READER RESPONSE

Sex education deserves more than five words

bripaf10@gmail.com

Five words? Nothing can be explained in as little as five words, let alone something so emotionally and physically involved as sex. But a recent column claims to have solved the sexual education conundrum in a short edict, "Required in marriage, otherwise forbidden."

The idea that sex is "Required in marriage, otherwise forbidden," is not a universal, provable fact. Some people choose not to have sex when married (many comedians seem to think that marriage is in fact sexless). Others just believe that sex before and outside of marriage is not, nor should it be, forbidden.

"Required in marriage, otherwise forbidden," is just another belief, not an education policy. Parents simply "manning-up" and telling their children that sex before and outside of marriage is wrong, as the columnist suggests, does not work for more reasons than space will allow me to discuss. If that is a value parents would like to instill in their children, then so be it. But it is quite naïve and most ignorant to think that solely teaching children that sex before marriage "is wrong" will work to improve teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates.

The very notion that children should learn about the birds and the bees from their parents necessitates the teaching of sex education in schools. When children see the bisexual dating show on MTV, who will provide the answers to the inevitable questions? "Sex is bad," simply will not cut it. Children deserve and must receive the facts so they can act responsibly. In fact, most will grow up and find themselves in a situation that would require certain information beyond "sex is bad" in order to make an informed, responsible decision. This education needs to come from somewhere. And we clearly cannot rely on parents or "faith" institutions in this realm.

Bottom line, sex is everywhere. Between the mainstream media and the Internet, sexual content is only a few clicks away. Children will be exposed to it whether we like it or not. Simply telling them that sex before marriage is wrong belittles a complicated issue and prohibits children from gaining the knowledge they require to make responsible, sound decisions.