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Educate Our Children Well I look to the diffusion of light and education as the resource most to be relied on for ameliorating the conditions, promoting the virtue and advancing the happiness of man.
--Thomas Jefferson to Cornelius Camden Blatchly, 1822. During the last few weeks I have overheard conversations regarding sex education in our schools. Not long ago sex education was approved by our government, but only if abstinence was the only option presented.
First of all, I find it unconscionable that we must rely on our schools to educate our children about sex. Among other social services that have fallen on our schools, this is one I believe should be handled by parents.
However, parents simply don’t educate their children about sex. So, if we are going to foist upon our school this parental duty, it is incumbent upon the schools to present all options available to the students.
Margo was a savvy young woman. She was beautiful, much sought after by every male in the department at college. Even a couple of the younger professors lusted after her. She had ambitions of being a star. She landed the lead in many of our college productions. She also had a parent who sat her down and told her the real facts of life. She was one of the first to be on The Pill to prevent that unwanted pregnancy. And she followed her dream to Los Angeles where, instead of starring in the movies, she starred in a marriage to a wealthy businessman. Maggie was “Meg Ryan” cute. She was the one who landed the role of Peter Pan. It wasn’t until she fell off the stage into the pit that we learned she was pregnant. She didn’t even know she was pregnant at the time. Due to the fall she had a difficult pregnancy. And the birth of the child dashed the dreams she had of being a star. Over the years I have seen the “innocent” ones have their lives turned upside down because they simply did not have the information they needed regarding their own sexuality. So, if we are going to teach our children in the schools about sex, let’s do a complete job of it. Let’s tell them about the reality of having a baby at a young age. Let’s tell them the real facts about sex. Let’s admit that it feels good. Let’s give them the resources to prevent pregnancy and disease. Like Jefferson said, we need an informed public to promote happiness. If parents are not going to do the job, untie the hands of our schools and let them do a complete job.
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