Miami Herald Article
Samantha Phillips (co-author Real Girl Real World) wrote an article on sex education in the classroom for the Miami Herald (See the Education Section of the Sunday, July 24, 2005 paper).
Read about this important topic: the following is an excerpt with a link to the full article and suggested resources.
***
"Classes try to separate myth, facts: In Broward and Miami-Dade schools, sex education courses are designed to provide students with information that will protect them."
BY SAMANTHA PHILLIPS
Special to The Herald
``If using one condom is good, then wearing two must be better.''
``The withdrawal method is safe.''
``Oral sex is not having sex.''
``If you don't have your period yet, then you can't get pregnant.''
These are some of the most common myths that Vicki Bogdan, a science teacher at Palmetto Middle School in Pinecrest, hears every year from her students. ''That is why sex education is so important,'' Bogdan explains. ``Every year I also hear questions about homosexuality, masturbation and hermaphrodites. The kids are curious, and we can answer their questions factually.''
Unless your child is encased in a glass bubble, he or she will be inundated with sexual messages from television, magazines, explicit lyrics, the Internet and that live-wire of misinformation -- the peer group. Enter the role of sex education in school, an essential opportunity to sort fact from fiction.
''Our main focus is on keeping kids safe,'' says Lilia Garcia, administrative director in the Division of Life Skills and Special Projects for Miami-Dade public schools. ''We teach that abstinence is best, but we have to be realistic, so we also teach how to protect yourself if you do choose to be sexually active,'' That realism can save lives, especially since 60 percent of teens do have sex by the end of 12th grade.
''We promote abstinence,'' says William Sydnor, Family Life and HIV coordinator for Broward County schools, ``but we also want to give students the skills to make informed and responsible decisions when they do have sex. We don't want to withhold information that can save a life.''
Read more of this article:
www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/education/12208166.htm
Suggested Sources from article:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/education/12208167.htm
Read about this important topic: the following is an excerpt with a link to the full article and suggested resources.
***
"Classes try to separate myth, facts: In Broward and Miami-Dade schools, sex education courses are designed to provide students with information that will protect them."
BY SAMANTHA PHILLIPS
Special to The Herald
``If using one condom is good, then wearing two must be better.''
``The withdrawal method is safe.''
``Oral sex is not having sex.''
``If you don't have your period yet, then you can't get pregnant.''
These are some of the most common myths that Vicki Bogdan, a science teacher at Palmetto Middle School in Pinecrest, hears every year from her students. ''That is why sex education is so important,'' Bogdan explains. ``Every year I also hear questions about homosexuality, masturbation and hermaphrodites. The kids are curious, and we can answer their questions factually.''
Unless your child is encased in a glass bubble, he or she will be inundated with sexual messages from television, magazines, explicit lyrics, the Internet and that live-wire of misinformation -- the peer group. Enter the role of sex education in school, an essential opportunity to sort fact from fiction.
''Our main focus is on keeping kids safe,'' says Lilia Garcia, administrative director in the Division of Life Skills and Special Projects for Miami-Dade public schools. ''We teach that abstinence is best, but we have to be realistic, so we also teach how to protect yourself if you do choose to be sexually active,'' That realism can save lives, especially since 60 percent of teens do have sex by the end of 12th grade.
''We promote abstinence,'' says William Sydnor, Family Life and HIV coordinator for Broward County schools, ``but we also want to give students the skills to make informed and responsible decisions when they do have sex. We don't want to withhold information that can save a life.''
Read more of this article:
www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/education/12208166.htm
Suggested Sources from article:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/education/12208167.htm
posted by Real Girl Real World @ 10:26 AM
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