NationStates Jolt Archive

There is currently a furore in Queensland about a website called The Hormone Factory, which was created by LaTrobe University as a way to teach 10-12 year olds about sex. It includes controversial topics like abortion, gay parents, IVF and others. It also explains some of the questions that children have about sex.

Education Queensland has endorsed the site as a teaching resource for year 7 children. My question is, what does NSG think about it? Do you think it is a valuable resource for educating children about the questions that they have, or do you feel that this information should be kept for parents to teach or not teach as they see fit?

My personal view is that the site is a step in the right direction, although the execution is somewhat poor. The information is factual and provides a well-balanced view of the issues.

Website (http://www.thehormonefactory.com/index.cfm)

News article (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25300274-952,00.html)

Do journalists bother looking at the website before writing their article?

Do journalists bother looking at the website before writing their article?

I think they take the Right to Life's word for it.

Lawl. Seriously, this country needs to get the fuck over it's high-handed conservativism. Let the kids know what they're doing. I can't believe stuff like this still causes a ruckus.

Lawl. Seriously, this country needs to get the fuck over it's high-handed conservativism. Let the kids know what they're doing. I can't believe stuff like this still causes a ruckus.

What gets me is that I was teaching kids who were all having sex and who thought it was okay to reuse condoms, turn them inside out, or use gladwrap instead. :eek:

I don't understand how we could possibly still be this conservative. +95% of the population lives in urban centres, we enjoy a high standard of life, decent education... what's the hold up?

Anyway, I'm glad there's a few sensible people in government to cheerfully ignore the people getting worked up about this.

the websites off. they listed average male endowment size as 6 inches (3 cm) which seems to say they dont know how to convert to metric.

Also, that site is actually pretty crappy. It's poorly formatted :p.

What gets me is that I was teaching kids who were all having sex and who thought it was okay to reuse condoms, turn them inside out, or use gladwrap instead. :eek:

Eeep. That's no good. THIS is why a comprehensive sex education system truly is "thinking of the children".

How can I agree or disagree with How a sperm gets to an Egg? lol

as per the OP, I dont really see a problem with it, beats their first look being from Random Porn Site A or B...

How can I agree or disagree with How a sperm gets to an Egg? lol

as per the OP, I dont really see a problem with it, beats their first look being from Random Porn Site A or B...

I learned how to have sex from porn.

I learned how to do it PROPERLY by reading all the instructions that came with the condoms. But I knew most of the biological processes before then anyway.

Also, that site is actually pretty crappy. It's poorly formatted :p.

I agree. I think it's a great start though, and could be a springboard to a truly proper sex education for children.

the websites off. they listed average male endowment size as 6 inches (3 cm) which seems to say they dont know how to convert to metric.

Indeed, and that is another problem I have with the site. Australians use the metric system rather than the imperial system, and to me that is the info that should be on the site. As I said in the OP, the execution is poor.

I agree. I think it's a great start though, and could be a springboard to a truly proper sex education for children.

Yeah, see I think it also dumbs stuff down too much. All that "sexy feelings" and "sex parts" and "sex place", while it is good in that encourages unabashed use of the word, it is bad in that it discourages more, shall we say, clinical terminology. Why can't you teach the kids the phrases "arousal", "penis/vagina/breast/anus", and "crotch/genital area", and what they mean? Using those obscure euphamisms only clouds the issues for them.

Or so I would imagine. You're a teacher, you probably have a much better idea than I do. What do you think?

I learned how to have sex from porn.

I learned how to do it PROPERLY by reading all the instructions that came with the condoms. But I knew most of the biological processes before then anyway.

well i too learned from porn my step brother used it to teach me about sex

Yeah, see I think it also dumbs stuff down too much. All that "sexy feelings" and "sex parts" and "sex place", while it is good in that encourages unabashed use of the word, it is bad in that it discourages more, shall we say, clinical terminology. Why can't you teach the kids the phrases "arousal", "penis/vagina/breast/anus", and "crotch/genital area", and what they mean? Using those obscure euphamisms only clouds the issues for them.

Or so I would imagine. You're a teacher, you probably have a much better idea than I do. What do you think?

I agree totally. Like I said, it is a step in the right direction, since it includes information about issues like abortion, gay families, sex etc in a somewhat frank manner, but it isn't the exemplar for what I would like to see.

I think that half the problem with sex and kids is that we are so euphemistic - sex/special places and feelings, sex stuff still makes it very nebulous and removed from reality. I have absolutely no issue with using the correct terminology, no more than I do with using eye, or mouth, or hand.

The trouble with these euphemistic terms is that children may think that everywhere that feels good to touch becomes a sexy place. I hate euphemisms.

I agree totally. Like I said, it is a step in the right direction, since it includes information about issues like abortion, gay families, sex etc in a somewhat frank manner, but it isn't the exemplar for what I would like to see.

I think that half the problem with sex and kids is that we are so euphemistic - sex/special places and feelings, sex stuff still makes it very nebulous and removed from reality. I have absolutely no issue with using the correct terminology, no more than I do with using eye, or mouth, or hand.

