Concerned about sex education

This concerned parent is just wondering if there are any others out there?

The subject is sex education. We as parents are obviously not capable of handling that responsibility with our children for whatever reasons. Reasons for not being able to breach the subject matter with our children may be that we are not comfortable with the subject matter of sex, or that we would rather defer the responsibility to our children’s friends or school administrators teaching our children about sex, abstinence or not, oral sex and same sex practices. Oh yes, same sex practices, because leaving that out would constitute discrimination against the gay community’s rights as well.

Time to get real people. Are we really that afraid to communicate to our own children about these subjects to have to defer it to total strangers who happen to have very real personal agendas in terms of what our children learn. Yes, these are life-altering decisions. The greatest gift for each and every one of us as parents is the gift of open, frank and honest communication that we are able to give with each and every one of our children.

The School Committee needs to involve the community in this process. There needs to be a formal public hearing that gets the word out to all citizens of Westbrook. Parents need to stand and take an active role in the communication process with their children on this very important subject, both fathers and mothers. If parents lack the skills in communicating in such areas, I feel the School Committee should look at ways to strengthen these very important skills between parent and child. A class could be offered to parents at the high school with a trained professional in the area of sex communication.

The days of “I’m just too busy, or I work late, or I am a single parent” are nothing more than excuses or weak justifications to abandon one of the greatest gifts we owe to our children. To all parents , please stand up and say enough is enough and that educating our children on this very sensitive and important subject matter will be one of a number of primary responsibilities we owe to our children as parents.

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