From the Canadian Press:
“With one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Europe, the British government is bringing sex education to all schools in England, including kindergarten-age children. While countries like France, Holland and China already require sex education, few places demand that it be introduced at such a young age.English schools now are required to teach basic lessons on reproduction as part of the science curriculum. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have separate education departments and standards. Only Scotland makes sex education voluntary.
The government hasn’t detailed what the new curriculum will look like, but schools will be asked to provide lessons on relationships and contraception, topics not previously required. Lessons will become more sophisticated as kids get older.”
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three comments
Um, okay. It's a good idea to educate kids early about sexuality on a level that they comprehend and won't be giggling about, and making it relevant to them at that young age, but kindergarten? I say save it until grade one.
Posted by Jelly
October 27, 2008, 10:07 AM
Well, the article clarifies a bit that they're not really teaching kids about sexuality that young. The focus is more on teaching them about their own bodies.
Posted by Cate
October 27, 2008, 1:22 PM
My parents kept a gigantic book of black and white lithograph photographs made to educate kids about sex on the coffee table from the time I was four. The book is now out of print because it was so controvercial, for one all the people in the book are naked and for two it graphically shows the steps of conceiving and even filliacio and birth.
What I can say is that as a kid I never looked at the stuff as porn. I just considered it another fact of life. My brother and I were free to look at the book ask questions without thinking about sex as being shameful. I like to think it is one of the ways our parents got us to develop as open individuals with healthy sex lives.
As a result I was always easy going about asking questions in sex ed class, had no problem masturbating and am able to easily orgasm with a partner. Sure I have my insecurities but all and all I think having that book around when I was young got me on the path to a healthy sex life.
I'm all for sex-ed as soon as they start asking about it.
Posted by Barb
October 30, 2008, 2:43 AM
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