Sex education is currently the hot and widespread topic in the media, schools, offices, malls, cafeterias and in the Church. Per the government, pupils in the fifth grade, aged ten to 11 up to high school students, aged 15 to 16 will be taught on what sex is. I still have to see the “syllabus” of the course but the controversial move is believed to promote safe sex, limit the spread of STDs and prevent unwanted pregnancies.
The influential Catholic Church cries foul. Its hierarchy says that it is the duty of parents to educate their children about sex. The clergy further argues that sex education in school only promotes promiscuity.
It is not clear to me whether the government’s move sprung from its idea that overpopulation is one of the root causes of grinding poverty in the Philippines and hence, it must be put into a lower gear. (N.B.: I always assume perhaps with precision that the main roots of poverty in the country are graft and corruption and the unabated abuse and destruction of the environment and natural resources.)
From the rationale of the course, pupils and students learn human anatomy and their functions. I am not sure how teachers will do their job but I believe that there will be visuals of the male and female genitalia and illustration of bodily changes that occur in both sexes’ age of puberty. Birth control methods and paraphernalia and how to use them, STDs and their nature; how they are acquired, transmitted and prevented are also taught. Last but not least, our children will learn about sexual intercourse, pregnancy and responsible parenthood.
Is it possible to teach responsible parenthood to these kids who are “new” in this world and are supposed to be concentrating on their studies? In their puerile and pristine way of thinking, how do we expect them to be responsible in their actions especially when it comes to sex after reading its book? They are “young and restless” and too curious to try out the difficult to resist that appeal to the senses.
So next time Junior or Neneng comes home, parents should not be surprised to discover that they have assignments on subjects ranging from penis, vagina, menstruation, breasts, nipple, sperm, pubic hair, alteration of the voice pitch, ovulation, female egg, miscarriage, abortion, conception, labor, gestation and even masturbation.
What is interesting to know is the method in which the teachers discuss sex. Are they down to earth in using unambiguous words, terms and phrases or they prefer to be more “decent”? I browsed that the use of English is to be the medium for the instruction. Well, what is wrong in using the first language of the pupil like Ilocano or Cebuano? Using another language to describe something does not change its meaning. Dog is dog whether it is said as “perro” (Spanish), "canis” (Latin) or “aso” (Ilocano). The last thing we don’t like to hear are the young ones talking explicitly about sex in a vulgar fashion in the native language.
As they grow and reach the age of reason, who can stop these sex literate youngsters in watching pornography, doing sex and spreading their bad influence? Unwanted pregnancies or STDs can be avoided because of academic background but who can stop immorality and its spread? Who can stop the possible commission of sex crimes? Who can stop abortion? And yes, ironically, teen pregnancy? Early marriage? Early marital separation? Cohabitation? Illegitimate children? Curtailment or distraction of education because of early marriage or unwanted pregnancy?
We have to wait for a couple of years after the implementation of the course to know if the program attains its goals or will have helped tremendously in the propagation of the things it supposed to stop.
We will also know if the stand of the Catholic Church is correct or not. -30-
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