Channel 4 (in the UK) recently aired a programme called The Sex Education Show. This show was not intended to just shock people or to be sexually arousing. It was designed to be exactly what the title says: sexual education. A lot of parents have mixed feeling about sex ed. and how much should be taught to children and at what ages. The Sex Education Show takes a frank look at what teenagers want and need to know, and talks with teens (and their parents).
Whether or not you agree with the programme's methods, here are the facts. A recent UK-wide survey found that nearly a third of the youth they talked to had lost their virginity before reaching the age of consent (16). Scarily, many of these young people also admitted that they don't always use protection when having sex. Click here for the full study.
According to government statistics updated just this spring, there were almost 40,000 under 18 conceptions in 2008 (the most recent information available). That means that, in England, at least 4 girls (age 15-17) out of every 100 got pregnant in 2008! Click here to go to the government's Every Child Matters website for further information.
Sex ed. shouldn't just be about sex, though. It also encompasses understanding our bodies and elements of relationships. A good sex ed. programme can help youth to feel more self and body confident. With rising numbers of teenagers suffering from eating disorders and lack of self-confidence, they need all of the support that they can get.
My point being, if you homeschool, at some point you're going to have to consider the issue of sex education. There are a lot of resources out there. If you have teenagers, The Sex Education show might be as much of an eye-opener for you as for them.
To visit Channel Four's The Sex Education Show's website, click here.
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