Sex and Relationships Education

[marshlander]

A newly published report has concluded that primary and secondary-aged school pupils should have an entitlement to compulsory Sex and Relationship lessons in schools.

"Compulsory sex and relationships lessons for 11-year-old children are to include classroom discussions on gay unions and civil partnerships. Secondary pupils will learn about contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), while primary school children will learn about their bodies and friendships, a review of sex education has concluded.

The review was ordered in October after ministers announced that sex and relationships education (SRE) lessons should be made compulsory to help primary and secondary pupils to “navigate the complexities of modern life” and to ensure that children learnt their sex education from the classroom, not the playground."

I admit I thought that sex education was already required under the extended National Curriculum, but these orders will come into effect in 2011.

Currently 1 in 2,500 parents withdraw their children from sex education lessons. I'm pleased to see that at least some people consider this to be a breach of children's rights. As a parent I came under a lot of pressure from my religious then-wife to follow a bit of a fashion among her community to withdraw our kids from the sex bit of PSHE lessons. I refused to agree with her on this point, but got a lot of stick for it.

While I might have expected it of The Sun I wouldn't have expected the headline in The Times to be so provocative. Editors! :frown: Article here.

[fredv3b]

Does sex and relationship education do any actual good? Does it change kids actual behaviour or attitudes? (Apologies for my cynicism)

[marshlander]

There must be a reason why the UK is pretty high up the lists for unwanted pregnancies and STDs.

[fjp999]

Does sex and relationship education do any actual good? Does it change kids actual behaviour or attitudes? (Apologies for my cynicism)

[COLOR="Purple"]I suppose if taught with respect and equality to all it may help just one child and that would be a great start...

I recall when joseph was very upset over his college not teaching about gay sexuality.[/COLOR]

[marshlander]

Interesting. Remember the discussion about the children's story, "And Tango Makes Three", we had recently? Children love stories and will eventually reach a stage of cognitive development when they can begin to extrapolate deeper meanings.

If this report means that younger children are going to be exposed to a wider spread of family arrangements in fiction and imagery I would be much in favour. The alternative of being unacknowledged, or even invisible, is pretty demotivating.

I had a look through the children's section in Gay's The Word in London on Saturday and was disappointed to see a relative poverty of suitable titles. I don't think this is a reflection on the shop. It is one of my favourite independent book shops. mile: Maybe the new orders will encourage UK publishers to commission better stories from good authors and illustrators. If writers of the quality of Jan Mark (RiP) were willing to write also for very young children it should not be beneath the dignity of others.

[Kiid]

I'm 16 I'v done sex ed at school there was nothing covered about homosexuals. Sex ed was coverd two years ago I was temped to come out then and there but i waited till the start of larst year or the end of the year befor that I can't remember

[marshlander]

Is your school typical of NZ, do you think?

What was it like for you to come out in Dunedin? (I must visit there one day. I have so many relatives there!)

[fjp999]

Will ask joseph it is ok to post a bit more...