By Matt B. Walen
Sex is a difficult subject for many male and female Americans to talk about in a mature fashion. We have gotten better in the last couple of decades, but are still snickering in the dark or giggling around campfires like school kids compared to other nations.
Sex education needs to be taught in our public school system and at an even earlier age.
How can we expect todays parents to take the time to talk with their children about sex education when the parents dont take the time to eat breakfast with their offspring or ask how their day has gone?
I understand that parents are extremely busy these days. Working long hours to bring home the bacon has become a two-person task in our hectic world.
They need a helping hand and many probably dont even want to address the topic of sex because of embarrassment in teaching their young ones the birds and the bees.
Who better, I say, than our professional educators can tackle the difficult subject explaining sex education and proper birth control methods to our nations children?
Im not alone with this view. Many Americans agree with it and want to take it one more step frank education regarding proper use of birth control including the use of condoms.
A recent survey indicates that more Americans want both sex education and abstinence taught at the same time. I couldnt agree more.
Nine of 10 people in a survey recently published in an Associated Press report stated they wanted information regarding contraception, birth control and condoms given to 11th and 12th graders. And 95 percent of those Americans said those students should get information about abstinence. Nearly that many supported this education for ninth and 10th graders, too.
Of those surveyed, a solid majority wanted a similar amount of sex education taught to seventh and eighth graders. Inner-city schools have even discussed sex education with fifth and sixth graders.
In a perfect world, which is impossible to expect, it would be a wonderful thing for everyone to experience the pleasures of sexual intimacy for the first time with their life mate.
Reality indicates that kids are losing their virginity at younger ages as our society evolves and progress is created. Teen pregnancy rates have been targeted over the years and the battle is starting to be won.
Conservative groups argue that teaching teen-agers about how to get and use birth control implies that society is giving them the green light to procreate, or at least make a valiant attempt at it.
People must realize that kids have been experimenting with sex for decades. The 1960s sexual revolution may have brought sex to the forefront of our society, but young kids have been exploring for thousands of years.
Technological improvements in birth control over the decades have given adults the freedom to explore their sexuality before marriage. Before everyone rips off a letter to the editor, I said adults have the opportunity.
The only thing missing from the equation is education. And yes, in this education the teachers must talk frank about intercourse and the breakage rates of condoms. Nothing is fool proof in the game of birth control. Heck, even surgery isnt 100 percent guaranteed to keep people from getting pregnant.
I havent even mentioned sexually transmitted diseases, which is another serious issue. Hill County has a high rate of some STDs, so much so, that the bars and some eateries in Havre have allowed information cards warning of the diseases to be dispensed in the restrooms.
Ive heard it a thousand times from politicians and other influential people across our great state our children are the key to Montanas future success.
Well, then we should properly educate them in one of the most important issues every child will eventually face.
