Things that should be taught in school

[Lacewing]

The realities of having unplanned children from having sex -- including the redirection of one's life; the responsibility, cost, and hardship; the potential long-term effects on the child; etc.

This could be done as a game... where the class divides into two groups who play out the possibilities. The group who represents 'protected sex' gets to draw from a deck of cards that describe opportunities... and they build their collection into an image of their life. The group who represents 'unprotected sex' draws from a deck of cards that describe the real issues they might face, as they assemble the potential image of their life. Could be a fun and insightful lesson.

I think it would be more useful to teach children to practice awareness and self-sufficiency, than memorizing unnecessary details.

[Lacewing]

The realities of inconsistency and varying claims made by religions throughout history and around the world. It would be insightful to compare these side-by-side to see how humankind shapes its beliefs based on various factors... and how those beliefs might drive behaviors and create blind spots to other considerations.

I think this sort of class could be taught to children as young as 13-14 years of age. It would not tell them what to believe -- it would only explore the many forms of belief and give them information to form their own decisions. This is in contrast to NOT giving children broader information than that which they're told within their communities. Maybe there wouldn't be such divisions between territories if broader ideas were shared and considered early on.

[Peter Kropotkin]

The realities of having unplanned children from having sex -- including the redirection of one's life; the responsibility, cost, and hardship; the potential long-term effects on the child; etc.

This could be done as a game... where the class divides into two groups who play out the possibilities. The group who represents 'protected sex' gets to draw from a deck of cards that describe opportunities... and they build their collection into an image of their life. The group who represents 'unprotected sex' draws from a deck of cards that describe the real issues they might face, as they assemble the potential image of their life. Could be a fun and insightful lesson.

I think it would be more useful to teach children to practice awareness and self-sufficiency, than memorizing unnecessary details.

K: the problem in America is that the right wing is truly afraid of everything
and that includes sex... and they are quite specific that sex never, ever be taught in
school, at any age, including college.... they somehow think that if we talk about
sex, it might happen.. ignorance as a public policy... that is why most school
districts in America including High School, won't teach sex education.....
but of course, by High School, it is way, way too late...

the GOP/MAGA crowd hate education and prefers indoctrinations by the church...
at all ages....

Kropotkin

[Impenitent]

The realities of inconsistency and varying claims made by religions throughout history and around the world. It would be insightful to compare these side-by-side to see how humankind shapes its beliefs based on various factors... and how those beliefs might drive behaviors and create blind spots to other considerations.

I think this sort of class could be taught to children as young as 13-14 years of age. It would not tell them what to believe -- it would only explore the many forms of belief and give them information to form their own decisions. This is in contrast to NOT giving children broader information than that which they're told within their communities. Maybe there wouldn't be such divisions between territories if broader ideas were shared and considered early on.

8th grade health class in most states covers human sexuality in great detail (a lot of girls have started their periods prior to this age.)

-Imp

[Peter Kropotkin]

The realities of inconsistency and varying claims made by religions throughout history and around the world. It would be insightful to compare these side-by-side to see how humankind shapes its beliefs based on various factors... and how those beliefs might drive behaviors and create blind spots to other considerations.

I think this sort of class could be taught to children as young as 13-14 years of age. It would not tell them what to believe -- it would only explore the many forms of belief and give them information to form their own decisions. This is in contrast to NOT giving children broader information than that which they're told within their communities. Maybe there wouldn't be such divisions between territories if broader ideas were shared and considered early on.

8th grade health class in most states covers human sexuality in great detail (a lot of girls have started their periods prior to this age.)

-Imp

K; I don't believe this as a fact... my own daughter went to public school,
in California and they didn't cover this in her middle school or earlier...
they should cover this, but I am willing to bet that most middle schools don't
cover this....

Kropotkin

[Peter Kropotkin]

and in fact, they passed a law much later that does mandate sex education
in middle schools... so, I was both right and wrong... that they do teach it
today, but didn't when she was in middle school... the law was passed in
2016 in California... and she went to middle school in the 90's...

Kropotkin