You got to be kidding me, this day and age? Just about every where you turn today is geared toward sex. The movies, music, and pop culture. I'll bet you $50 you can walk down the street in any jerk water town, pick any teenager out of a crowd, and ask them what they know about sex. Son, you better bring a notebook, cause you're going to learn a few things that even you haven't thought of.
Of course everything we see is geared towards sex...which is even more reason why we NEED sexual education taught to our kids. Yes, it would be AWESOME if every parent could do this on their own. If every parent sat down their child at the age of 10-12 (or whenever it's taught now) and had an open, lengthy discussion with them explaining puberty, STDs, sexual reproduction, sex in the media, teen pregnancies and any other health related questions their children may have. But not every parent does that. Hell, it would be awesome if every child even had a parent! Still, not every child does. Not every child grows up with a perfect mother, father, siblings and a house with a white picket fence in suburbia. If I was a parent I don't think even I could explain everything to my child...because I'm NOT a doctor or a teacher. But we send our kids to school to learn things right? I don't know everything about English literature or calculus to teach my child...so I send them to people that can teach them that. Just as I think we should send our students to teachers who know more about sexual education than I do. But of course I agree that we need to help our children through these courses JUST like we would help them through any other subject matter they take in school. All parents need help teaching their children these things. And why should we deny a parent the outlet to take their children to someone else who is more qualified to teach them? Should we just say "okay, we're banning sexual education from all schools....parents, you're on your own. Good luck!" If you disagree with contraceptives for religious or personal beliefs...that's your prerogative. But allow your child to learn what's out there so that THEY can make the decision for themselves.
Maybe I'm the only one who felt comfortable with the level of sex education I got out of high school...or even elementary school when we had it. I felt as if everything was presented in an unbiased manner. And I even went to public school here in the midwest!!
sorry, cmb23...I know you wanted to avoid this type of discussion. But that's what politics are all about isn't it?!