by Mark Shamburger

Created on: July 30, 2010

Why are we teaching our kids how to have sex? Do any of the adults that are pushing these radical sex education curricula remember growing up? Were they not teenagers then young adults? Personally, I had no need of instruction when it came time to have sex. Everything just happened… naturally. It is, after all, a natural human function. People have been figuring out how to perform the sexual act without the help of classroom instruction since, well, Adam and Eve. (Adam to Eve: “Stand back, I have no idea how big this thing gets!”)

A recent event in the news is edifying. In Helena, Montana, the school board has proposed a sex education curriculum that includes Kindergarten children learning about their “private parts”, 1st graders learning about same gender attraction, 5th graders learning that “sexual intercourse includes but is not limited to vaginal, oral, or anal penetration” and 6th graders learning that intercourse includes “vaginal, oral and anal penetration using the penis, fingers, tongue or objects.” The suitability of this information for children at these ages is questionable, at best and is being vigorously debated in Helena’s school board meetings.

Again, I question the need to teach adolescents (or humans of any age, for that matter) the intricacies of sex. Beyond that, however, is the issue of parental rights. Should the state be allowed to take the place of the parent? Certainly it is a parents’ responsibility to educate his or her children regarding their sexuality. Do parents abdicate this responsibility? Certainly. But parents abdicate responsibility in a variety of ways and the state does not step in. Why here? Perhaps parents are uneducated themselves about sex or are uncomfortable discussing it with their children. If that is the case, perhaps the sex education curriculum should be directed to parents, with the aim of each parent deciding what, when, how and if they should teach such things to their youngsters.

Some claim that there is a social agenda in action here, but the Superintendant in Helena assures concerned parents that is not the case. It is noteworthy that Planned Parenthood has come out strongly in support of “comprehensive” sex education curricula such as the one proposed in Montana.  Interesting it is to note that the nations leading provider of abortions is in support of curricula that will likely create youth that are sexually savvy and active at a younger age. Despite instruction in the proper technique for applying condoms, sexually active young people will lead to more unplanned (and unwanted) pregnancies. That, unfortunately, often translates into the death of a child and money in the coffers of Planned Parenthood.

Cheers to the local school board in Helena for opening up the discussion to concerned parents and for “taking it on the chin” from many of them. They will vote on the final decision on implementation in August. Let’s all pray for wisdom in this important decision.

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