___ITV "THIS MORNING"_____FRIDAY____HOW MUCH SEX EDUCATION SHOULD CHILDREN HAVE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS?????

[RTKangaMummy]

Tomorrow, {FRIDAY} Davina McCall is in talking about her controversial campaign to reform sex education in schools. Will telling our children the full monty make them want sex more, or less? Should sex education start at primary school? Davina says yes, what do you think? Call us now on 0870 333 05 50 or email us at [email protected]

.

Personlyy, I can't see how anyone could resonably object to the outline that Homemama provided.

But I'll be interested to see what/if there are objections to be topics and the way that they are covered.

exactly, i rely on mumsnet to put alot of things into perspective

Thanks Homemama.
You have explained that very well and I would think, have put many mums minds at rest. To teach young children the value of friendships, socialisation skills and the value of morality is desperately important. And I agree should be taught as soon as possible.
The actual discussion about sex IMO needs to come later, which, it would seem, is exactly what happens.

Gosh, I feel all warm and fuzzy now!

I'm genuinely pleased to have been able to explain what goes on and put many mums minds at ease.

DC why do you feel the need to insult? Does it make you feel better? Please desist from commenting on my daughter or my personal circumstances or I shall be forced to report you.

This thread started out as a question - should primary school children be taught sex ed. Not whether it is being taught now or how it is being taught. My answers are relevant to the hypothesis, not the current situation in schools.

One question - are parents allowed to sit in these sex ed sessions so we know what is being told to our children?

As I said earlier, Rhubarb. Before the Y6 programme begins, I hold parents meeting to inform them what will be in each session. This is a chance for them to see what what their children will be taught and to ask any questions or raise any objections.

I do this for two reasons. Firstly, I think it's right and proper that parents are kept informed on this matter. And secondly, I'm keen to give them the opportunity to discuss anything with their kids in advance of each session.

I do think that most Y6 children would be horrified at the thought of their parents being in on the sessions, even those from homes where such things are discussed openly.

Hmmm, I wonder if all schools will do this though?

I suppose you are right about the embarrassment factor, but I would like to know what they say and wonder if they will let me know?

I imagine my own kids will know about it before they are told in school as it is not something I want them to be embarrassed about. But the idea of telling them in primary school just alarmed me as I really don't think that children that young should be told in that way.

You are well within your right to ask. Parents are entitled to see any policy document for any subject taught in school. That also goes for the school policies on SN, health & safety and bullying. My PSHCE policy gives an outline of the programme but if yours doesn't, ask to see that too.

You should find out who the subject co-ordinator is and ask him/her to give you an overview of what is taught when. If it's done well, it should be done openly.

IMHO, most schools want to work with parents on this. Since I started holding the sessions I've had fewer and fewer parents object each year.

'Sex is different. Young kids do not need to know about it because it does not affect them. '

Rhubarb. I absolutely disagree with you on so many levels on that.

the whole implication of that argument is that there is something shameful about sexuality (a sexuality that we are born with and that exists in children believe it or not).

knowledge of how the human body works, what all the parts of it are for, how we are made and born has absolutely NOTHING to do with 'sexualising' children (whatever that means....to my mind what is being referred to there is little girls in knee high boots and crop tops....i'm absolutely certain that there exist parents that bat not an eyelid at dressing their children like that but would take them out of a class on masturbation).

Sadly, I've had one set of parents not allow their son to go to a shakespeare production because, 'that'll make him a poof, that will!'

jesus!

Believe me, the parents on this thread who have articulated their concerns over this are not the ones that make it necessary for schools to have PSHCE.

sophable and rubarb may i interject ?

i think rhubarb is worried about dildos and condoms waiving all over the place - ok maybe not - but certainly i think rhubarb is worried about how graphic the sex education is.

whereas your point sophable is that an awareness of ones bodies is not unnatural and not a bad thing to be taught in school

i dont think they euate to the same thing.

i think the best way to look at this is - if sex ed was graphic in primary schools - the sun would have had it as a major headline.

my dd had one lesson about periods. in year 6. ds was taken with the boys and they discussed puberty.

the argument i think is being lost. this is optional for schools. its optional in senior school

the programme and davina macall was advocating for our children to be taught more about sex. becuase at the moment it rather depends on which school you attend.

I agree - We are all using our own personal definitions of 'sex' and 'young' so there is bound to be disagreement. Young to me is aged 5 or so, to another it could be 7 or 8! Likewise with sex - I usually mean the act itself rather than a broader definition.

S'alright Custy, sophable seems to make a habit of misunderstanding me. She thinks I am sexually repressed no doubt.

Thanks for your posts homemama, if our school had a sex ed like you then I wouldn't be half as worried.

But like I said, my arguments are really based on the hypothetical argument that children should be given more sex ed at primary school. Not what is happening at present, of which I will no doubt soon be made aware.

.

*

CHANNEL 4

8.00

*

.

.

ABOUT TO START!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

.

i'm wincing that's too much!

My worst fears - is this how we want our kids to view sex?

This is not the answer to teenage pregnancies. Really it isn't.

Well said Homemama.
I am very much for kids haveing Good sex Ed,but the bit on the prog with the infants was a bit tmi IMO.
I recently did a course run by the family planning association .It was a trial and we were the 'guinea pigs' the school nurses taught it and covered thing they will cover in SRE in schools and when(the biology of it/contraception/STIs etc) and will eventually run the course for parents because of the misinformation some kids are getting at home, and some parents are uncomfatable with talking about sex and others are just out of date.

Oh and I was talking about Borat the Movie there - no way to teach kids about sex imo!

Pant wetting stuff though!

Ah, back to being sexually repressed, actually that thing was quite good. Shocked that the British teens were not taught about love and relationships.

Sorry I missed it! Out for romantic meal with hubby! Bottle of wine all for me - will tackle responsibilities of motherhood tomorrow!

Quite happy to learn from the Dutch, but as the British teenage pregnancy thing show, you can teach kids the facts a lot more easily than you can change their behaviour.