| Topic : child education |
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last activity : 10 08 2010 07:54:39 +0000
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Sex Education to Children
K S VENKATARAMAN
Sex Education
Sex Education is concerned with imparting knowledge about human sexual behavior; it should include the details of sexual reproduction, contraception, sexual anatomy, sexual intercourse, reproductive health and reproductive rights.
While there cannot be two opinions regarding the importance of knowledge of sex-related things in life, when children are involved it calls for a very careful approach; it should be decided very carefully how gradually the knowledge should be made available to them.
Sex is the most important and powerful natural force activating the living beings. Nature has taken maximum precaution in preserving the sexual urge in the minds of all and linking it with the process of their physical and mental growth. It is a natural urge that doesn’t need formal teaching or goading. It is by nature such a powerful urge that it needs no external stimuli. The humankind has seen innumerable generations without any special education for children covering sexual matters.
Enough knowledge on the subject of sex is conveniently passed from person to person when it becomes necessary. While a number of species in Animal Kingdom and Plant Kingdom have become extinct and are likely to become extinct soon, the humankind is not threatened by any risk of extinction for want of sexual knowledge or urge. Medical science has developed many specializations and there is no dearth of doctors or surgeons who could help individuals when special help is needed.
Sex-related Crimes
All of us know that majority of crimes committed by human beings are directly or indirectly related to sex. And, invariably majority of victims affected by such crimes are women. During the times of armed conflicts, the sex-related crimes are perpetrated without any fear of reprisal. It is a sad comment on humanity that the world in general has not paid enough attention to root out this evil.
Barbarous sex-related crimes are taking place in all parts of the world. Apart from the routine and ineffective methods to deal with these crimes, no firm and foolproof system has been designed by any government or United Nations Organization to curb these crimes, though millions of innocent girls and women are subjected to ineffable cruelties by sadist men.
Only recently the UNO General Secretary has observed something positive in this direction. When the world leaders would really do something to prevent such crimes is not known.
The stories of meager percentage of actual happenings of such sex-related crimes taking place in the countries like Afghanistan, Iran etc., coming out can make the blood of any reasonable person boil. While nothing has been done to eradicate this evil, it is ridiculous that the topic of Sex Education to Children has been taken up with undue urgency, enthusiasm and flourish!
The sex-related crimes are not taking place due to ignorance in sexual matters; nor is it due to lack of sexual urge. These crimes are committed by perverts and sexual maniacs.
The Initiative of the UNESCO
The UNESCO has released a universal lesson plan for kids ranging in age from 5-18 to guide Sex Education among Children in June 2009. This is called ‘International Guidelines for Sexuality Education’. These guidelines, relating to ‘Informed Approach to Effective Sex Relationships’ and ‘HIV Education’, supposedly contain the wisdom of the UNO on the mandatory sexual education for children!
Just let us know a sample of the suggestions contained in the UNESCO report.1
It seeks to separate children into four age groups: 5-to-8-year-olds, 9-to-12-year-olds, 12-to-15-year-olds and 15-to-18-year-olds.
Kids just 5-8 years old will be told that ‘touching and rubbing one's genitals is called masturbation’ and that private parts ‘can feel pleasurable when touched by oneself’.
By the time they're 9 years old, they'll learn about ‘positive and negative effects of aphrodisiacs’ and wrestle with the ideas of ‘homophobia, transphobia and abuse of power’.
At 12, they'll learn the ‘reasons for’ abortions — but they'll already have known about their safety for three years. When they're 15, they'll be exposed to direct ‘advocacy to promote the right to and access to safe abortion’.
It goes on and on like this!
Bad Initiative
Involving in such a subject, by itself, is unwarranted for the UNO and bad enough. What makes it furthermore ridiculous is, the nature of ‘brilliant’ recommendations made.
Has the United Nations Organization solved all the issues relating to armed conflicts in all parts of the world? Has it made the entire world free from the risks of global warming? Has it completed all the work relating to establishment of peace in the world? Has it ensured peace and prosperity everywhere? In all directions there are problems of human rights violations, terrorism, human trafficking, drug and arms smuggling and what not. Without concentrating on such problems the UNO has thought it fit to spread sex education, that too among the children!
