Boards
Sex ed in schools
So I was at an ethics lecture today, and one of the points that was discussed whas sex ed in schools, and the ages of the kids it's given to.
Kids in year 6 (aged 10-11) now receive a sort of approved system where they are told all the basic stuff including what masturbation is and how sex works. This seems really young to me, for that sort of thing. Anyway, the next one is in year 9 (aged 13-14) which is basically everything else, they get told everything and the people have to answer every question asked. This also seems young.
More than a couple of people in the room then questioned whether there is any point in having an age of consent, if stuff like this is being told to kids three years younger (13), and in effect the ideas are being planted in the minds of 11 year olds. This was obviously countered by most other people (myself included) that the "barrier" was there to protect kids not really from themselves but from older people who may try to drag them into something sinister when they are not mentally ready.
Is this a big screw-up? Are they telling kids too much too early? Or is the fact that it's being taught this early because kids these days apparently need to know this stuff a sign that the age of consent simply doesn't hold any meaning any more (within that age group)?
What do you think?