With the provocative media and a society that’s quickly becoming demoralized, Sex Education Programs have been called into question. The concern has shifted from whether or not Sex Ed. is appropriate to what kind of approach editors should take. Should they still preach abstinence? Or should they take a more realistic, but also more traditional approach by educating on the correct use of contraceptives? How does the environment in which this class is taught influence the overall effectiveness of the message?
Frequently this class is taught separately, girls with girls, boys with boys. However, in the occasion that the two are mixed, the environment suddenly changes. With giggles at the word “genitals” and the clapping and whistling when speaking of self breast exams, it makes you wonder if sexual health and maintenance cannot be both taken seriously or delivered appropriately, should we even bother trying to deliver the message. To me this question is really not worth asking. I mean honestly, have you looked at a magazine, television, or even book lately? The Twilight series, a popular book and movie among teenaged girls, has even been criticized for presenting abstinence in the wrong way. Who knew that you could propose abstinence in the wrong way?
The point is that educating the younger generations, at even younger ages, is important. Sexual activity is no longer solely an act adults or even young adults indulge in, it’s preteens, middle schooler’s, kids who haven’t even reached puberty. It’s a rapidly growing sexual revolution, and although children may be able to distinguish what is okay to do in a show or what is okay to do in real life, it still gets their minds on the topic of sex, something it shouldn’t be on at such young ages. The opposite sex sure doesn’t seem to have cooties anymore.
So as a “necessary and legitimate course of study,” what is the right approach to take? It’s hard to say. However, by separating boys and girls, I think that it leaves an opportunity for them to miss an important aspect of the course. They should be coed so that they realize the potential awkwardness of exploring their sexuality at young ages. They need to know the facts, both boys and girls, before they get “caught up in the moment.” We’ve all heard that story one too many times, rarely with a happy ending. One website even suggested taking a more scientific approach to the course with hopes of making children realize that sex is a “serious part of their human development rather than a recreational activity.” The possibilities are endless, but it is necessary that we start taking the object of the course seriously and take a more responsible approach to delivering the message. It’s important and if we don’t take the time to educate we’ll suffer the consequences.