All the Things No One Wants to Talk About: Why sex ed is beneficial in schools

I remember my first day in a sex ed class. It was weird. It was unsettling and it was definitely very, very awkward. A room full of fourth graders learning about the…wait for it…opposite gender (*gasp/scream/horror*). I went to a girls’ school so my experience with learning about puberty and all the fabulous things that go with it was 50% less awkward. We had the ‘anonymous’ question box that was answered at the beginning of each class, decorated with colourful construction paper and felt markers. The questions were always answered to the best of the teachers’ ability while staying within the realm of the curriculum. It was the taboo subject, what was shared inside the walls of that classroom remained there. It was a safe place.

Many people already had a general idea of most of the curriculum but if you came from a family like mine, those things weren’t spoken about. Everything was a need-to-know basis and most of it, I apparently didn’t need to know. I was that ‘innocent’ kid who knew none of the jokes, understood little of the conversations. Without the class I wouldn’t have known anything – not being one to search on the internet if I was curious. Being too scared to approach my parents for these questions, I knew what my peers told me and what I learned in that class.

The controversy behind health class is that it encourages our children from a young age to explore that area of life and I would in fact argue the opposite. In every other aspect of life we are explained the reason why we can’t or shouldn’t do something. Sure the consequences shouldn’t be the only reason people aren’t committing a crime but if that is enough deterrent to prevent the action, does it matter? We know that hurting others from a young age because we can understand that we wouldn’t want to be hurt and refer back to the Golden Rule. But without understanding of the consequences, it’s difficult from a young age to understand the seriousness.

Families who avoid the topic due to it’s awkwardness and prevent their children from taking sex ed in junior high are mistaken in the belief that their kids will not find out. By having that awkward bird-and-the-bees talk, they support the education provided through school in a way that does not conflict with their own beliefs. If you are from the age of 12-28 you are a part of the millennial or y-generation. Like it or not, ‘don’t have sex’ is not gonna cut it, especially if the answer to ‘Why?’ is ‘because it’s bad‘. Kids are smart enough to make their own decisions and need to presented with the logic as to why not or the means to protect themselves.

The hyper-sexuality of popular culture today has made it impossible to stay sheltered despite our parents hopes. Lyrics of songs and music promoting relationships expose kids from an increasingly younger age. It’s unreasonable to think that we as kids won’t find access and it’s more important that we continue to equip them in their understanding. Educate, not separate, them from what they’re going to learn one way or another.

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