Comments on: Sex-ed lite bill to be introduced in Utah http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/06/29/sex-ed-lite-bill-to-be-introduced-in-utah/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:45:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/06/29/sex-ed-lite-bill-to-be-introduced-in-utah/#comment-20369 Erich Vieth Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:37:19 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=2789#comment-20369 Grumpy. I agree that reasonable people might differ about whether to present various topics as part of sex ed. What I disagree with is this: It should be expected that students might ask sex ed teachers about homosexual sex, oral sex or masturbation. I find it disturbing, then, that a sex ed teacher would be FIRED for attempting to provide information when students inquired about these topics. As though it's improper to provide answers to homosexual sex, oral sex or masturbation in a "sex ed" class. Grumpy. I agree that reasonable people might differ about whether to present various topics as part of sex ed. What I disagree with is this: It should be expected that students might ask sex ed teachers about homosexual sex, oral sex or masturbation. I find it disturbing, then, that a sex ed teacher would be FIRED for attempting to provide information when students inquired about these topics. As though it’s improper to provide answers to homosexual sex, oral sex or masturbation in a “sex ed” class.

]]> By: grumpypilgrim http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/06/29/sex-ed-lite-bill-to-be-introduced-in-utah/#comment-20362 grumpypilgrim Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:31:07 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=2789#comment-20362 I don't see a problem with there being reasonable limits on what is presented in a public school sex ed class. If kids have questions that the teacher can't answer, they should ask their parents or their friends (who often know far more than we adults realize). Obviously, I've avoided the question of whether or not the three topics Erich mentions belong in a public school sex ed class. Such things are often a function of "community standards," which vary from place to place and, thus, are perhaps not subject to generalities we might want to make. That's not to say I disagree with Erich, just pointing out that there is more to this issue. I don’t see a problem with there being reasonable limits on what is presented in a public school sex ed class. If kids have questions that the teacher can’t answer, they should ask their parents or their friends (who often know far more than we adults realize).

Obviously, I’ve avoided the question of whether or not the three topics Erich mentions belong in a public school sex ed class. Such things are often a function of “community standards,” which vary from place to place and, thus, are perhaps not subject to generalities we might want to make. That’s not to say I disagree with Erich, just pointing out that there is more to this issue.

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