There is a big difference between indoctrination and education, and the furor over Mountain View High School’s newspaper “The Oracle's” published sex article generated consternation with parents, support from educators, and of course unyielding support of journalism establishments.
http://www.mv-voice.com/news/show_story.php?id=6737
Naturally the parents were ridiculed for showing dismay over content, particularly one poor mother who declared that her son “didn’t need to know about masturbation”. That brought collective groans from the audience during a meeting and not so subtle comments that she needed to be “educated” to the liberal perspectives of sex education. The mother may have been old fashioned, but her response rung some truth.http://www.mercurynews.com/scott-herhold/ci_22781835/herhold-debate-over-mt-view-student-newspaper-sex
Biblical values are often denounced as being archaic, too strict, and not “with it” compared to the much looser moral standards promoted. Education presents all aspects to the issue with information, drawbacks, and statistics concerning a subject. Abstinence may not be popular, but it is 100% effective. http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/contraception/abstinence.html
The Bible warns to “abstain from sexual immorality”, which clearly teaches to just say no. You know, the same approach concerning drug use? Saying no to drugs or sexual immorality is consistent and workable. The double standard being promoted in education declares that saying no to sex is an impossibility however saying no to drug is a workable expectation. The indoctrination to permissive sexual behavior is clearly the message in many school’s sexual education programs.http://www.examiner.com/article/bible-standard-against-sexual-immorality-still-sovles-today-s-social-ills
Virginity is being laughed at, abstinence is sneered at, and many that promote alternative lifestyles concerning sexuality have a liberal freedom to come into the classroom to share their lifestyle under the banner of education.
Unfortunately, what is severely lacking is providing information that discloses the consequences of a permissive sexual lifestyle. The student newspaper at Mountain View published a tasteless picture of the baseball team with their belts undone and shorts exposed. What was the social redeeming value of that picture? What message are they looking to promote?
Objecting to the content and presentation put parents into a light that they were trampling on the First Amendment and attempting to squash the journalistic creativity of the students, a major sin in the eyes of the journalism establishment and educators. Lost in the message were the parents’ concern about the lackadaisical attitude being promoted in the sex article suggested about permissive or unprotected sex.
The content of the article was rather tame really. It was the tone and lack of responsibility and accountability being demonstrated in the article that probably disturbed the parents. Censoring the expression of the students is not going to happen and parents need to take a chill pill.
There is nothing wrong about promoting or talking about sex, however there also goes a responsibility to present a balance to the information, and this balance was lacking. You can almost forget about the teaching of morality and why making life decisions concerning sexual expression drastically increase the probability of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, or even death.
Talking specifics is so important instead of using sweeping generalities. Promoting gay expression in the schools is encouraged greatly, but what about also sharing the life expectancy of gays is below 60-years of age? How about sharing that over 90% of males and females regret not waiting to have sex?http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive//ldn/2005/jun/05060606
Regarding condom use, which is being promoted as an effective contraceptive, it fails 20% of the time which exposes the female or male to communicable diseases or pregnancy. One can hardly understand how such an unreliable method can be seen as the answer. This issue is rarely shared.
Showing frivolous pictures as boys posing with their pants undone may be amusing to some, but the vast majority of people would not want their sons, brothers or fathers being shown in such a disrespectful pose and presenting such a sexist message.
Instead of denigrating “archaic” standards concerning sexual expression as fornication, adultery and other forms of sexual immorality because they come from the Bible, make sure whatever you replace it with will be an improvement and not a detriment.
Parents need to relax concerning their high school’s subject content in the student newspapers, particularly regarding sex. However, teachers and school administrators need to ensure there is a balance to the information where sexual lifestyle is not being glorified.
Education fine…..indoctrination no.
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