Hi

Ed Blass had today announed that legislation is being brought in that will mean parents have no right to withdraw their child from Sex Education classes once they reach 15. This means in therory that all teens should receive at least one years worth of education about sex, contraceptions, STD's and relationships, faith schools will not be able to back out either although they will allowed to teach topics within "the tenets of their faith".

So called PHSE (Personal,Social Health amd Economic) will be enshrined in the curriculum from September 2011 and will be backed up by legislation. Under current laws parents have the right to withdraw their children from Sex Ed until the age of 19.  5 year olds will learn about parts of the body, 7 year olds will learn about puberty and the facts of life and when they are of secondary school age topics will include contraception HIV and Aids, pregnacy and different types of relationships including same-sex unions and civil partnerships.

What do you think, a step in the right direction or another attempt to undermine the rights of parents, whose responsibility is it to teach these things, schools or parents? will this help teenagers to get all the facts, irrespective of parental or religious disapproval and will it stem the tide of STD's and teen pregnancies or is it another blow for family life in the UK and an erosion of parents rights to bring up their children in the manner they see fit?  

Hmm I'm torn on this. My father practically abandoned me when I was around 12 and he would never have spoken to me about these types of things before then and I imagine if he had stuck around he still wouldn't have.
My mum wanted me to tell her when sex education was to happen in my school as she didn't want me to sit through it (back then it was just a few lessons and an 'interesting' video lol) as she didn't want me to get the wrong idea about the topic.
Well that's all good and well but she was also far to embarrassed to talk about sex with me as well! Where else would I have learnt about it?
As it happens, I was terrible at school and only saw the rubbish video. Otherwise I learnt about sex etc from nicking my older sisters Cosmopolitan mags and from older female friends.

So really I can see why having all the information in school is helpful for children whose parents won't broach the subject with them. Which I think is wrong on the parents really. I feel it is the responsibility of a parent to help their children through life with everything that will happen to them in time. I know I will try my hardest to talk openly with my children though the example given to me was quite the opposite (you were being rude if you mentioned sex, I even got teenage mags and cut out the word sex everytime it appeared otherwise my mum would have a go at me for getting a rude mag! madness now when I think about it.) I needed to grow up and learn and my parents should of been there to teach me when I needed to be taught.

BUT saying all this, each child is different. They learn at different speeds. Some children may be ready for a sex talk when they are aged 8. Some won't be. But they obviously won't cater to each childs need. I think teaching sex to child who isn't ready could have an adverse effect than what they hoped for. As in my case, not teaching me about sex had an adverse effect. In a way for long time, I never thought of it as 'natural' more as something naughty and rude. Something you didn't talk about, which is also wrong!

In a way, it's finding a balance with the child. When they are ready to learn what they need to know etc and IMO the only person who knows the child well enough for this, is their parents.

I hope that comes across ok, it's something I feel strongly about and some parents now shrug their responsibilities off onto other people (as opposed to the school taking responsibilities off the parents) or to no one at all and it can have a big effect on a child once they are an adult.
Co-CL on Mum's Club December 2008, Great Debates
& Mum's Due July 2010

Hi

I think you raise some really good points. I think it is probably parents like your mum that this piece of legislation is hoping to overcome. I have no issue with parents who would prefer to give their kids the facts of life themselves rather than via the school, it is those parents who boycott Sex Ed lessons with no intention of supplying the shortfall themselves, thus keeping their kids ignorant and ignorance is not the same as innocence.

I think studies done elsewhere have shown the the more exposure young children have to the facts of life and all that that involves are less likely to indulge in underage sex, and thus are less likely to get STD's or pregnant. I take on board what you say about picking and choosing the time and some children being more ready than others, but I guess that is true of any school subject, some children are more advanced than others in a particular subject but the teacher has to teach all of the class at the same time.

I went to an RC secondary and don't remember much, if anything. about Sex Education. Looking back I was incredibly naive and sheltered and it wasn't until I went to Uni at 18 that my eyes were fuinally opened lol. I don't think we did much about relationships or feelings and certainly nothing about contraception.

I don't want this for my children. Whilst I would never want them to be promiscuous (and I hope they have more respect for themselves and others than to sleep around) I hope that they will always be safe. I think the PHSE curriculum is pretty good actually and it teaches about emotions and feelings within a relationship which is much better than merely learning about the mechanics.  

Hi Bumfy,

I think the fact that parents won't be allowed to remove their children from Sex Education classes from the age of 15 is an excellent idea. I think far too many parents don't talk to their children about sex, std's, relationships, safe sex etc. Some through embarrassment and some through ignorance and denial that they need to.

However I don't agree with the teaching of body parts to a 5 year old and facts of life and puberty to 7 year olds. I think 9 would be a more appropriate age when some children are starting to have experiences of puberty. I believe our children need to have the knowledge but I also believe we need to keep them as children for as long as possible.

Hi

I take on board what you say about letting children be children but I don't have a problem with introducing body parts at 5 as long as it is done in a age appropriate and sensitive way. Children at this age are incredibly curious and are already aware of the difference between boys and girls parts. Many will already know the basics because they have younger siblings.

I think if it is done in conjunction with teaching about the whole body and not just concentrating on sexual organs, then that would be okay. As for puberty being introduced at 7, again I can understand parents reservations, but the fact remains that many children, especially girls are entering puberty earlier and earlier. As our children get heavier and taller the average age of a first period is falling and some kids will start showing signs at a surprisingly early age.

 I think these plans are a good idea and if, as happens in other EU countries who also follow this model of teaching, we can see teen pregnancy rates and the alarmingly high rates of STD's start to fall then that just be a good thing.