Following Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s threats to start an agitation against sex education in schools, we ask Mumbaikars if looking the other way will help children.
Following Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s threats to start a nationwide agitation against sex education in schools, Speak Up asks Mumbaikars if looking the other way will help our children
Kids feel relieved after sex education sessions
Sex education does not mean teaching children how to have intercourse. It is making them comfortable with their physical self. Parents are uncomfortable discussing it, and skirt the issue. That’s when they turn to vulgar means like pornography, to explore their sexual side.
If they are educated in the right manner, with the right educator, children will be responsible enough to avoid that. When they are comfortable with their physical self, they will also be better prepared to protect themselves from
sexual abuse.
I have given sessions at schools and children are always enthusiastic to understand something which they were always aware of but had no one to guide them. After the lecture, they feel unburdened and relieved.
Sex education should start at an age when children start undergoing physical changes — the average age for girls is nine, and for boys, about 11. That being said, it is essential to have the right person to conduct the sessions. If it is not conducted in the right way, it will leave the children more confused. Rajan Bhonsle. Senior Consultant in Sexual Medicine
Sex is not taboo; it is a natural instinct and sex education should start as early as possible. In pre-school, we teach children about a good touch and a bad touch. That’s the beginning. Parents often snub a child when he touches his genitals. The child thinks he was doing something inappropriate. That’s what remains imprinted in his mind. They need to understand that the child is merely exploring his body. We should conduct workshops to orient parents on how to interact with a growing child.
Mamta Kukreja. Counseling psychologist and sex educator
We have sessions on sex education as part of the Life Skills programme, for students of Class IX and X. Children are most impressionable at this age and need to be taught the right things before they get moulded undesirably.
I wonder if people who claim sex education might expose children to ‘pornography’, are aware of porn available freely all around. Everyday, we read of teenage mothers, and children falling prey to sex crimes. They need to be counselled at an early age to prevent such things. No use shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.”
Carl Laurie. Principal, Christ Church School
‘We are making fools of ourselves’
The Jamat-e-Islami Hind is known for orthodox thinking, I don't see any harm in educating children about sex.
As it is, almost every child knows what sex is thanks to music videos and films. If children are educated on sex, they will at least know the dangers of experimenting with sex at an early age. It's better to be informed than ignorant.
Aman Ahuja. Kandivali
The Jamaat-e-Islami hind has a problem with everything. They must leave such issues to be handled by the government which has been elected by us.
Jimmy Anthony. Kurla
Every other day, there's news of teenage mothers who, for most part of the nine months, were unaware of the pregnancy. Had they been educated, they would have known what they are getting into or what has been done to them.
I'm a mother to two girls and have no qualms accepting that sex education should be made compulsory.
Promil Basu. Khar
Children tend to explore things they get curious about. So let's not hide anything from them. We must deal with sex education matter-of-factly. My niece saw some sexually explicit scenes on Television and went to her neighbour with her queries. Needless to say, he was shocked.
To avoid such situations it's important to educate children before they gather information from the wrong sources.
Bimal Chowdhary. Malad
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}