Nanette Acker, a co-author of the publication, has argued,2 “Maths and science are valued as important knowledge for young people to have for their own sake. A sound sexuality education should be equally valued.” Knowledge of Maths and Science do not drive the children to experiment their knowledge making use of first available opportunity. Science informs and educates; doesn’t stir. Knowledge of sexual activities would drive children to experiment unimaginable things, because this would kindle a natural urge. It is really a matter of surprise, as to how such an inappropriate comparison can be made at the level of UNO.
The concern for HIV / AID and other sexually transmitted infections is really valid one. But what is needed is propaganda against the wrong sexual practices that lead to these diseases. We should try to inculcate proper value system in the minds of the people in general and the youth in particular. The root cause for the diseases is promiscuity and several other unhealthy practices. We should teach the people to stop such practices and lead a sensible life. However difficult this may be, this is the only right and lasting solution.
Coming to unintended pregnancies, how earlier exposure of children to sexual matters would help? Does the UNO want the premature youngsters to engage themselves in sex but successfully prevent pregnancy? Most of the unintended pregnancies are the outcome of exploitation of ignorant and helpless girls by cantankerous and scheming men. Efficient and impartial police and judiciary systems are what we want to curb this evil.
Even while the knowledge on sexual matters are allowed to percolate in a need-based manner, while the sexual behavior is regulated by decency and discretion, the natural curiosity ensures that the youngsters know it all earlier than necessary. What is the compelling need for the United Nations to step in this area and provide ‘leadership’ in spreading sexual education to children?
The UNO and governments should educate the people on moral values, the importance of family life, the indignity involved in promiscuity and so on. There are a number of good things, the education of which would help the children grow as responsible and healthy citizens. They should be taught that men and women are healthy partners and friends in the world and should respect one another. They should be told that discrimination based on gender, color, religion etc., is bad and should be avoided. They may be taught to love humanity. They could be taught the values of cooperation, universal harmony, mutual goodwill, mental hygiene and so on.
The draft guidelines has been attacked by many conservative and religious groups,3 for recommending discussions of homosexuality, describing sexual abstinence as ‘only one of a range of choices available to young people’ to prevent disease and unwanted pregnancy, and suggesting a discussion of masturbation with children as young as 5.
Colin Mason of the Population Research Institute, an anti-abortion organization based in Virginia has said, “If you ever have a situation where kids need to be taught earlier than their adolescence, this is not the way to do it. It’s very graphic and encourages practices like masturbation, which conservative Christians and others feel are wrong.”
Mason has added that the diversity of views around the world on these issues renders any universal approach ‘culturally insensitive’. He has said, “We think it’s a kind of one-size-fits-all approach that’s damaging to cultures, religions and to children.”
In view of the severe objections and criticisms received by the UNESCO, the United Nations agency charged with advancing education and culture worldwide, has removed the June draft of the guidelines from its Web site. The release of the final document has also been hopefully postponed.
Sue Williams, the spokeswoman for the Paris-based agency, has said,4 “Unfortunately, the way the guidelines have been presented by certain media has provoked some fairly aggressive reactions, mainly in the form of virulent comment on conservative American Web sites, but also via some very nasty e-mails directed at the two co-authors as well as certain Unesco staff.” I do not see anything ‘unfortunate’ about the constructive criticism of the so called guidelines. Really the ‘unfortunate’ thing is the ‘guidelines’.
What is more intriguing is that this report is the outcome of the work of a team of experts at UNESCO, who have worked on it for two years, at a cost of about $350,000! The project is supposed to help member countries improve sex education and sexual health, reduce H.I.V. and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as illegal abortions, especially in the developing world!
If this is what they can produce after all these, better the Unesco can think of dropping the project and look for some other more useful and relevant areas of work.
It would be in the interest of humanity, if the subject of Sex Education for Children is approached with due caution and respect for moral values.
Sources
- Ibid
K S Venkataraman is the Associate Editor, Dynamic Youth Online Magazine. His e-mail: dynamicyouth_development@yahoo.com
Dynamic Youth is freely viewable in www.dynamicyouth.org
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