New education program in N.B. raises questions about modern sex-ed

[ckramer]

FREDERICTON (CP) - A new sex education program in New Brunswick, which includes such topics as masturbation, orgasm and oral sex, has raised new questions about the place of the birds and the bees in the modern classroom.

A growing number of parents are demanding removal of the new curriculum.

"This curriculum is an assault on the children of New Brunswick," says Dr. Carolyn Barry, a physician in the Fredericton area and mother of six children.

"Children are 10 and 11 when they start this program in Grade 6, and they are being presented with concepts of oral sex, mutual masturbation, anal sex, oral-anal sex. It absolutely contravenes our community standards."

The controversy in the Maritime province shows that although sex education is now a basic fact of life in most Canadian classrooms, it still has the power to stir deep-seated feelings about how much children should learn about sex, and when.

Barry and other parents who have expressed their outrage at public meetings around the province say the new sex-ed curriculum will create a more sexually permissive, anything-goes society.

"It will change the culture of New Brunswick," she says.

Some parents say they want a program that talks more about abstinence.

ap

[LisaLL]

1. sex-ed effectiveness

The real question that should be asked of these parents is, "Do you want to use sex-ed programs that are effective in reducing teen pregnancy?" School systems should implement the programs that have been proven to be effective.

It is a MYTH that sex ed increases sexual activity. Some comprehensive programs are very effective in lowering pregnancy rates. Abstinence-only programs are not (Note that all the credible medical groups are opposed to funding abst-only programs because of the lack of evidence). Furthermore, contrary to what conservatives like to spout, study after study has shown that sex ed does not increase sexual activity or make the onset any earlier.

The Netherlands are a great example: early, comprehensive sex ed, public health campaigns, improved access to contraception. the results are that they have one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates and lowest abortion rates of any industrialized nation.