So much furor has been ignited by the controversy whether Sex Education should be included in the High School curriculum. As usual, the perennial battle between the church-led conservative groups and ultra liberal government officials once again ensued. The former is basically maintaining its unchanging stand against anything that would degrade human dignity and life; while the latter is seen bannering again it's so called comprehensive campaigns to promote health and most especially, to curb population growth through introduction of contraceptive use via Sex Education.
But the point worthy of scrutiny I think, is to find the most fundamental issue at stake here. What is really the problem? Is it Sex Education per se, or its contents which some are trying to push down the throat of the people?
Personally speaking, I do not see any wrong with Sex Education being taught in secondary schools. If it would mean fostering a healthy view of sexuality, that it is a sacred gift that must be fully understood and appreciated, what could be wrong with it? In fact, I believe this will help us foster correct notion of sexuality which unfortunately our culture presents to the young as dirty, taboo and improper. Hence, most of us grow in an attitude that looks at sex itself as obscene, animalistic or downright negative. No wonder, most people view it in purely carnal level thereby downgrading its inherent beauty and spiritual dimension. The especial bond between two individuals who by their divine union have been commissioned by God to share in His procreative activity is almost ignored.
On the other hand, if the focus of Sex Education is to teach the young people how to use condoms and contraceptives including topics on how to have sex without penetration, as some of the materials show; then it will be a moral disaster. I could not believe how intelligent authorities were able to conceive such ideas without their serious repercussion to the fragile minds of the children, crossing their sensibilities. What a great mistake!
Imagine your teenage children being oriented to different ways of engaging in sex without resulting to pregnancy. Would it not be giving them impliedly a subtle conditioning that sex can be as simple as a child's play? That it is a “very ordinary thing” from which people can resort to if they wish have fun or enjoyment. Promiscuity is almost made the main lesson of the day and therefore the long cherished values are lost.
If we look at this situation, the bottom line rests on the position that people need this in order to establish an effective means of controlling population growth. But it clearly indicates the inconsistency of human mentality. Not long ago, the controversy of Human Cloning almost dominated every front of debates, portraying in a vivid way, man's desire for “baby-making without love-making”. Now, there seem to be a big twist. By using all possible resources of the state just to curb population through contraceptives, some liberals are now promoting “love-making without baby-making”. Besides, presuming that love is present in such circumstance is even questionable in the light of properly oriented moral norms. Perhaps there is a need to rethink about the implementation of such a program, and for all of us - concerned individuals to act on this. Let our voices be heard and not just be a passive observer. In the first place, it might be our children who will be the first guinea pigs in this audacious if not ridiculous undertaking.
