Do you think children should have sex education in primary school?

Question

This issue is being raised on the news today. Apparently British teens are the most sexually active in Europe. It is now being thought that sex education should be taught to children in their final primary school year, when aged 10 or 11. Do you agree? Or do you think this is too young?

Answer 1

It is a difficult issue....as there seems to be some evidence that teaching kids about sex at a young age can in some instances enourage sexual activity.....i.e. things are opened up and explained to them and kids being kids want to try things out.....unlike smoking or taking drugs, how negative can you be about sex [so as to put them off from indulging at ridiculously early ages] whilst explaining the ins and outs of it all [!].

I personally think that the age of 11 or so is a sensible age to start....so either final Primary year or 1st senior school year....clearly some kids develop a lot sooner than others and therefore I guess you need to cover those ahead of their time in your thinking.....

Whilst it might shock parents that their innocent young child is being taught an adult area.......and maybe the thought that they are growing up is disturbing......accurate and sensible education through school has to be an important factor for them. It just needs to be done sensitively and in the right way so as not to be a catalyst for increased under age sexual activity.

Walkigng down my local High Street and seeing young girls pushing prams is an all too familiar and somewhat depressing experience....I think that young parents / Mums could be used in the education system to enlighten kids on what it is actually like to have to deal with a kid at such a tender age....

Answer 2

Well this is actually a 2 part question: First part being the unappropriate touching. My daughter who is only 3 yrs old just learned about it Preschool. In this day and age children need to know it's not ok when people touch them in that way.

Now with sexual education i learned it in the 6th grade. Most of which i already knew. A few friends of mine were already having sex by that time. In all honesty i feel that the kids should be aware of it about the age of 8-9 then each year it gets approched throught the year to refresh their memories. You have kids have kids! It's getting to the point that 7th graders are having kids! It never happened that way when i was in school but it does now! With everything the way it is kids need to be aware of the consequences of their actions! Sex is fun, enjoyable and all but at some point there is a danger involved. It's that danger that kids dont really see. I think more emphasis needs to be brought up about pregnancy, protection and STD's! Knowledge is power. I personally will see to it that my kids are educated when they become curious about sex. I don't want grandkids in 10 years from now!

Answer 3

I was a lucky one who had a great mother who sat with me @ the age 10 and told me everything and with such gentleness, i admit i went omg I'm going to die but that was 45 years ago and things were not as open as today, plus i did learn sex education @ school when i was 11 so i don't know what there saying about teaching it now.
There is nothing wrong with sex education .
I would as a mother bring it in a lot younger after all they have different sex doll's now and you have to give children credit there not stupid with TV and what people talk about everyday in front of them.
Right or wrong little ears pick up even when u think they are playing nicely with there toy's, how often have u heard a child come out with something and u think ...gosh where did that come from.?
I am stunned after reading some matrial on here from young Teen's who are still asking very fundamental questions........ it is every-ones right to know the facts I'm not saying @ 5 you should lay the bare facts in front of them but slowly and with out shame or embarrassment answear there questions........... i did with my two children one of each sex they took it as very normal tho at times i did have a little laugh to myself with what they did ask so innocently put as it should be.
Knowing the fact's does not mean you are mature enough for sex.

Answer 4

I am 57 years old. And when I was younger, we found out more by experiment than any thing else.
But I think the biggest problem is that the British still treat SEX as something DIRTY and try not to face up to it.
What is needed is a more open attitude to SEX. Things like condoms should be advertised openly on television & radio. This way they would not be something DIRTY.
SEX or MAKING LOVE, between 2 consenting adults is a wonderful thing. And should not be turned into something disgusting.
If the people of Britian had a more open attitude, sex education would not really be required.

Answer 5

My oldest had sex education at that age as part of the curriculmn and my other son will have it this year at the same age. Although the responsibility ultimately lies the parents, the truth of the matter is , the kids already are getting information about sex from their peers and the media. It has been a success in our school district with no teen pregnancys for years.

Answer 6

It depends on what is taught

With the power of capitalism and culture being taken away from the family and community. If civilisation survives 200 years is the problem.
Advertisers exploit human basic instincts when the individual is not mentally mature to cope with them to sell more products.
We all like our basic instincts tickled whether it is a good thing is a different matter.
Sex education is only trying to patch up the mess caused by consumerism. The future does not look hopeful for kids or adults.

Answer 7

10-ish sounds about right if you're going to give a full fledge education including discussing the anatomy, intercourse, conception, birth, etc.

however kids 6 or 7 already know quite a bit, occasionally look at each other's body parts, and so a well designed sex education cannot hurt, I don't think, especially for those children whose parents, for some reason, don't tell them anything. And it can have positive side effects, such as making children more aware of things, so that they can much more quickly react / complain to a parent / teacher, if some nasty adult starts doing some things and presents them as normal or innocent (sad, but exists)

Answer 8

Parents also need to start taking responsibility - it is not enough for the schools to be doing it alone, If there is any possibility that a 10 or 11 year old child ( or younger) might be showing signs of sexualised behaviour they need to know the facts. Children know a lot more about sex these days, but a lot of their information is incomplete and the whole subject needs to be explained properly

Answer 9

yes i believe children of 10 and 11 should know about sex education.
firstly before the water shed (9pm) there is always a form of sex on t.v. so we all know they know more than we think.
also many children start to develop from the age of 8 to 9 yrs of age and they are asking mums and dads whats happening to their body's

also with the rate of teenage sex these days there must be some thing done NOW
if the children know whats going on or what will be going on in their own body's then this knowledge will give them the power to understand how to say no to pier pressure

and know whats right for them as well
i let my children know the changes of their body's from age five as that's when i noticed that they were starting to tell the difference between man/woman/boy & girl and body shapes
in primary they wont be going in to detail of how we make love or deseases but how the body changes from child to adult and what happens inside of them aswell

after all why let our children live in the dark ages when they are able to have thier voices heard let them understand what they are saying too

Answer 10

Times have changed

When i was 10 i was outside playing with my friends, or riding my bike to the sweet shop...but my friend says her son who is 11 already has a girlfriend and is more interested in girls and rugby then riding his bike.

Children have seemed to mature earlier and so i think we need to change the sex education to reflect this...otherwise we will have young teenagers experimenting without any knowledge and so that could lead to a whole load of problems.