Sex ed is protection ed

When I read about the new sex education program for children in Washington state I was puzzled as to the requirement for it to start in kindergarten. I was also amused by the old trope that teaching teenagers about sex encourages them to have sex. When I was growing up the only thing that stopped sex was the lack of birth control and the shame that attached only to young girls (good old double standard) who became pregnant.

I have just realized that the point to teaching children to be aware and in control is to prevent sexual molestation. How can a child know exactly what is going on when an adult manipulates them into sexual encounters?

We need to stop thinking of sexual education as teaching teens how to have sex. It is preventive and protective. Our children need to understand their bodies and how to protect themselves.

We owe our children the knowledge to protect themselves.

Stephanie Manczuk

Spokane Valley