Should they teach different lifestyles in school?

[fredandwilma200]

I would like to know if anyone thinks that we should teach different lifestyles in the high school sex ed classes? We started talking with a couple last night and they brought that up! How would you bring that up? Could you imagine the parents that learned their children were learning of "swinging"? I thought about it last night and Im just not sure that is such a good idea!
But tell me this...what do you think? Would you mind if the class was taught and they talked about swinging? Would you disagree? Would you agree? Would you talk to your children about the lifestyle? If you say no you wouldnt....why? If you think that swinging is ok and nothing wrong with it..then why would you not teach your child at the right age? What if your children came to you and asked? Would you tell them about the lifestyle? Would you caution them? Just thinking about all this....

[NewTemptations]

I think that in a high school sex ed class, the appropriate things for the kids to learn would be things like how their body works, how the bodies of the opposite sex works, pregnancy and the prevention of, diseases and the prevention of. I dont think that a school sex ed class was ever meant to actually teach the kids how to have sex, or about all the many different lifestyles (not just swinging) that are out there in this world.

Now...as a parent...If any one of my children ever came to me and asked me about anything dealing with sex, the swinging lifestyle or any of the other variations out there...they would get a very honest and age appropriate answer from me. I dont believe in lying or hiding info from my children. I would rather they got that info from me than someone elses potentially warped answer. I also dont believe in giving kids more info than they are ready for. Not too long ago our 10 yr old asked "what is a lesbian?" She got a very basic answer...something to the effect of "a lesbian is a girl that prefers to have girlfriends instead of boyfriends" Now if my 19 yr old were to ask the same question...Im sure the subject of sex would have come into the answer more. The same method of answering would apply if any of our kids asked about swinging.

Laura

[good times]

I just saw a segment on one of the major networks morning shows where they had some high school students on discussing something they called "friends with benefits", it sounded a lot like swinging to me. It never ceases to amze me how much more sexually open young people are now compared to when I was that age. I don't think they need or should teach these things in school but as a parent I would give my kids honest answers if they asked, age and maturity appropriate of course. I sure am glad my kids are grown and out of the house.

[fredandwilma200]

Hell, I didnt even know what swinging was till I met my husband and I was 22 years old..I thought ...he wanted to dance...LOL

[wrnakedru]

I would think that as some point every parent has had a discussion with their kid[s] about "subjective versus objective" since some teachers are prone to present with a personalized "tilt". Some texts are written in that manner as well. The basic facts may be contained but the presentation can create a specific opinion, belief, viewpoint, or attitude. While it may not be wise to challenge the teacher or the text, it will help broaden their minds to recogize the difference between factual and fabrication.

I would not have a problem with sex education including the facts that there are those whose identification and/or choices vary from the mainstream. I would definitely have a problem if those variations were presented with terminology such as "fudge packer" for gay men, "carpet muncher" or "leg licker" for gay women, and "wife swappers" for those who swing. I doubt that sex education teachers would go to that obviously prejudiced presentation.

At the age a kid is taught the subject, they are still very "life" inexperienced and emotionally immature. I don't think it, for most, is the time to go into the intricacies of full explanations. That will wait. I believe it may be enough at that age, to pry wide their doors to consider there are other vantage points.

After all, they are taught the basic of reproduction without the addendum of "how" one can sensually make love.

WR

[mrs good times]

22! Hell I feel old, I didn't learn about it until I was 38 and married for 16 years LOL.
Just goes to show how times have changed in regards to sexuality.

I don't think sex ed should be taught in school at all. I believe it should be the parents responsibility so that the slant on it is the values of the parent and not a stranger who's beliefs are unknown.

[BradAndJanet]

Originally Posted by mrs good times

... I don't think sex ed should be taught in school at all. I believe it should be the parents responsibility so that the slant on it is the values of the parent and not a stranger who's beliefs are unknown.

I'm about ready to agree with you on that one, considering the idiotic 'abstinence only' movement. Teaching nothing at all would be better than that...

-B

[jcbicouple]

Originally Posted by NewTemptations

I think that in a high school sex ed class, the appropriate things for the kids to learn would be things like how their body works, how the bodies of the opposite sex works, pregnancy and the prevention of, diseases and the prevention of. I dont think that a school sex ed class was ever meant to actually teach the kids how to have sex, or about all the many different lifestyles (not just swinging) that are out there in this world.

