Posted by  James Rugg, St. Cloud, Minnesota on 01/05  at  09:56 PM

The methods used to teach sex education the last few decades are harmful to students. If parents and churches were doing their job, there would not be a need for schools to include sex in their curriculum. Students definitely need to completely understand their sexuality. If parents were doing their job, sex education classes would be much more meaningful due to informed students. Sex should not be introduced in primary grades as was promoted by Joselyn Elders. Sex is not a recreation and the psychological ramifications of free sex can taint a person for life. It is a serious subject. The only safe sex is abstinence. Personal responsibility and self control can eliminate the need for mental health treatment.

Posted by  Stephanie LaRue, Tampa, Fl on 01/05  at  03:59 PM

I strongly believe that sex education should be taught in our schools. Kids today are going to have sex no matter what their parents say.

My mother’s philosophy about sex was: “You don’t do it until you get married, so you do not have to know about it.” She taught my sister and I nothing about it. We learned in school.

There are so many diseases out there today that these teens need to know what they are facing and some parents just won’t talk to about it.

I would also encourage all parents to talk to their teens.

Posted by  Dr James Aungst, Portland, OR on 01/05  at  03:49 PM

Why would any responsible parent want anyone else to “educate” their children about sex (or moral behavior in general)? I guess the key word is responsible.

My suggestion: Parent sex education. Teach the parents how and what to teach their children, then let the parents take it from there.

Posted by  fernanda ferreira, massachusetts on 01/05  at  02:48 PM

My opinion is that these teachers need to be check on their background big time before they get higher. I have a big story that I could write a book on for the teacher that became assistant principal and don’t think that she should be in public schools. But what can you do if the administration don’t care about it. My english may be poor but this story is very interesting when we are talking about taechers, those that we trust with our kids…

Posted by  Richard Dugger, Odessa, FL on 01/05  at  02:25 PM

Sex Education.
Yes we need our schools to teach it, but I doubt that in this day and age that anyone could agree on what should be taught. I am sure there are a huge amount of parents that will say they do not want their child taught about sex. They would prefer they learn about it on their wedding night.
I’m laughing - are you?
Kids have sex.
Kids get Aids.
Kids die.
I’m sure that is more reality than your readers want, but we know that is the truth.
Adults seem to think that telling kids to wait will work - I ask this question - did you wait?
What did you know when you first had sex? Where did you learn it?
I’m betting your answers are your kids answers too.

Posted by  ted church, Memphis, TN on 01/05  at  10:51 AM

The only monitoring “outside” groups need it to make sure they tell the truth!  Of course, that is equally and seriously frightening to folks with other agendas, such as abstinence-only groups or let-em-do-whatever-they-want groups as well.  Ask anyone who has been around teens—and even pre-teens—for about thirty years as I have been: the truth always is best!!
Of course, parents should be the primary source for this information, as well as some other subjects.  Then, again, from my thirty-plus years of experience, they aren’t always reliable or truthful.  So you folks have a serious decision to make: reliable, truthful professionals or something less.