(Cartoon by mac at the UK’s (Daily) Mail Online, from Google Images ).
The recent announcement from the British government that “lessons about personal, social and health matters including sex and relationships will be compulsory in all England’s schools from ages five to 16”, which I blogged about yesterday, has created many ripples. Here’s an article today on the School Gate blog: it focusses on how this difficult subject will be taught, and by whom, pointing out that there are not enough, trained and competent teachers. A couple of comments wonder how this was taught at Hogwarts (perhaps Severus Snape just popped in a video?)
AlphaMummy also discusses the issue, but merely points out how important this kind of education is, without asking why the government is getting involved in this and whether that is a good thing or not.
The comments list is very long, but almost all of them miss the point. The point is not whether sex education is good or bad, but who has the right to decide, and whether that person or group then has the right to decide for others and force them to accept it. Is this freedom or statism?
Out of the great many comments, I only came across one that said “This isn’t for the government or schools to decide – THE PARENT DECIDES! Each child is different, some may need the discussion earlier than others and vice versa. I’m fed up with the government – they can’t get right the tasks they are hired to handle, and butt in on the tasks they have no right to!!!!!!!!!” Interestingly, the commenter is name “Yank”; Americans were amongst the first to state the individual is sovereign and no-one has the right to force anyone to do something.
Sex is also in the headlines (the media must just be loving this) because of a British couple who were caught in Dubai having sex on the beach, and whose trial has just finished. Here’s a Time columnist’s view: they got what they deserved, and brought shame on Britain, the filthy perverts! The comments are fun.