Now...as a parent...If any one of my children ever came to me and asked me about anything dealing with sex, the swinging lifestyle or any of the other variations out there...they would get a very honest and age appropriate answer from me. I dont believe in lying or hiding info from my children. I would rather they got that info from me than someone elses potentially warped answer. I also dont believe in giving kids more info than they are ready for. Not too long ago our 10 yr old asked "what is a lesbian?" She got a very basic answer...something to the effect of "a lesbian is a girl that prefers to have girlfriends instead of boyfriends" Now if my 19 yr old were to ask the same question...Im sure the subject of sex would have come into the answer more. The same method of answering would apply if any of our kids asked about swinging.

Laura

We agree with Laura.
As much as we don't want our children to know about our personal sex lives: If they asked we'd have to talk to them about it. Now, What they were told would depend highly on their age and their maturity.
Schools, on the other hand, should NOT be teaching our children to have recreational sex. period. I don't know a single high school student that's mature enough or emotionally stable enough to comprehend the implications (jealousy, mixed emotions, etc that we have all experienced at some point) or risks (herpies, aides, pregnancy and multiple others) involved in recreational sex and frankly, that is what swinging is, even if most people do not refer to it as such.

[NotsoNew]

We don't have children but think that if we did we would talk to them...

[HotMoCpl]

Here's our feelings. Would never discuss it unless they asked and are over age 21....and they all are.

Next, I don't believe that students (junior high on down) need to be lectured about the 'life style' at all. I would say that by high school they already know by at least 90%.
Cheers.

I've been a bad, bad, bad wittle boy. -Elmer Fud

[dutch51]

We agree with NewTemptations on this one. If sex ed is going to be taught in schools, it should include *facts* about bodies, reproduction, pregnancy, etc. Teaching about lifestyle choices really doesn't belong in the classroom where you're going to be getting someone's personal slant on the topic. To us, that's the parent's job. We have three young children who will be given honest, appropriate answers to the questions they ask- at an age appropriate level. And that includes things about our personal sex lives. We would rather be honest with them and be able to talk about all issues so they can grow up with a healthier attitude about their bodies, others and sex in general. We don't want them to ever think there is something wrong with their bodies, or that sex is shameful or gross or something to hide from everyone else. They have already asked some questions about sex and marriage and we know that will only continue as they grow.

I remember being in high school and the discussions we had in the classrooms and among groups of friends regarding sex and I know teaching about swinging would not have been a good thing (and the parents would have been in an uproar!). There are too many implications that are just beyond teens' maturity, plus they're trying to figure out how to make relationships work and struggling with all those issues. Throwing swinging into the mix isn't going to make it easier.

So, long story short, lol, keep the facts for the classroom and the lifestyle discussions for home where hopefully those things can be discussed at the right time.

[EvilMJ]

I was taught sex ed in school and it was a very positive experience. They taught the basics of how things work, what they are called, consequences of having sex..etc.

I have read that people think it is the parents responsiblity and I do agree that as parents we need to be responsible and have that discussion with our children, however my parents were not comfortable enough to have that conversation. And my mother was a nurse! There are times when school can be of assistance in learning this type of material, or at least encourage discussion between children and parents.

[Alura]

Fred and Wilma wrote:

I thought ...he wanted to dance...

We investigated the Tulsa Swing Club and found out they did want to dance. They've since changed their name to Tulsa Swing Dance Club.

As Vegas Lee said, the school should teach the mechanics of the body and how to avoid pregnancy and disease, but should not deal with moral issues. That's what our school system used to do.

We just received notification that they would begin a new class on abstinance next semester for high school students, "Waiting for marriage to have sex." Although we're not convinced this is a practical way to handle the issue of teen pregnancy, recent studies seem to show that this approach is working. We did not "opt out," which was an option. This has come about because of a Presidential Executive Order that the government must require funded schools to offer.

Of course, we'll offer our own input as well.

Alura

[Dave_kat]

We grew up with the "friends with benefits" idea of things, and started out that way ourselves.

Yet we also knew from education what the repurcussions were (growing up in the "Just say no" period).

A lot of parents (those we see in the Army at least) honestly have no clue how to discuss sex with each other, much less with kids. We both believe that we'd rather see kids get some education about things than to simply learn about things from magazines and on the street. At least when it is brought up in sex-ed, it gives parents a common ground to hopefully discuss the emotional things instead of the old style birds and the bees discussion, or no discussion at all. Just the idea that someone has started and then parents taking and putting some finishing polish on sex might just get more kids educated about sex than are today.