Sex education in elementary school?

[Burning Down]

In Ontario (where I live), a new curriculum regarding sex ed has been introduced and it faces a lot of opposition. The new curriculum outlines sex education for children in elementary school (ages 4-11). Please read an article before commenting:

CTV Toronto - McGuinty defends starting sex education in Grade 3 - CTV News

TheSpec.com - Local - Angry parents plan sex-ed protest

Ontario Grade 3 students to receive sex education | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

Ontario premier defends sex-ed curriculum

I see the reasoning behind this - that kids should be getting this kind of information from reliable sources instead of from friends etc. When I was in school sex ed didn't start until about grade 7 (age 12). But by that age, most kids have some idea of what sex is, mostly from their parents (the "where do babies come from" type of thing). I know I did. I do think it's important to discuss homosexuality with kids because a lot of parents are probably afraid to do so themselves. I also think it's important that the consequences of unsafe sex practises and such be taught before kids reach puberty, but will it stop kids from going out and getting STD's, getting pregnant, etc when they're 13? Do you think sex education in school at such early ages is even appropriate?

[TheCunningStunt]

Sex ed

I learnt from pornography still, I never had any problems.. thankfully.

[mr dave]

i'm all for it.

from the sound of things it's going to be a worthwhile program. it's not like they're going to go into the finer details of multiple orgasms and prostate massages for 7 year olds.

i grew up in the Maritimes and back when i was in school we started sex ed in grade 4. it wasn't dirty and there was no agenda. the first few years were basically focused biology classes. it's only when i got to grade 8 that they started teaching about the spread of STDs through promiscuity. even still, most of the kids in my grade 4 class already knew the gist of procreation.

but that speaks of a different generation of parents. they were actually more open to discussing these concepts with their kids than what i see with my generation and their children, or maybe it's because i grew up in a rural area and the cycle of life is a more obvious thing via livestock. my niece just turned 11 and as far as my family knows my sister has managed to keep her oblivious as to what sex is. on one hand it's nice that she wants to protect her daughter and maintain her innocence but how is that really preparing her for what's to come in the next few years once she hits puberty?

the attitude to limit and deny proper sex education seems to have been gaining ground over the last few years especially with the whole 'abstinence' movement. i also recently read articles about the spread of HIV/AIDS actually increasing within young women along with an spike in the spread of gonorrhea and syphilis.

hmmm maybe educating the kids BEFORE they start doing it as opposed to assuming they just won't isn't such a bad idea. it's not going to stop idiots from acting like idiots but it should provide guidance for those who aren't sure on how to proceed to do so safely.

[90'sMusicKid]

Yeah, I new everything there was to know about sex by age 10 thanks to pornhub.com

[Burning Down]

Originally Posted by mr dave

the attitude to limit and deny proper sex education seems to have been gaining ground over the last few years especially with the whole 'abstinence' movement.

I think the idea of "abstinence only" education is stupid. It doesn't work. And I think the whole idea behind it is that educators are afraid to talk about sex, which is ridiculous. Sex is something that is necessary for survival, just like eating and sleeping. So why do they treat it like it's "wrong", etc?

I'm all for sex ed at the elementary level as well. You're right - kids only need to know about the basic details of sex! This is something that needs to happen in Canada and the US (with their pointless "abstinence only" education) to change the tight-lipped attitude we have towards sex. I'm pretty sure that in Europe, sex is treated with a much more liberal attitude.

[IYT]

Originally Posted by 90'sMusicKid

Yeah, I new everything there was to know about sex by age 10 thanks to pornhub.com

Ohhhhhh yeah. Thank pornhub and redtube.


I also think that all of these children should be put into sex ed at the right time. Not when they are too young but before they learn that sex is fun. Right around the masterbation ages. (10-13)

[Burning Down]

Originally Posted by 90'sMusicKid

Yeah, I new everything there was to know about sex by age 10 thanks to pornhub.com

Do you have something intelligent to contribute to this thread or are you just going to spam it?

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by Burning Down

I think the idea of "abstinence only" education is stupid. It doesn't work. And I think the whole idea behind it is that educators are afraid to talk about sex, which is ridiculous. Sex is something that is necessary for survival, just like eating and sleeping. So why do they treat it like it's "wrong", etc?

agreed on all counts but i have a conspiracy theory about the 'abstinence only' method.

consider North American demographic trends. the population is getting older and less and less people are making babies to replace the geriatrics. in the states it's around 37 (in Canada it's 40). you know many 40 year olds just starting a family? never mind the increased health risks for women who wait until they're well into their 30s before having their first child.

so... what's the best way to counter act it? how do you get kids to act a certain way? by getting all the prim and proper members of society to encourage them to act like their stuffy selves?.... or to make it taboo. yeah don't do it. sex before marriage is bad. that's totally going to stop them, and i'm starting to think that's the actual point of the program... not to actually stop teen pregnancy, but to actually encourage procreation through ignorance.

[duga]

^

Wow, if I've ever heard a conspiracy theory, that is one for the books.

The weird thing is...it makes total sense. Wow. I need to think about this now...

[Alfred]

I'm not a fan of this. My parents told me what sex was in when I was in grade two, but that was their place, not the school's. I don't see why this needs to change.