The Sex Education Forum reveals that children find sex ed "too biological." They are urging schools in Britian to teach about the emotional aspects of sex and about relationships in conjunction with the biology of sex.
What a novel idea! :-)
It is about time someone considered teaching our youth about the emotional aspects of sex rather than focusing purely on the physical, "science-y" stuff.
Perhaps if they did, there would be fewer broken hearted teenagers flooding forums like this seeking physical (sexual) solutions to their relationship woes.
Click [URL="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/5007828.stm"]here to read the full article from BBC News.
Wow, I wish that it has been more about emotional aspects and relationships when I did it all. Some people just 'get' that sort of stuff but there are others who are really confused and would certainly benefit from a helping hand.
Me, I aced all the biology and anatomy but I was well into my 20s before I started to understand the emotional aspects.
Not only should it be more about emotions and respect to your partner, and how much it means to some people. But I think it is rediculous that Connecticut is an abstinence state, so they don't even teach us about birth control or using condoms. So tons of peopel use the pull out method and therre keep getting to be more teen pregnancies
Well , now, I don't know. In education facts can be taught; emotions are a bit of a problem. No matter how much you teach a 14 yo with the urge, the emotional can barely be perceived. The life experience is lacking there. Firstly, they need to knw that the strange things their bodies are doing are "normal." Then they need to know how to handle their own individual bodies. Then they need a shot of interpersonal ethics dealing with their bodies interactions with another body that may, or may not, be undergoing reciprocal "things." Then how do they protect themselves during this onslaught of hormones.
So I sympathize with Ryouko. Teach them protection and that would include protection of the ego - respect for others. The emotions are still beyond most adolescents.
can you really teach children the emotional aspects of a sexual relationship? how can you teach someone about respect for one's partner if they do not understand love you cant teach that. you have to experiance heartbrake and rejection love and and affection (i ryme) you cant be told it is like explaining color to the blink you just have to see it for yourself. there is a problem with sexual education in the world today but i think it is the media and entertainment industry that is the problem as long as we allow our children that sex is a contest and women are objects to be used for our simple gratification... i rant alot
You can, however, put the information out there...talk about the emotions--approach sex as an iontimate act between two people that stems from an emotional connections--and like Brandye said, teach them respect--to respect themselves and others. They should at least know that the potential for love and heartbreak with sex is there.
i wish at my schools they had even talked about the biology of sex. in arizona, schools only get state funding if they teach abstinence only programs (which may partially explain the astonishing rate of teen pregnancy). however, even if they do talk somewhat about biology, there is no law that requires teachers to provide the students with medically acurate information. there have been reports that some schools tell the kids that if you have sex, you WILL get pregnant and WILL get an STD, there is not chance, they tell it in absolutes.
so I think the aspect of teaching the emotion involved with sex, is a small matter when compared to actually teaching the facts of sex in general, but it would be a good, yet difficult idea.
It's easier to teach facts. Because facts are universal. Emotions vary from person to person.
[QUOTE=sum1special313]It's easier to teach facts. Because facts are universal. Emotions vary from person to person.[/QUOTE]
Yet still subjects like philosophy, theology and women's studies are taught.
For all of those things, the viewpoint of the student is inextricably linked to the subject matter and how the material impacts them. The same is true with teaching the emotional aspects of sexual education.
Therefore I think it is possible to teach this subject even though it is not as factual as biology.
Its the same in Australia.
They tell us to wear condoms, to not re-use condoms, to be clean, why people masturbate, is it natural? blah blah, what the vagina looks like etc.
It's sex education, not sexual organ education.
Sex education is like this website. And boy oh boy, if they taught us what this site teaches us in school, I would never tune out in a lesson for the rest of my life
I think that what Brandye said is true [QUOTE]Firstly, they need to knw that the strange things their bodies are doing are "normal."[/QUOTE]
I grew up with the notion that sex is wrong and all things to do with sex are wrong. Until you get married of course. But my parents or teachers never tell you then when you start to get "urges" and different feelings that it is "normal". Then you get confused and frustrated.
While I agree that younger kids may not be able to grasp and understand their emotions to the extent that some of you do, I still believe it is important to talk to them about the emotional side of sex and try to help them understand it. Just because they may be too young is not a good reason to avoid the subject or treat it as an aside to the biology.
Young teens are a bit more emotionally aware than some of you give them credit for.
We should teach kids how to make decisions about when it is the right time for them to become sexually active and part of that, necessarily, is the emotional component. Leaving that part out would be not unlike teaching history and leaving out why the Revolution occurred.
Alot of schools still lack in sex education, then they want to know why teen pregnancy rate is high, or why states are fighting over abortion or non-abortion. The kids struggle day to day with emotions, some are ready for the emotions of sex (not many in my opinion though), come to think of it, there are alot of adults who can't handle the emotions they have when it comes to sex. How do adults handle adultry from their partner, or if they are having trouble pleasing their partner or vise versa. Women and Men, we are all confused emtion wise, I don't think there is a REAL answer out there for any age. We just have to continue to grow and learn at any age