Sex Education

I have just read this article about Bush's expenditure on abstinence-only sex ed classes with total disbelief. I'm in my mid thirties and was mainly brought up by my mother. Whenever I had a question about sex I knew that I could approach her at any time for the answers.

How did I know this? At age 8 or 9 my mother bought me a book which explained, in detail, the process of conception which I read with her; and later lent to one of my girlfriends, who's mother had tragically died, so that she could explain the facts of life to her younger sister. My mum also took me to my primary school to watch a sex education film which was shown for the parents' benefit. As we watched the film a 'mother' noticed me and in a not too quiet voice announced her astonishment as to the fact that my mum was allowing me to watch such a film. My mum turned round to the (probably) uptight bitch and asked "Should I let him find out from his friends in the playground or give him the facts?"

That moment has stuck with me throughout my life and I have always answered the questions regarding sex that my kids, and relatives kids, have presented to me. At one point my brother got a bit narked with me because I explained the anatomy of a penis, with drawings, to my nephew. I have also watched several documentaries (no not everything I watch is porn and cartoons) on teenage pregnancies and attitudes towards sex based on the teachings, or lack of, by their parents.

I think that spending $170 million on an abstinence-only and until marriage programme is wrong in itself let alone a programme that isn't even based on facts!!! It will not stop teenagers from exploring each others' bodies and having sex. It is the classic case of telling a child not to look in the cupboard, eventually the child will look. The money could and should be used for better sex education with proper facts and freely available throughout a child's school life.

The programme probably follows Bush's beliefs and those of his followers and supporters; many of whom are pushing for policies which lean towards a particular religious doctrine. Now don't get me wrong, I accept your right to believe in which ever spiritual guide that gives you faith. What I do not, and cannot accept, is any religious body dictating the lives of people with myths and falsehoods.

Questions of the day:
What sort of approach did your parents take to sex education? Did they tell you what it was factually? Did they forbid you from discussing it until you were married?

Political religion - good or bad?