The Scouts program is now going to start integrating sex education into their programs - albeit, very reluctantly. Apparently they're introducing new guidelines for their 14-18-year-olds age groups "to break illusions about what these services are and improve the uptake of advice". Right.
Peter Duncan, the chief scout, explains that:
"We must be realistic and accept
that around a third of young people are sexually active before 16 and
many more start relationships at 16 and 17.
"Scouting touches
members of every community, religious and social group in the country
so adults in scouting have a duty to promote safe and responsible
relationships and, as an organisation, we have the responsibility to
provide sound advice about how to do that."
I'm glad that The Scouts are finally aditting to themselves that teenagers have sex, and that maybe they have a responsibility to talk to them about it. You're like 50 years late, but welcome to the club.
As well as trying to help their Scouts resist peer pressure to become sexual active until they are "ready to make safe and informed decisions", they say they will only hand out condoms to boys whom they feel are "very likely to begin or continue having intercourse with or without contraception".
How does one judge that? "Hmmm...you're asking for a condom...but I'm not exactly sure you are VERY likely to have sex." Do they ignore the quieter kids who they think are not VERY likely to fancy a fuck?
Shockingly, I disagree with a lot of The Scouts' approach to sex education. They keep pushing the angle that they are only doing this to help young boys develop "confidence, maturity and self-esteem" when it comes to make smart decisions when it comes to their sexuality.
However, leaders of the Beavers and Cubs are told that that it is "unlikely" they will need to take "positive action" and talk to their six-ten-year-olds about sexual health.
I disagree.
Are not some kids going through puberty as early as nine and ten? Should we not start talking to them when they're younger than that, so that when they get to 12 and 14, their blossoming sexuality and changing bodies do not come as such an uncomfortable shock?
People don't understand that when sex educators talk to younger children about their sexuality, they're not giving them tips on how to give a good blow job. That would be ridiculous and inappropriate (and, eh, illegal) - what they DO talk to younger children and pre-teens about exactly what The Scouts say is developing "confidence, maturing and self-esteem".
I've heard an advisor from Brook explain that talking to five-year-olds a about "sex education" is about teaching them how to connect with other people with respect, treating themselves with respect, and how to be comfortable in their own skin. They explained that if you have respectful, informed children, they will grow in to responsible, and sexually responsible adults.
To find out more information on The Scout's half-hearted sex education program, you can visit their website.