Thread: Austrian Politican Speaks candidly

Originally Posted by Hanna

Yes. There is plenty of time for that later in life.

Personally I was given comprehensive sex education, including all about contraceptives from 12 or so, because it's mandatory in Sweden. Girls who haven't even had their period yet have learn all about condoms etc, how they are put on etc. Plus all about sexually transmitted diseases and a visit by somebody who had HIV, to "warn" students. Later, all the girls had to watch an actual birth - very dramatic - in full detail... (I am sure that nowadays the boys have to watch the film too, so it's "equal".) The teacher also showed a porn magazine and explained "this view of women is degrading and incorrect". I can't remember that homosexuality came up, but no doubt this is fully included nowadays.

Is this type of sex education what you support? As I remember it was just weird and offputting.

Agreed. Kids should be taught that sex is as natural and necessary thing as eating, drinking, sleeping, etc. for being another physical need of the human. And all they have to worry about is those diseases which aren't going to affect them if they practice safe sex. That's the kind of sex education one has ever needed.

And one more thing, parents who think their kid is too young for telling him/her about sex, and avoid talking about it, are most likely gonna get him/her taught by his/her more experienced friends, and sometimes the "teaching" also includes practical exercises...

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Agreed. Kids should be taught that sex is as natural and necessary thing as eating, drinking, sleeping, etc. for being another physical need of the human. And all they have to worry about is those diseases which aren't going to affect them if they practice safe sex. That's the kind of sex education one has ever needed.

And one more thing, parents who think their kid is too young for telling him/her about sex, and avoid talking about it, are most likely gonna get him/her taught by his/her more experienced friends, and sometimes the "teaching" also includes practical exercises...

In our county, parents are offered to come in to the school (usually in a group setting with teachers and other parents) and review the "Family/Life" unit prior to it being taught. If the parents have any objections to their children being taught the materials, they can op out for independent study in the library/media center for part or all of the lessons. Parents were also asked to be on the advisory committee to help with the curriculum.

Originally Posted by Hanna

Is this type of sex education what you support? As I remember it was just weird and offputting.

Talk about weird...The materials need to be more than this video as this will have absolutely no impact on teens... except make them laugh:

Originally Posted by Hanna

The list of free after-school clubs is impressive (apart from the gay club, in school!!!).

Gay-Straight Alliance
About this Club: To provide a safe and supportive meeting place and discussion forum for sexual minority and questioning (GLBTQ) students as well as their friend and allies to discuss topics of interest. The GSA works to encourage more inclusive and accepting attitudes among fellow students and staff. The GSA has also hosted guest speakers, participated in social events, attended free performances, and organized "day of silence" activities at school to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS. The GSA will be what you make it! If you have ideas, come and share them!

Originally Posted by Hanna

Yes. There is plenty of time for that later in life.

Personally I was given comprehensive sex education, including all about contraceptives from 12 or so, because it's mandatory in Sweden. I'll spare you the details - and it was quite detailed.

Is this type of sex education what you support? As I remember it was just weird and offputting.

Well I don't know exactly how it was taught to you, so I can't say. But I definitely think kids do need to be taught these things. If two kids decide to start "experimenting", at least if they have a proper sex education they'll know how to stay safe, and the worst thing they'll have is a bad experience. If they don't know about the possible consequences of their actions, they could end up in all sorts of horrible situations. It's better to teach kids "wait til you're ready to have sex, but when you are, stay safe", rather than just tell them "SEX IS WRONG IF YOU HAVE SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE YOU WILL GO TO HELL".

Another thing is that sex needs to be destigmatised. Children shouldn't be taught that it's something horrible and wrong, but that it can be very beautiful, in the right circumstances. They also need to be taught that there is no shame in it. If a child is abused by an older relative and she's been taught all her life that "sex is wrong", her terrible experience will be compounded even further by a deep sense of shame, she will feel isolated, and there's very little chance she will tell anyone what has happened. If there wasn't so much stigma around sex, abused children would at least not feel like social outcasts, and they may have more confidence to speak up.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Gay-Straight Alliance
About this Club: To provide a safe and supportive meeting place and discussion forum for sexual minority and questioning (GLBTQ) students as well as their friend and allies to discuss topics of interest. The GSA works to encourage more inclusive and accepting attitudes among fellow students and staff. The GSA has also hosted guest speakers, participated in social events, attended free performances, and organized "day of silence" activities at school to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS. The GSA will be what you make it! If you have ideas, come and share them!

Oh come on, you can't tell me that that's evil, Hanna.

edit: just watched the video in rockzmom's post. Holy f*** that is disturbing.

Originally Posted by Demonic_Duck

Oh come on, you can't tell me that that's evil, Hanna.

No I wasn't - I was just questioning whether it belongs in a school. University, maybe.
I would have ALMOST the same view on any club relating to sex, aimed at under 18s. Of course I agree there is a lot to be said for good sex education - nobody wants to see young people messing up their health and future because they didn't know the basics on that. It's just a matter of how it's done and when. And I am definitely not in a position to preach to anyone about abstinence until marriage, so I am certainly not.

These are clearly issues you have strong views on, since you have brought up the topic a couple of time, I have stated my opinion, which is that there is an overexposure of homosexuality in media and society at the moment.
I agree that the vid is terrible.

This is too far off topic even for me.. so I won't comment on it any more on it.