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Essay on Sex Education in Public Schools
Sex education is become vital part of public schools these days. But why is sex education a function of liberal’s perspective, as opposed, say, to the role of parents, teachers, physicians, and pastoral counselors? Parents, all too often embarrassed or ignorant, may mumble about the birds and the bees or provide misinformation, sometimes in good faith, but sometimes to stop a child's probing questions. Indeed, adults have a vested interest in lying, for example, about situations of sexual abuse. Ideally, parents should provide sexuality information and ethical-moral guidance.
Most states require or recommend sex education programs in public schools, and all states require or recommend HIV/AIDS education. (Adler, M.W. 1991)Only rarely do physicians ask about a patient's sexual health or welcome volunteered comments about it. Many physicians are themselves poorly educated in sexual matters and to hide their own embarrassment may avoid questions or respond only with medical jargon. Ultimately, for health problems, the physician is the only person to consult for diagnosis and treatment. So when our health is at stake, it is wise to prepare ourselves with at least a layperson's knowledge of what ails us. Then we can more intelligently search out medical experts who will discuss our sexual symptoms and gladly take our sexual histories.
Pastors and denominational leaders are likewise often poorly educated in sexuality other than in the traditional moral teachings of religion. Those teachings are indeed necessary guides. But they are not enough if two religious leaders on a television talk show differ strongly about the moral meanings of types of sexuality that were hidden in Victorian times but are now scrawled over every inner-city bus and subway car in America. One example will suffice, and it is a terrible story.This "medicalization" of sex, sex -positive or sex-negative, was able to reach a wider audience of average citizens..........
