dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! This course should be taught in middle school forward and handled as a natural part of life not something to be ashamed of.

Violameister Loc: michigan

I agree.

It seems to me that sex education is best done by parents for children who are young enough to not yet be involved in sexual hormones, etc. The kids then learn facts without all the emotional baggage. But for some reason that I do not understand, that is not happening, and has not happened for 100 years, or at least since most folks lived on farms.

So the schools have to do it, and that brings in politics and all kinds of other baggage. The family has a right to decide if the family philosophy is "sex is OK between anybody and anybody any time" or "No sex before marriage" or something in between. And the schools have a big conundrum trying to decide which of these to teach if at all. And this is because parents, in general, have abdicated to a large extent their responsibility for teaching/training their children to be competent human beings and left it to somebody else.

In the old days, every kid had a younger sibling of the opposite sex whom they may have seen taking a bath, so everybody knew anatomy pretty well. On the farm, all the animals mated and the kids watched and learned. Of course, even then, unwanted pregnancies occurred, but pregnancy prevention technology was rudimentary. Including condoms in family conversations today could be pretty easy once the other items had been learned.

I think the above may be a bit confusing. Summary: I believe parents should have a big role in raising children, which includes sex education. Parents have largely abdicated the overall big role of child rearing due to work, internet, Television, etc. etc. I would like somehow for the pendulum to swing back.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

A College course? really? If they haven't figured it out by now they never will.
Educated Fools comes to mind : To think some of these people may become involved in politics, or teachers.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

So all this sex education from kindergarten on, free condoms and birth control and they have not figured out how a girl gets pregnant? Then ease of free abortions and morning after pills?
Something wrong with this picture.

Dannj

The last paragraph in the previous comment explains a lot.

(Refers to Manglephotos comment)

Dannj

The last paragraph in the previous comment explains a lot.

Dannj

Sorry for the duplication on this but I was referring to Manglephotos' comment.
(Tried to edit but couldn't figure it out)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm glad to say I never needed that course. One less thing to worry about

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

If you read the article you will see that Arkansas only allows "abstinence only" education in public schools. This teaches only "just say no". It doesn't teach anyone what to do if they decide to say "yes". In our school district years ago the ONLY comprehensive sex education course was for those who were already pregnant! Too little too late, ya think?

The abstinence-only education at that time was coordinated through a religious organization. My young daughter brought home a booklet that explained how condoms didn't work - it said "condoms laugh at STD's". (The message therefore being that if you are going to have sex, don't bother using condoms or learning to use them correctly!) My daughter was smart enough to know that she was being fed a line of garbage, so a number of us parents organized and demanded hearings at the school board to get a comprehensive sex education course free of religious bias. The board was actually moving against us when the superintendent over-rode them and demanded that a comprehensive program be developed that was age-appropriate for sixth grade up.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's amazing what they decide to do, isn't it? Anything goes. "Facts? We don't need no stinking facts!"

No sex education, no birth control, no abortions, and no welfare for single mothers - the wishlist of many politicians.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Kids take it because it's a blow-off course, they think it's funny, and it's an easy elective credit. They already have the answer--or not, as the case may be.

Ka2azman Loc: Tucson, Az

Why pay for a college course when the cost of one and only one aspirin will stop a pregnancy. The girl places it between her knees and holds it there!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I read it but I believe there is more taught than is officially noted. Pessimist in me.

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI