already know about necessary precautions.
Her daughter had a baby at 14 and she was bragging about being a granny on FB.
I'd say it's more likely because they weren't taught well enough about contraception or the dangers of STIs.
Of course they do, some people never learn. That wasn't what I was saying in my post though. I was saying that it's more likely that someone uneducated about contraception will get pregnant than someone who has had a comprehensive education on the subject.
Waste of time then. The daft kids will ignore it anyway.
We should probably just ban sex then
On the contrary, it's been shown that good sex education can reduce rates of teenage pregnancy. I think its already been referenced here, but look at the Netherlands and their teenage pregnancy rates and their sex education policy.
We put a simple kids sex ed book on the kids book shelf when they were about 8, I think it was called "where did I come from". We've had "the talk" with their dad covering most of it as we felt it would be less embarrassing for them (two boys), and they've been told to come to us if they want to ask questions.
They have a sex ed/health class at school which they have both taken.
I was glad to see it was so much better than what I was told at school. I was confused at the time and looking back I wonder if the teacher who talked to us had actually had sex...
I think I agree. Do you know of many parents who would object.
As I said we did for my brother because we didn't see the point of it when he and the other members of his class only had the mental age of 1- 5 year olds (my brother has the mental age of a 2-3 year old) and even the teachers admitted wouldn't have understood anything at all.
We wouldn't have mined if it was as some said age appropriate like the difference between boys and girls but this was full details what other 13-14 year olds would have being learning.
Even now 12 years later if we tried to tell him he wouldn't understand any better now my other brother who is also disabled who has the mental age of a 7 year old we were OK with as at least he would have a basic understanding.
Again it was the same as them wanting to give them French and German lessons to children who could not speak or understand English we thought trying to learn him and the others just how to talk would have being a better thing and less confusing.
I would probably do the same in this situation as you have to take into account individual physical and cognitive needs.
However, in a mainstream school where the main difference is maturity levels between the youngest or oldest pupil in the year or parental concerns should these stand in the way of the education that pupils need.