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Andrew Talmage

Interesting what we decide to teach youth and what we decide not to teach them. - 23 views

education teenagers youth sex pleasure teaching study

started by Andrew Talmage on 27 Jul 09
  • Andrew Talmage
    #1 Andrew Talmage on 27 Jul 09
     
    I don't think this is a topic we directly cover in this unit but decided that it was relevant enough since it does involve youth and education. I found it interesting particularly because it highlights how education decides what should be taught about subjects often to the detriment of the students. The article raises some interesting questions about how sexual education is approached in Australia. What do you think?

    Here is the web address of the article (couldn't figure out how to make it a link):

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/16/2627798.htm
  • K Lombard
    #2 K Lombard on 27 Jul 09
     
    Definitely fits into socialisation! Thanks Andrew.


    AndrewTalmage wrote:
    > I don't think this is a topic we directly cover in this unit but decided that it was relevant enough since it does involve youth and education. I found it interesting particularly because it highlights how education decides what should be taught about subjects often to the detriment of the students. The article raises some interesting questions about how sexual education is approached in Australia. What do you think?
    >
    > Here is the web address of the article (couldn't figure out how to make it a link):
    >
    > http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/16/2627798.htm
  • Quinn3
    #3 Quinn3 on 27 Jul 09
     
    I'm not convinced that teenagers need to be taught about sexual pleasure -- for unlike algebra and writing essays, humans have an innate drive for and an understanding of sex. But of course, I am not an expert in this field, and am interested in knowing what the experts believe. However, it is clear that there is little agreement at this point. Ultimately what is and what is not in the curriculum should be determined by evidence of need, usefulness and practicability. Would this education be valuable? Are teenagers not masturbating enough? I wouldn't think any of this would be a problem, but bring on the studies.
  • Quinn3
    #5 Quinn3 on 29 Jul 09
     
    Ah, but what is sex for? Humans have the drive for sex and find pleasure in sex because that is the way our species evolved to ensure we would continue to procreate and thereby provide for the continuation of our kind. That humans enjoy sexual stimulation outside of procreation is not unique either to humans or even other vaguely intelligent animals. As such, I would find it hard to argue that it is not instinctual.
    However. I will agree with you that one can always improve and maximise one's returns. But is it truly of importance for a race of beings which places itself so far above the other living creatures on its planet to concentrate so much attention on a particular form of pleasure that stems from raw animalistic urges?
    I would say probably not. Would such an education be valuable? Certainly. Enjoyment is good. But vital? Hardly.
    Some of the social issues you mention definitely need addressing through concerted cultural de/re-programming, but I remain unconvinced that these issues can be addressed by focusing educating youth about maximising sexual pleasure.
    Education is good, pleasure is good, humans are good. But being that rare animal which has found meaning beyond the basic life cycle, would one not think that we would concentrate more on the things that separate us from the rest of Earth's animal kingdom rather than on the things which make us the same? Perhaps or perhaps not, but let's not pack up and head back to the jungle yet.
    Sex is just one form of interaction that humans can have with one another, and while it is a valid interaction to want to improve, I don't feel it should be necessarily prioritised over education on other forms of interaction. For if one observes the behaviour of youth and the way in which they interact with each other and others, one will realise that we have a long way to go. We don't just need educational reform, but a significant cultural paradigm shift.

    As a disclaimer, I must note that I am not an expert in this area. I'm looking forward to finding out more.
  • Quinn3
    #6 Quinn3 on 29 Jul 09
     
    I just wanted to add that I agree that education on sex should be open. I realise that it is still a somewhat taboo subject in western culture, with education being limited due to sex often being thought of as an "unsafe" topic for (particularly the younger end of) youth. It is probably about time for humans to come to term with their humanity. Continued obfuscation isn't helping the people it is supposed to protect.
  • Andrew Talmage
    #7 Andrew Talmage on 30 Jul 09
     
    As you quite rightly mentioned 'sex is just one form of interaction', and where ever there is interaction there is communication. The sexual reforms I'm suggesting simply serve to ensure that young people understand the language that they are speaking during these interactions. However, sexual interactions are not limited to a physical exchange, a reproductive urging to propagate, there is (and this is where I feel that we will intrinsically disagree) a spiritual and sacredness to sexuality that when discovered, through teaching or experimentation, allows for the sexual interaction to communicate more than any other form of human interaction. This is what truly sets us apart from the animals.
    The 'animalistic urges' that drive us in our youth towards becoming sexually active evolve into, for the lucky, a common desire to partake in a communication that is much deeper than purely physical pleasure can ever explain.
    I can't site any studies to back up these claims and this isn't the appropriate forum to share any experiential evidence, but let me just say that one day I hope that you manage to discover the truth of it.

    Ultimately I believe, like you, that a significant cultural paradigm shift is required but I have the feeling that our desired paradigm shifts might be in slightly different directions. :-)

    Quinn3 wrote:
    > I just wanted to add that I agree that education on sex should be open. I realise that it is still a somewhat taboo subject in western culture, with education being limited due to sex often being thought of as an "unsafe" topic for (particularly the younger end of) youth. It is probably about time for humans to come to term with their humanity. Continued obfuscation isn't helping the people it is supposed to protect.

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