March 22, 2006
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I still monitor the letters to the editor of our local paper, though I
respond to them less frequently. Mainly, this is because I feel
like my letters and responses don't do any good in this ultra-red part
of the country. Recently someone wrote a letter which mentioned
that "sex education" shouldn't be taught in public shools. I'm
probably not going to respond, but it did set me to thinking, and I
simply had to write down the thoughts in my head. Thoughts follow:It is a commonly held belief in the
that reproductive biology, “sex education” should not be included in the public
education curriculum, that this topic of education should be performed in the
home. I must admit being confused by
this point of view.We teach the human biology of the respiratory system in
public schools. We teach it knowing full
well that students will be driven to use the respiratory system (thank
goodness, otherwise death would occur) for both natural and unnatural (read
good and bad, moral and immoral, etc.) causes.
While use of the respiratory system is required for maintenance of life
and the propagation of the species, it can also be used inappropriately to
inhale cigarette smoke and marijuana. It can be used to snort cocaine. Nevertheless, we teach the biology of the
respiratory system with no objection.We teach the biology of the digestive system. Yet the digestive system can also be used for
purposes for which it was not designed and which may be immoral, such as the
intake of drugs and various sexual purposes.
But we hear no complaints about the biology of the digestive system
being taught in public schools.For some reason however, teaching the biology of the human
reproductive system causes great anxiety among many in the
decisions with bad outcomes and that in itself is an argument for knowledge in
this area. I would argue also that the
bad outcomes from that organ system pales in comparison to those generated in
the brain; part of the human nervous system.
Yet we teach the human nervous system in public schools with no
objection whatsoever.In light of the above, I have a modest proposal: Lets
teach the biology of human life, anatomy and physiology, in schools and leave
the guidance for the proper moral/spiritual/judeo-christian use of that
knowledge, head to toe and everything in between, to pastors and parents
Comments (8)
well in Georgia they OK'ed prayer in public schools so it will become 'Jesusland' soon anyway. Next civil war will be over religion and secular...
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I deem you Smartest Man in Indiana. The title means jack shit and comparatively nothing, but still....
As a teacher, I'm not for limiting lessons. But on this issue you should point out that by the time any mention of the reproductive system usually isn't until about 3 years after students may have already used it. It's like bureaucracy backjam at its best!
This may be out on a limb, but if we don't teach "reproductive biology" in schools, I don't think those conservative parents will be climbing over each other to teach their own pure, innocent, pothead children about "hoo-has" and "whatnots." Let's leave the biology to the professionals, otherwise the kids won't figure out which hole to stick it in.
Although, if that's the case, then maybe we should just let Darwin and natural selection take over...
I totally agree....:) Hope all is well with you and yours.
ryc: photos are up!
I've always thought that the only proper place for conducting sex education was and remains the back seat of a '57 Chevy that's parked in the nether regions of Bobo's Drive-In Cinema that's playing, preferably, a James Dean movie. On the other hand, I could be wrong...
it seems that we've both been away from this thing for a while. how have you been?
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