Sex Ed

eirebhoy

If I remember correctly we got sex ed in 6th class and it was on for the entire day. Can't remember much other than 2 of my classmates thought they were going blind (they got blurred eyes and rubbing them didn't help). Very odd.

highlydebased

In 6th class we were given a talk by a nun (!) on sex.....

Nothing was ever explained about condoms or whatever

Notably, when the girls had the same talk they were shown how to put on a condom


In secondary school, nothing on aids, stds, pregnancy, we were just told it would be "very illegal" for us to have sex at 16/17 and that we would more than likely be "jailed for life".


honestly!

SingingCherry

I grew up abroad, went to a private primary school, and a public secondary school. In both schools we had very indepth sex ed. In primary school the boys and girls were separated at the age of 9 you learned all about puberty, the whole body changing, what happens, how does this affect you, and how you shouldn't be scared. That sort of thing. This was about once a week for eight weeks.

Then once I got to secondary school we had a two month stint when we were 13 where we talked about how our bodies have changed, relationships with the opposite sex and why some boy's willies have turtlenecks on and why some don't. The class was co-ed so extremely embarrassing for a kid but I got a lot out of it at the time.

Then, finally, when we were 16 we had yet another course that took the place of a regular health class so it went on for the whole year. You learned about all kinds of contraception, STIs, how the body becomes pregnant, etc. Then we had to do a project about raising a child, the costs, the time it takes, and how it's a bad idea to have one when you're irresponsible and you think marshmallows are acceptable breakfast food.

Overall I learned a lot but they did put fear in you about getting pregnant and did explain over and over and over and over again how abstinence was the best.

I should also mention that for all of these classes, parents were sent a consent form so no conservative parents had a hissy fit. My parents were just glad they didn't have to have THE TALK with me.

JustCoz

Sex education in this country is a joke. I didn't know anything about the pill except what my friends told me until I went to see a doctor. It's no wonder there are so many teenage pregnancies in Ireland

gaeilgegrinds

I teach sex ed & I can tell you now it depends almost wholly on the balls (excusing all puns) of the teacher how much is done. I've a degree in psychology & we never learned about it there, on the Dip we were taught nothing either. As a result most teachers swan over it very casually. I on the otherhand do not. I feel it my obligation to tell them the truth.

I bring in many speakers, the best of which was a young man with AIDs who came in & spoke very openly. I allowed him speak as he wished which involved many curse words & I sat at the back. My students were enthralled, until it emerged why he was in...one example of what I've done. However, I'm sorry to say I stand very much in the minority in my approach.

shane86

I think we got it in 3rd year off a short haired and (for her age, 25 odd at the time in 2002/03 id reckon) rather religious religion teacher (as opposed to the blonde mid 30s yoke in tight tops who had done religion the year before. I painted my cacks on the quiet in her class once )

Nothing got taught, it descended into a 3 day pisstake basically. As if it needed to be- any Irish kid above the age of 9 who doesnt have at least a basic grasp of the whole thing would be rare. We knew something about it from at least six.

JustCoz wrote: »

Sex education in this country is a joke. I didn't know anything about the pill except what my friends told me until I went to see a doctor. It's no wonder there are so many teenage pregnancies in Ireland

Really? When i was growin up most young kids watched the likes of Eastenders and Coronation Street, it wasnt possible to not pick up this stuff, id be very surprised for anyone of my age not to have known the whole business by 12, including the pill. Teen pregnancy isnt ignorance, the kids know the facts full well. Its too much drink and being too afraid to go to a chemist that is the problem.

In 2nd year of secondary we got five 40 minute classes. Didn't teach me anything I didn't already know, it was rubbish. My parents never had the talk with me, I just picked things up as I went along. I still don't know a massive amount. :rolleyes:

JC 2K3

shane86 wrote: »

Really? When i was growin up most young kids watched the likes of Eastenders and Coronation Street, it wasnt possible to not pick up this stuff, id be very surprised for anyone of my age not to have known the whole business by 12, including the pill. Teen pregnancy isnt ignorance, the kids know the facts full well. Its too much drink and being too afraid to go to a chemist that is the problem.

I'd sorta second this. Sex education or no sex education, I can't imagine anyone not knowing about the mechanics of sex and methods of contraception by the age of 12.

Shirty

Mine was pretty much non-existant in school, luckily I have very open parents and my Mum was always very honest with me about everything from contaception to loosing my virginity to periods. Lots of girls I knew were handed a book and left to try and work things out with that, all purely biological stuff and no chance to explore emotional sides to relationships or negotioating safer sex.

And at the end of my first conversation with my Mum when I was trying to decide to sleep with my boyfriend or not she uttered the rather wonderful line "And remember, if you're giving, make sure you're getting"

Advice to live by.