The trouble with these euphemistic terms is that children may think that everywhere that feels good to touch becomes a sexy place. I hate euphemisms.

Well then, we are in remarkable agreement. An NSG first :tongue:.

Anyway, I'll give the site kudos for including other sexual information beyond the biological. I was lucky that my mum was pretty good at explaining things like homosexuality and abortion, but I know a lot of other parents aren't. I just wish they could give the sort of clinical, biological sex education that I recieved to eveyone, and expand it to include all sorts of sexual health and social sex information.

Also, my friend once tried to convince me that ears could be sexually pleasurable. I didn't believe him. I thought it was exactly that euphamism confusion you were alluding to. Of course, I was completely wrong, but that's beside the point.

They should send social workers to check up on the children of the folks complaining.

If they actually object to that site after reading through it, their children are probably in danger from THEM.

Well then, we are in remarkable agreement. An NSG first :tongue:.

It's the apocalypse!!!11111ONE1!!!

Anyway, I'll give the site kudos for including other sexual information beyond the biological. I was lucky that my mum was pretty good at explaining things like homosexuality and abortion, but I know a lot of other parents aren't. I just wish they could give the sort of clinical, biological sex education that I recieved to eveyone, and expand it to include all sorts of sexual health and social sex information.

My mother was a big believer in the "If you're old enough to ask the question, you're old enough for the answer." Sometimes with diagrams. Always judgment free and with the correct terminology. My friends' parents were horrified that I knew the words for penis and vagina when I was 5.

Also, my friend once tried to convince me that ears could be sexually pleasurable. I didn't believe him. I thought it was exactly that euphamism confusion you were alluding to. Of course, I was completely wrong, but that's beside the point.

LMAO - You're so cute! :tongue::fluffle:

There is currently a furore in Queensland about a website called The Hormone Factory, which was created by LaTrobe University as a way to teach 10-12 year olds about sex. It includes controversial topics like abortion, gay parents, IVF and others. It also explains some of the questions that children have about sex.

Education Queensland has endorsed the site as a teaching resource for year 7 children. My question is, what does NSG think about it? Do you think it is a valuable resource for educating children about the questions that they have, or do you feel that this information should be kept for parents to teach or not teach as they see fit?

My personal view is that the site is a step in the right direction, although the execution is somewhat poor. The information is factual and provides a well-balanced view of the issues.

Website (http://www.thehormonefactory.com/index.cfm)

News article (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25300274-952,00.html)

I think its a good step but needs better implementation. I'd be all about leaving it up to the parents but it seems that more and more the parents don't want to bother.

I think this site is a disgusting infringement of the right of conservative parents to have their children be ignorant about the workings and consequences of sex. These parents have a natural right to deprive their children of information, risking unplanned pregnancies and STDs. Will no one think of the parents?

I think this site is a disgusting infringement of the right of conservative parents to have their children be ignorant about the workings and consequences of sex. These parents have a natural right to deprive their children of information, risking unplanned pregnancies and STDs. Will no one think of the parents?

I'll start thinking of the parents when they start thinking of my tax dollars their inbred, slatternly, ignorant children will waste when they reproduce at 14. Bloody greedy parents, I see through their charade to the real reason for their thin veil of conservatism. My taxes!!!

I'll start thinking of the parents when they start thinking of my tax dollars their inbred, slatternly, ignorant children will waste when they reproduce at 14. Bloody greedy parents, I see through their charade to the real reason for their thin veil of conservatism. My taxes!!!

I second this opinion, wholeheartedly.

I second this opinion, wholeheartedly.

Nice to know I'm making some sense around here.

I think this site is a disgusting infringement of the right of conservative parents to have their children be ignorant about the workings and consequences of sex. These parents have a natural right to deprive their children of information, risking unplanned pregnancies and STDs. Will no one think of the parents?

Except they aren't trying to stop the schools doing it, and just as an aside it all conservative parent try to do this. My parents are pretty conservative and I remember my dad taking me to some seminar on sex and changes and the like when I was 10. It was one designed for those between the ages of 9-11.

The information is factual and provides a well-balanced view of the issues.

Considering it explicitly states that being gay or bi is perfectly normal, as well as that masturbating is ok - with no reference whatsoever to the fact that some people think very, very differently about such things I wonder how you can say it is "well-balanced" ?

Sure, it happens to be a view I personally agree with, but that does not make it the only one in existence - and kids expecting their parents to be openminded because the site said it was all ok may be in for a nasty surprise.

Aside from that, the navigational structure of the site is pathetic.

Nice to know I'm making some sense around here.

Either that or we are both crazies, since you voted for me being insane and all :P.

BTW can I sig that?

I think this site is a disgusting infringement of the right of conservative parents to have their children be ignorant about the workings and consequences of sex. These parents have a natural right to deprive their children of information, risking unplanned pregnancies and STDs. Will no one think of the parents?

Thinking... thinking... Nope. Don't care. :p