“Parents in a small Washington State community are infuriated after their 11-year-old children were given graphic descriptions of oral and anal sex during a sex education class led by an elementary school principal.”

http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/parents-furious-after-school-teaches-5th-graders-about-oral-anal-sex.html

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The issue I see here goes beyond the experiences these kids have been given (even if in third person). The principal’s decision, if left unchallenged, will create a precedent that allows the govt-sponsored and approved teaching of all types of behavour that some may consider to be aberrant and against one’s core family values. That topic (core family values) is a particularly important one to me – so hopefully you don’t mind my soapboxing here 😛

I can see the logic stream that led to this lecture by the official by reading the article. It’s a logical but morally unsound decision that was made. It can be argued – successfully, unfortunately – that many parents won’t take the responsibility and pain to warn their children of the results of risky actions. So it’s seen as “someone’s responsibility” to do this. Hence the article we see now and the gut-wrenching feeling that (hopefully) most of us have as a response.

It’s painful and embarrassing at times to be a parent, particularly when it comes to financial and sexual topics, and much easier to let “someone else” take on the pain and embarrassment.

Unfortunately this means also that what could be a ripe opportunity to pass on family values and earn respect in our children’s eyes is also given voluntarily to “someone else” – add that to many TV shows and movies that paint parents as idiots, and it’s no wonder children are learning to turn away from their parents for guidance.

In some “families”, the children have never really looked to their parents for guidance at all, except for their financial needs, to get transportation when needed, bail them out of juvie, and provide a place to have parties when no parent is present. I can speak from experience here, as my kids have associated with those exact types of families.

So is this article showing part of the reason that children and “the collective” these days are running the show with regards to the family core beliefs? Or is it a symptom of a larger problem?

I, for one, am turning my focus on the relationship with my children in the hopes that I can still pass on family virtue. Thankfully when I mentioned this article to my youngest two (15 and 17) they were appalled. Of course then I had to go into a little bit of detail about the subject matter – sadly it was not news to them, but at least i was able to plant seeds of what i feel are moral strengths they can take with them into the “real world”.