A Modicum of Common Sense Will Do

It's not necessarily a matter of social probity and propriety, but rather one of responsible recognition of appropriateness. And it just simply isn't appropriate for 14-year-old boys to be given the opportunity to learn about sex, avoidance of spreading sexually transmitted diseases, and the correct use of prophylactics in the guise of a game.

They're just kids. Even if their hormones are driving them into a direction that confuses and aggravates them. And their confusing urges should be treated with respect, not irritatingly bawdily.

There is, quite simply, an objectively simple and direct way to instruct young people about human sexuality and 'best practices' when it comes to social-sexual interaction with the opposite gender. Abstinence, due to the frailty of their chronological years is the first instruction.

But in recognition of the fact that forbidding anything to young people is the best way to insure they will grasp any opportunity to experiment for themselves, they should also be made aware of the incidence of SDTs, and the need for respect - for themselves and for their potential partners.

The curriculum that a Cambridge Ontario mother who happens also to be a public-health nurse - giving her concerns additional weight - certainly represents as an ill-considered and oafishly-designed attempt to get grade 9 students involved, treating a serious matter as a competitive sport, hinders rather than steers young people in the right direction.

The young boys were tasked with purchasing condoms, bringing them to school for their 'health' classes, and then competing with one another to determine which among them could successfully place a condom on a wooden artifact resembling a penis in the fastest possible time.

Not only, through this process, trivializing an important message, but imbuing the participants with a sense of competitive 'fun' in the process.

And that is precisely the attitude that would carry over to the actual event of experiencing sex at under-aged and inexperienced trysts, given a certain level of implied authorization by the school board. Implicit, if not explicit, even though it's clear their intent was to educate, not enthuse.

There's no doubt this exercise wouldn't be viewed as amusing and fun by a good portion of the boys in grade 9 classes. Some, obviously, would be embarrassed and want nothing to do with the exercise. The mother's contention that the exercise was "inappropriate" that a matter of sex education be turned into a "sports competition" was well put.

Trustees at the Waterloo Region District School Board plan to discuss this particular health 'assignment' at one of their regular board meetings.