02-08-2014, 04:02 AM
The reality is that many (most?) parents do not educate their children to any degree, or at all, in human sexuality. Very certainly there are few parents who teach to the depth of the subject as outlined by Carol earlier. This situation has clearly negative consequences. I was the teaching assistant for a summer session psychology course in human sexuality in 1973, taking questions in class and doing office sessions with the students. I was appalled by the sheer ignorance of these college students regarding basic sexual facts. One of the scariest that I remember was the widespread belief among the students that a woman could not get pregnant the first time. More worrisome really was the wall of mixed extreme shyness and silliness that the student's exhibited regarding sex that frequently got in the way of learning. A sort of cultural artifact from our culture's history of prudery, IMO. I'm all for a comprehensive sex ed program that covers the whole field, even if some students and parents are uncomfortable. I'm happy that the DOE is encouraging this.