Sex Ed

I have heard that various school districts. including that one in Chicago have been having sex ed for kindergarteners. I am opposed to this. Sexual information should come from a child's parents, not the school. I know that's a conservative view point, but I also have some very solid reasons why.

Public schools, when they teach about human sexuality discuss the biological mechanics of reproduction. If that were all, it wouldn't be such a bad thing. I admit, they are better at explaining the science than I. However, the schools do not stop there.

Next, they try to explain inappropriate touching. They say, "Don't do this", and "Don't do that", and "Tell an adult if someone touches you in a way that makes you uncomfortable". It's a noble effort, but when you tell a child not to do something, more often than not, all you've succeeded at doing is giving that child a bad idea. Also, when it's an adult doing the "touching" most children don't know which adults they can trust or discuss it with.

More often than not, a discussion on birth control and STD's comes up after the "Don't touch" talk. In effect, they are saying a child can engage in sexual activity without physical or emotional consequences as long as they use the condom and/or pill. If that fails, then (for girls) "here is the address and phone number of a women's 'reproductive health' clinic where-in you can receive services without notifying a parent"; and (for guys) "if you get a STD that's just too bad, make sure you tell your next sex partner... oh, and never mind if your sex partner becomes pregnant" (I'm not sure if that's changed in recent years, but when I was in high school, that's where they left it with the guys).

Somewhere in the process a discussion of gender orientation comes up, but only in a "non-judgemental" way so that no one's feelings get hurt, and to reassure youngsters that if they are not attracted to anyone of the opposite sex, or attracted to both sexes, or have an unusual sexual fetish, then it is "normal" and "natural" they will never EVER change.

Most of the above is information is important and most of it should be taught (although I might leave out the fatalistic gender orientation part).

What is lacking is context (see Things We Should Tell Children About Sex). Sex is wonderful and important, but it has its place. Most of my generation has no idea what sex even means. We were told to just do whatever "feels right", without regards for truth or consequences. The President of the United States when we were in our youth spoke this pearl of wisdom before the Grand Jury to carried throughout the ages:

lifted from this website

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the--if he--if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not--that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement....Now, if someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked me a question in the present tense, I would have said no. And it would have been completely true." -Former President of the United States, Bill Clinton

Yeah, right. And the older generation wonders why the my generation is confused about sex.

I'm Coming Out Of The Closet

It's so stressful to keep such a large part of myself a secret. I feel so guilty and torn for not telling my loved ones. I'm worried how I may have mislead them. So today I am being courageous and announcing it to the world that... (brace yourselves) I am heterosexual. Yes. I am a straight female; and what's more... a monogamous straight female.

I have at times been seen holding hands and being affectionate with a man, who is my male husband, who doesn't mind that people know he is straight and monogamous as well. I'm sure not everyone who reads this will be surprised; especially since we have had three biological children of our own (which of course that fact has been very difficult to hide).

I know it's not popular, or cool to be straight right now, and marriage obviously can be very risky, but I must come out of the closet on this issue.  I also know I'll be attacked by heterophobes who believe I am living an unnatural or unhealthy lifestyle; and I'll be accused of destroying society by bringing in children and raising them to be straight or celibate, and teaching them to get along with people of the opposite sex, to drive cars that run on fossil fuels, and to question or oppose socialist policies. However, I choose to accept the risks because I am so courageous.

Now that I've said that, and posted it on my blog, I expect to be called by talk show hosts and VIP's to congratulate me for my courage. My picture posted on the Wheaties box would be nice too, even though I am not a second rate football quasi-celebrity.