Jasmin Jackson
Amanda Melchor-McCown
English 1301
28 June 2013
Sex education, who’s responsible for educating our children? When it comes to children or students engaging in a topic such as sex, most parents would reject the fact that their children even understand the real meaning of the word “sex”. In today’s society sex is a vast subject, particularly to young children and students ranging from ages 10-16 years old. We as responsible adults cannot help to ask the question, “Who should be responsible for educating our children about sex?” Us as parents would quickly jump to acknowledge the obvious answer responding, “It is my responsibility to teach my son/daughter about the value of sex.” On the other, hand we send our children to school every day, hoping they gain trust and develop strong healthy relationships with the teachers they encounter daily or the peers they spend time with during passing periods, recess, and lunch periods. It is a tough decision, but you cannot relinquish the fact, being that to some students, a teacher might be the only other adult role model in their lives. I feel it is very discrediting to tell a teacher not to speak to students pertaining to issues like sex, which engulf them in today’s world. I think it is partially the teacher’s responsibility to speak with, educate and give healthy advice to students about sex as time and age permits. When I was a young girl my parents always made it very clear to me what sex was. It was basically an open subject, anything I wanted to know about sex I could ask my parents without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. Even my grandmother and grandfather would openly have discussions about it. In my household growing up, I wasn’t shunned or told to leave a room when those uncomfortable scenes came on television in fact that would lead to another discussion, lecture or comical statement making me feel comfortable and uncomfortable simultaneously. I always wondered when I had a child if I would steer away from the subject. I now find it easier to talk about working with young children everyday who are very inquisitive and tell everything that goes on at home. I cannot help to feel that if these parents would answer the minor questions now we could avoid big issues later. Why is it so hard for parents to answer questions pertaining to sex, but so easy for them to get mad when their child has asked a teacher or another adult about the topic? Some parents argue with the school systems implementing such a class that educates their child/children about sex, wondering how the teachers are presenting the topic or how much advice is suitable to give the students? If your son/daughter will not talk to you who else is left in the picture for them to seek healthy advice? I myself being a parent would not mind if my child sought advice from another trustworthy adult. A survey done in Harrison County, TX displayed the views of parents who feel if sex education must be taught in the classroom, then the information taught should reflect the parents values. Parents also felt the Texas sex education policies should be changed as well (Dispelling the myth: What Parents Really Think about Sex Education in Schools). The purpose of this survey was to determine what age students should be to begin being educated; also what type of information should be taught. This brings us to the next argument parents are making. Sex education can be better conveyed to students when talking to a mom and dad or a husband and wife. The correlation is easily seen by students, suggesting that sex is very important and the act should be done in love and commitment. This does make sense, if students can see the significance in mom and dad’s relationship; hopefully this is the type of love they would want to find. Texas lawmakers are also considering Senate Bill 521. If passed this bill would make it harder to teach sex education in the public schools. This article was Texas based and
