LETTER: Another view of sex ed

To the editor:

    How the First Presidency feels about sex education in public school:

    “We believe that serious hazards are involved in entrusting to the schools the teaching of this vital and important subject to our children. This responsibility cannot wisely be left to society, nor the schools; nor can the responsibility be shifted to the Church. It is the responsibility of parents to see that they fully perform their duty in this respect. Talk to your parents. Ask them your questions. It will honor them, and you will discover that they are the persons who can best answer your candid and honest questions. When sex education is presented in school, discuss it with your parents and together keep things in perspective.” (Policies and Procedures”, New Era, Nov. 1971, 47)

    [T]he observance of one clearly understandable and divinely given rule would do more than all else to check this [AIDS] epidemic. That is chastity before marriage and total fidelity after marriage.

    Prophets of God have repeatedly taught through the ages that practices of homosexual relations, fornication, and adultery are grievous sins. Sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage are forbidden by the Lord. We reaffirm those teachings.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, April 1987 General Conference)

    President Hinckley goes on to quote a USA Today article:

    “More sex education in public schools will not reverse the damaging legacy of the sexual revolution unless the clear message is premarital chastity and marital monogamy.”

    This writer continues: “There are many defects in sex education courses. The philosophy behind them is to ridicule chastity, scoff at fidelity, and glamorize sexual adventurism. They teach there is no such thing as right and wrong.”

    “Thirty years of advocating sexual liberation has brought raging venereal diseases and rampant teenage pregnancy.”

    “Most sex education in the public schools morally disarms the students rather than giving them moral sensitivity to help them make the proper sexual choices.”(Tottie Ellis, Teaching about Sex Endangers Children, 16 Mar. 1987).

Cherie Bennett