Latest blog posts

What’s going on out there and who thinks what about it?
Opinion and observation on all aspects of raising and educating girls in today’s world...

  • There's more to relationships than body parts...

    Monday 28 November 2011

    Categories: Education, Family Relationships, Growing up, Sexual Relationships

    ‘There’s more to relationships than body parts’ attested a recent article in The Education Guardian. Absolutely. We have to recognise that Sex and Relationships Education requires far more than giving information about the biological elements of human reproduction. Our sons and daughters need support as they address the emotional aspects of a developing interest in the opposite sex, and unless schools and parents work together to provide this support, they will look to each other, and to the range of dubious teen magazines on the market, to find this support, and misinformation will often result.

    Julie Bentley, chief executive of the Family Planning Association, says:
    ‘We’re not pushing for teaching young people lots more about sex. But what we need is good-quality relationships education teaching: teaching them about respect, honesty, trust and self-esteem. Otherwise they’ll be entering relationships that are unhealthy, harmful, have violence in them. It’s critically important.”

    I couldn’t agree more. Life is about choices, and being aware of risk and responsibility in all aspects of your life, including in terms of developing sexual and emotional relationships, is crucial. Good schools and caring, responsible parents will work together to ensure that young people are prepared, rather than simply protected.
    It was also pointed out to me recently that much sex and relationships education focusses on avoiding early pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection. Few SRE courses deal with issues such as fertility, and given the significant number of women who find it difficult, or impossible, to become pregnant when they feel the time is right, we do need to ask ourselves whether our education programmes are offering young people a realistic preparation for the future.

    Simon Blake, Chief Executive of Brook, the sexual health charity, confirms that it is relationships that young people want and need to know about – the emotions and real-life dilemmas they may face. Let’s hope that the consultation on sex education which is due to end this month recognises this.

    Posted by Jill Berry

Your comments

It must be the time of year – I’ve read a lot of articles recently about positive body image, sex education, even Bobbi Brown advising us on appropriate make-up for the office. Really we’re all just talking about values aren’t we? I accept that schools have to check that children (note the collective gender) are educated about reproduction & body image but it’s the parentS that should be instilling values from birth. Discussing morals, ethics, value and choice with children is the parents’ responsibility first and foremost. Let’s stop wimping out to teachers and schools. This buck stops with us.

By SophieRelf on Monday 28 November 2011

Add my comment…