Sex education in school.

[Pegasus_77]

Do you think it delay or encourage the first sexual intercourse?

 

[Pegasus_77]

It all goes without saying that sex is an indispensable part of human, whether it is for reproduction or sheer joy. In many countries, it has been a mandatory course which most students need to attend unless they really oppose it. To say the least, it helps reduce the incidence of STDs when teenagers use condoms or things like it.
But does it encourage the first sex experience ?

 

[illram]

Studies show sex education delays sexual activity and decreases STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Link. (Scroll to the bottom portion entitled "Effectiveness of Sex Education Programs.")

If you're more knowledgeable about sex and its consequences, it makes sense that you would make a more informed decision on when you want to begin having sex.

 

[Goodfella]

Sex ed in 9th grade did not make me more inclined to have sex at all. The abstinence portion was hilarious and everyone knew it was just moralistic nonsense required by Virginia law. But don't take my anecdotal evidence:

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-Teen-Sex-Ed.html

Research clearly shows that comprehensive sex education programs do not encourage teens to start having sexual intercourse; do not increase the frequency with which teens have intercourse; and do not increase the number of a teen's sexual partners. At the same time, evaluations of publicly funded abstinence-only programs have repeatedly shown no positive changes in sexual behaviors over time.

On the other hand, if it's that big of a deal, we can always just go with this approach.

 

[MilesGregarius]

...To say the least, it helps reduce the incidence of STDs when teenagers use condoms or things like it.
But does it encourage the first sex experience ?

Every study I've seen on the matter seems to agree that more accurate sex education delays a teen's first sexual activity.

If it reduces the negative consequences of being sexually active - unwanted pregnancy and STDs - would it really matter if it encouraged earlier sexual activity? (Again, the data seem to point to it discouraging such.)

 

[Kyriakos]

I think in an ideal setting it would be a real help to teens. But in the current school setting it is prone to be seen as a joke/awkward etc.

I don't recall if we ever had any such course (maybe just one lesson? maybe none at all, maybe three for a sole week or something).

The problem is the overall crappy situation of society which renders this another point of issues. Btw there are many girls (and not just girls) in the late teen age who pretty much suffer heavy trauma due to all this.

 

[MilesGregarius]

I think in an ideal setting it would be a real help to teens. But in the current school setting it is prone to be seen as a joke/awkward etc.

I don't recall if we ever had any such course (maybe just one lesson? maybe none at all, maybe three for a sole week or something).

The problem is the overall crappy situation of society which renders this another point of issues. Btw there are many girls (and not just girls) in the late teen age who pretty much suffer heavy trauma due to all this.

Research clearly shows that comprehensive sex education programs do not encourage teens to start having sexual intercourse; do not increase the frequency with which teens have intercourse; and do not increase the number of a teen's sexual partners. At the same time, evaluations of publicly funded abstinence-only programs have repeatedly shown no positive changes in sexual behaviors over time.

It appears you're talking about something else altogether.

 

[Kyriakos]

No, i just alluded to the fact that (sadly) here -at least when i was in late highschool- we virtually had no such course at all. Which is why i stated the pros and cons for that, the cons being all an effect of societal failures and not an inherent negative element of such a course.

 

[warpus]

Do you think it delay or encourage the first sexual intercourse?

Depends on what sort of sexual education you're talking about. If it's proper sexual education where sexual matters are discussed openly, I believe studies have shown that this will decrease teenage sexual intercourse, teenage pregnancy, and teenage abortion rates.

No, i just alluded to the fact that (sadly) here -at least when i was in late highschool- we virtually had no such course at all.

Really? That's strange. Isn't Greece generally a fairly progressive place?

In contrast, in grade 6 in Germany my biology class was shown an explicit video of a man and woman having sex, as a part of the sex-ed portion of the course.

 

[Kyriakos]

Really? That's strange. Isn't Greece generally a fairly progressive place?

In contrast, in grade 6 in Germany my biology class was shown an explicit video of a man and woman having sex, as a part of the sex-ed portion of the course.

We are more on the doom metal side of things :S

 

[Pegasus_77]

Studies show sex education delays sexual activity and decreases STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Link. (Scroll to the bottom portion entitled "Effectiveness of Sex Education Programs.")

If you're more knowledgeable about sex and its consequences, it makes sense that you would make a more informed decision on when you want to begin having sex.

yea, unconsciously I think it is like what you say. More knowledge, less ignorance thus less reckless behaviors

 

[Tee Kay]

If it reduces the negative consequences of being sexually active - unwanted pregnancy and STDs - would it really matter if it encouraged earlier sexual activity? (Again, the data seem to point to it discouraging such.)

The issue is whether younger teens have the mental/psychological capability to deal with sexual matters.

I don't have a strong opinion on this but it might be worth looking at if the data points the other way, but it doesn't so it isn't.

 

[Synobun]

Even if it did encourage earlier sex, I would say the benefits outweigh the costs. Young people who are informed about the risks and educated on how to prevent diseases and trauma will go on to be much healthier in their development than if they began early and were clueless through it all.

@Tails: Since children express sexual curiosity starting from the age of 3 or 4, I don't think it'd be fair to consider teenagers as being incapable of grasping their minds around sex.

 

[Tergiversater]

We are more on the doom metal side of things :S

I am curious how old you are, an thus able to judge what current children are being taught in sex education classes.

I say this as I would hazard anyone over 25, the education system in their country will have been reformed so many times we are only reminiscing and guessing.

 

[MilesGregarius]

Even if it did encourage earlier sex, I would say the benefits outweigh the costs. Young people who are informed about the risks and educated on how to prevent diseases and trauma will go on to be much healthier in their development than if they began early and were clueless through it all.

@Tails: Since children express sexual curiosity starting from the age of 3 or 4, I don't think it'd be fair to consider teenagers as being incapable of grasping their minds around sex.

I concur.

Truly comprehensive sex education would of necessity address the emotional issues involved.

 

[Tee Kay]

Since children express sexual curiosity starting from the age of 3 or 4, I don't think it'd be fair to consider teenagers as being incapable of grasping their minds around sex.

I don't believe it's fair either, personally. Unfortunately, the whole topic of child and adolescent sexuality is taboo (and not just dinner-table-taboo either) so good luck trying to argue that as basis for policy.

Truly comprehensive sex education would of necessity address the emotional issues involved.

Yep. Abstinence-only education is doubly worse from this point of view.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Sex ed needs a lab course.

 

[Tahuti]

In contrast, in grade 6 in Germany my biology class was shown an explicit video of a man and woman having sex, as a part of the sex-ed portion of the course.

Seriously? Even I didn't get to see such a video in High School and I went to school in the Netherlands. We did have biology textbooks describing accurately all sexual behaviors, but we didn't really saw any movies. And I'm pretty sure that showing movies featuring sexual intercourse would simply ensue hilarity.

 

[Zelig]

We did have biology textbooks describing accurately all sexual behaviors

Well that seems unlikely.

 

[civ_king]

Sex ed needs a lab course.

Yes, clearly it needs a hands on portion.