Editorial: Whose job is sex education?

There would have been a few shocked readers yesterday with the story about sex education and how detailed lessons have become.

Pupils as young as 12 are learning about oral sex among other things while 14-year-olds are being taught how to put condoms on plastic penises.

Teachers have reportedly said they have to be graphic and upfront to get the messages across. Family Planning says New Zealand has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates, with children as young as 12 sexually active. It says awareness programmes are particularly effective if they begin before young people start having sex. But some parents and other members of the community aren't happy.

Pastor Jon Parker, from Living Well Church in Rotorua, says teaching children about sex too early leads to high numbers of teen pregnancies, sexual assaults on teens and a "horrific" number of sexually transmitted diseases among teens.

He says the lessons "normalise" sex for youngsters. Both Mr Parker and a Rotorua parent told The Daily Post it was the parents' responsibility to teach their children about sex.

As parents we must decide which viewpoint we agree with - education either prevents the problem or causes it.

Our shocking record shows something needs to be done. Of course it should be the parents' job to tell their kids about the birds and the bees - but that approach doesn't seem to be working.

The best thing to come out of this debate is a greater awareness among parents of what is being taught.

Parents have to sign a consent form for their children to receive sex education. News reports show that until now not all parents were aware how graphic some of those lessons are. They have every right to withdraw their consent if they're not happy. If high numbers of parents pull their kids out of sex ed, schools may well get the message they need to tone it down.

But parents who take the onus of sex education away from the professional educators should be prepared to take on that responsibility themselves ... and ideally not leave it too late.

YOUR VIEW

We asked our readers on Facebook: Do you think schools go too far in what they teach children about sex?

 Leonie Jones its necessary, girls as young as 13 are having babies so that means they are having sex ... but people will never be happy with anything & will always complain ... those are the ones whose children will have no idea & get pregnant ... knowledge is power ... at woteva age >:-)

  Kayla Eru I dont think it should be left up to the schools to give children sex education talks, it comes down to the parent. Why are parents complaining? When the schools are doing what the parents obviously didnt want to teach their own kids. If it is necessary then i think let the schools do what needs to be done, and stop complaining.

Naomi Paul ... It is definately up to the parents to inform their kids of the more detailed stuff and the emotional side of things but them having someone elses spin on it cant hurt can it?

 Lisa Adlam Don't think ... teachers doing the sound of an orgasm is appropriate, I'm no prude but think sex Ed shd be regulated Aka get family planning to do it and leave teachers to do teaching after all it would free them up for a few hrs goodness knows they need it since they get overworked as it is

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