Teach Me Eroticism in School, Please
If you have visited my blog a couple of months back, I wrote a post entitled My Thoughts on Unplanned Pregnancies. In the post, I mentioned the alarming increase of such population and the decreasing of age levels involved. I included some possible factors and one of which was lack of knowledge.
That being said, it takes us to the topic of sex education. Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, contraception, and other aspects of human sexual behavior [1]. Basically, sex education's purpose is to educate people regarding sex, protection and its pros and cons.
When I was still in high school, you can pretty much say that I was taking BS Sex Ed. For nearly four years, I was constantly exposed to information regarding sex and everything that comes with it. I do not know with other people, but I seemed to digest every bit of knowledge being taught. Sex was (or still is?) considered a taboo, but deep inside, I had no problems to be constantly reminded of its pros and cons.
My school's (UP in Cebu) efforts did pay off though. I am now a third year college student, including most of my high school batch mates. And I am proud to say that none of us are parents yet. No pregnant females and no young fathers. It was a huge deal for me (and for others) because pregnant teenagers are becoming very common nowadays.
Research has identified highly effective sex education and HIV prevention programs that affect multiple behaviors and/or achieve positive health impacts. Behavioral outcomes have included delaying the initiation of sex as well as reducing the frequency of sex, the number of new partners, and the incidence of unprotected sex, and/or increasing the use of condoms and contraception among sexually active participants [2,3,4,5].
Our government seemed to have known about such information. And as we all know, the Department of Education (DepEd) did attempt to bring forward the program on "sex education". It was deemed to be as a positive step by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. Unfortunately, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) were not up for it. CBCP strongly believes that sex education in schools would only highly encourage teenagers to undertake premarital sex, and they suggested and emphasized that it is the parents' responsibility to teach such "private" topic.
So does this mean that the Filipino people, most especially the young ones, are not yet ready for "sex education"? And if they are not, then when would they be? And the most important question that come in mind is, is there are need to be well prepared before embarking on a whole new set of essential information?
For me, some knowledge can possibly be hard to digest, most especially if the learners do not have an open mind and their environment highly discourages such information. All my life, my parents strongly consider sex as a taboo. I'm almost 19, and when there are sexy scenes on television, my father tends to change the channel or turn off the television.
With such attitude towards sex, people tend to be uncomfortable when mentioning or learning about sex. But why is sex considered a taboo? Well obviously, sex ed was and still is non existent in our education system and in effect, most parents (if not all) are ignorant. Then normally, they would not know or feel or understand the need for sex education and its essential benefits. So basically, you cannot blame them because they simply do not know what sex ed is really all about. And then I wonder, does that include the people in CBCP? Well, I'll never know. But maybe, it's only because of their profession.
That leads us to the next big factor. Philippines is "unprepared" for sex ed because it is a Christian-dominated country. That means premarital sex is a big no-no for Filipinos. As what I've said, CBCP stated their negative opinion regarding such program. Such fact highly affects acceptance, and in my opinion, devoted Christians are against the program.
But when the CBCP said that "sex ed in schools would only highly encourage premarital sex", I think they are looking at sex education the wrong way. And may I add that they are also underestimating the Filipino students.
My biggest observation about people is that when they are prohibited on something, the more they get enticed on doing it. In the end, they disregard the fact that it is prohibited and they continuously do such activity. Ika nga, masarap daw ang bawal. Same goes with sex. Ignorance can kill, and when people don't talk about it, some tend to feel the need to understand what it really is all about. In effect, they practice premarital sex.
First of all, sex ed is not all about promoting or discouraging premarital sex. It only sees sex as a natural human activity and it teaches us on what and how we should deal with it. So basically, you can not directly associate sex ed with premarital sex. And it should be noted that sex ed can possibly dismiss the common reason for premarital sex. And that is ignorance.
Lastly, CBCP should not be underestimating teenage Filipinos, or the Filipino people for that matter. When we are exposed to sex ed, they think that we would immediately jump into premarital sex. My goodness, we are not animals. We don't simply act on impulse. And besides, they shouldn't make such conclusion since we still haven't implemented and seen the effects of sex ed in the first place.
But I might be wrong. What if the CBCP is right? What if premarital sex activity will increase? But I believe such scenario would only happen if (1) sex ed is not implemented right or (2) the people failed to understand the information being taught or (3) those people simply are sex addicts which is something beyond this discussion already.
So basically, I highly encourage sex ed in all schools. Knowledge is power. But then, it would depend on how people would use such information. Then it is beyond our power and they are on their own.
But when asked, "Do you prefer to learn sex from your parents or from your teachers?" My answer would be from my teachers. Why? Like I said, most parents consider sex a taboo. You simply couldn't make them open a topic about sex. But it is best to learn about sex from them since it is a private subject.
And where would parents get the information they are to share with their children? From the sex ed program, of course. :)
Sources:
That being said, it takes us to the topic of sex education. Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, contraception, and other aspects of human sexual behavior [1]. Basically, sex education's purpose is to educate people regarding sex, protection and its pros and cons.
When I was still in high school, you can pretty much say that I was taking BS Sex Ed. For nearly four years, I was constantly exposed to information regarding sex and everything that comes with it. I do not know with other people, but I seemed to digest every bit of knowledge being taught. Sex was (or still is?) considered a taboo, but deep inside, I had no problems to be constantly reminded of its pros and cons.
My school's (UP in Cebu) efforts did pay off though. I am now a third year college student, including most of my high school batch mates. And I am proud to say that none of us are parents yet. No pregnant females and no young fathers. It was a huge deal for me (and for others) because pregnant teenagers are becoming very common nowadays.
Research has identified highly effective sex education and HIV prevention programs that affect multiple behaviors and/or achieve positive health impacts. Behavioral outcomes have included delaying the initiation of sex as well as reducing the frequency of sex, the number of new partners, and the incidence of unprotected sex, and/or increasing the use of condoms and contraception among sexually active participants [2,3,4,5].
Our government seemed to have known about such information. And as we all know, the Department of Education (DepEd) did attempt to bring forward the program on "sex education". It was deemed to be as a positive step by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. Unfortunately, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) were not up for it. CBCP strongly believes that sex education in schools would only highly encourage teenagers to undertake premarital sex, and they suggested and emphasized that it is the parents' responsibility to teach such "private" topic.
So does this mean that the Filipino people, most especially the young ones, are not yet ready for "sex education"? And if they are not, then when would they be? And the most important question that come in mind is, is there are need to be well prepared before embarking on a whole new set of essential information?
For me, some knowledge can possibly be hard to digest, most especially if the learners do not have an open mind and their environment highly discourages such information. All my life, my parents strongly consider sex as a taboo. I'm almost 19, and when there are sexy scenes on television, my father tends to change the channel or turn off the television.
With such attitude towards sex, people tend to be uncomfortable when mentioning or learning about sex. But why is sex considered a taboo? Well obviously, sex ed was and still is non existent in our education system and in effect, most parents (if not all) are ignorant. Then normally, they would not know or feel or understand the need for sex education and its essential benefits. So basically, you cannot blame them because they simply do not know what sex ed is really all about. And then I wonder, does that include the people in CBCP? Well, I'll never know. But maybe, it's only because of their profession.
That leads us to the next big factor. Philippines is "unprepared" for sex ed because it is a Christian-dominated country. That means premarital sex is a big no-no for Filipinos. As what I've said, CBCP stated their negative opinion regarding such program. Such fact highly affects acceptance, and in my opinion, devoted Christians are against the program.
But when the CBCP said that "sex ed in schools would only highly encourage premarital sex", I think they are looking at sex education the wrong way. And may I add that they are also underestimating the Filipino students.
My biggest observation about people is that when they are prohibited on something, the more they get enticed on doing it. In the end, they disregard the fact that it is prohibited and they continuously do such activity. Ika nga, masarap daw ang bawal. Same goes with sex. Ignorance can kill, and when people don't talk about it, some tend to feel the need to understand what it really is all about. In effect, they practice premarital sex.
First of all, sex ed is not all about promoting or discouraging premarital sex. It only sees sex as a natural human activity and it teaches us on what and how we should deal with it. So basically, you can not directly associate sex ed with premarital sex. And it should be noted that sex ed can possibly dismiss the common reason for premarital sex. And that is ignorance.
Lastly, CBCP should not be underestimating teenage Filipinos, or the Filipino people for that matter. When we are exposed to sex ed, they think that we would immediately jump into premarital sex. My goodness, we are not animals. We don't simply act on impulse. And besides, they shouldn't make such conclusion since we still haven't implemented and seen the effects of sex ed in the first place.
But I might be wrong. What if the CBCP is right? What if premarital sex activity will increase? But I believe such scenario would only happen if (1) sex ed is not implemented right or (2) the people failed to understand the information being taught or (3) those people simply are sex addicts which is something beyond this discussion already.
So basically, I highly encourage sex ed in all schools. Knowledge is power. But then, it would depend on how people would use such information. Then it is beyond our power and they are on their own.
But when asked, "Do you prefer to learn sex from your parents or from your teachers?" My answer would be from my teachers. Why? Like I said, most parents consider sex a taboo. You simply couldn't make them open a topic about sex. But it is best to learn about sex from them since it is a private subject.
And where would parents get the information they are to share with their children? From the sex ed program, of course. :)
Sources:
- Sex education, Wikipedia (last visited Oct. 31, 2008)
- Kirby D. Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2001.
- Kirby D et al. Impact of Sex and HIV Education Programs on Sexual Behaviors of Youth in Developing and Developed Countries. [Youth Research Working Paper, No. 2] Research Triangle Park, NC: Family Health International, 2005.
- Alford S. Science and Success: Sex Education and Other Programs that Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV & Sexually Transmitted Infections. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2003.
- Alford S. Science and Success, Second Edition: Programs that Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV & Sexually Transmitted Infections. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2008.
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