Kayt Sukel

Host

Should sex ed be taught in schools?

May 7, 2014·35 visitors

Melanie Berliet

Cohost

Stage· 219 messages

May 7, 2014

Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it...yet everyone seems to have a different idea about how, where and what we should be educating our kids about when it comes to sex. Journalists Kayt Sukel and Melanie Berliet will discuss the conundrum of sex education--and what they've learned personally and professionally about the subject.

Kayt Sukel · 4:58 PM

Welcome!

Kayt Sukel · 4:59 PM

Thanks for joining us today.

Kayt Sukel · 4:59 PM

Mel, if I may, might I start with an anecdote?

Kayt Sukel · 5:00 PM

Some of you may know that I used to be a military spouse. Back then, I was an FRG leader. Basically, I was a support outlet for the spouses.

Kayt Sukel · 5:00 PM

One spouse came to me, crying because she was pregnant. She was very young, from the south, and already had three kids.

Kayt Sukel · 5:00 PM

She didn't know how they would afford a fourth child. And as she was crying, she said, "I don't know how this happened! I always spit!"

Melanie Berliet · 5:01 PM

Oh wow!

Melanie Berliet · 5:01 PM

Spit? Do go on...

Kayt Sukel · 5:01 PM

Apparently, this woman, who had given birth three times did not know she could not get pregnant through oral sex.

Melanie Berliet · 5:01 PM

That's a great example of the level of ignorance out there. How long ago was this?

Kayt Sukel · 5:01 PM

I had to stop her, go, "say what?" and then explain, no, no, honey. All that oral sex where you spit, that was totally safe. That one time you had sex without a condom? That was not.

Kayt Sukel · 5:02 PM

And again, this is a woman who went through prenatal care three previous times.

Melanie Berliet · 5:02 PM

How did she respond to the information?

Kayt Sukel · 5:02 PM

But she was unaware that her uterus and her stomach were not somehow connected.

Kayt Sukel · 5:02 PM

She did not believe me.

Kayt Sukel · 5:02 PM

This was about 6 years ago or so--and luckily, the Internet was available. I had to look up some basic sex ed stuff and show her.

Melanie Berliet · 5:03 PM

That story reminds me of a lot of the scenes from Showtime's Masters of Sex, which is a great program, btw.

Melanie Berliet · 5:03 PM

Was she grateful, ultimately?

Kayt Sukel · 5:03 PM

A great resource, btw, is the Unitarian Universalist's Our Whole Lives program: http://www.uua.org/re/owl/

Melanie Berliet · 5:03 PM

Or relieved to understand things better?

Kayt Sukel · 5:03 PM

She was mostly still concerned about how to afford a fourth child.

Melanie Berliet · 5:03 PM

Ah. So an abortion was out of the question, I take it

Kayt Sukel · 5:03 PM

But, there has not been a fifth...and I think I may have had something to do with that.

Melanie Berliet · 5:04 PM

I think you definitely did!

Melanie Berliet · 5:04 PM

It's hard for me to even begin to understand the arguments for NOT teaching people about their bodies

Melanie Berliet · 5:04 PM

The problem is that not all parents are willing, I think

Kayt Sukel · 5:04 PM

So while I understand Jackie's point about how parents are the ultimate teachers, I see a case here where parents did not do the job.

Kayt Sukel · 5:05 PM

This was a girl who got pregnant the first time at 15--and then, even after three kids, didn't understand the basics.

Melanie Berliet · 5:05 PM

Truth be told, my parents didn't talk to me about sex ever

Melanie Berliet · 5:05 PM

Not once.

Kayt Sukel · 5:05 PM

And this is why I'm a huge proponent of comprehensive sex education.

Melanie Berliet · 5:05 PM

Kayt, did your parents talk to you about sex?

Kayt Sukel · 5:05 PM

They did. My Mom was pretty open and clinical about it. My Dad had a tendency to giggle.

Kayt Sukel · 5:06 PM

But while they handled the mechanics pretty well, they weren't a source I would have gone to for more, um, embarrassing type questions.

Kayt Sukel · 5:06 PM

★ Spotlighted from Jackie Kane

“I think the parents should teach the kids, since the parents are the #1 teachers of their kids ”

Kayt Sukel · 5:06 PM

And I'm a proponent of comprehensive sex education in schools. And studies suggest I'm not the only one who thinks so: http://kff.org/hivaids/report/sex-education-in-america-a-view-from/

Melanie Berliet · 5:06 PM

I am too!

Melanie Berliet · 5:07 PM

Unfortunately I think only 18 states require sex ed

Kayt Sukel · 5:07 PM

The New York Times covered a great program at the Friends School in Philadelphia: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/magazine/teaching-good-sex.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

Kayt Sukel · 5:07 PM

And, honestly, I wish all schools would do something like that.

Melanie Berliet · 5:07 PM

That article was definitely inspiring.

Kayt Sukel · 5:07 PM

But most schools offer a big fat nada or abstinence-only programs.

Kayt Sukel · 5:08 PM

And the data on abstinence-only programs is not great: http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.showfeature&featureid=1041&pageid=682&parentid=478

Melanie Berliet · 5:08 PM

But how do you get past the conservative misconception that teaching sex spreads disease and increases the likelihood of unwanted pregnancy? It seems some people will not even accept facts.

Kayt Sukel · 5:08 PM

It's a good question.

Melanie Berliet · 5:08 PM

Those who refuse to believe the facts, in my view, are caught up in sex as a "bad" or "dirty" thing.

Kayt Sukel · 5:08 PM

Ignorance? Fear? Religion?

Kayt Sukel · 5:09 PM

That's the thing: I think we, as a society, have to get past the idea of sex as "bad" or "dirty," and instead talk about it as a normal thing--just a normal thing had can have profound consequences.

Melanie Berliet · 5:09 PM

yes, unfortunately we live in a country where a woman (a politician) was banned for saying "vagina" in the course of an abortion bill debate not too long ago http://bit.ly/1fPHENj

Melanie Berliet · 5:09 PM

yes, adopting a sex positive attitude is key.

Kayt Sukel · 5:10 PM

I was lucky to go to public school in New Jersey. I had a very thorough and very comprehensive sex education class in health.

Kayt Sukel · 5:10 PM

The first order of business was making every kid in the class say "penis" and "vagina" out loud 3x each.

Melanie Berliet · 5:10 PM

I went to public school in CT. The Sex Ed classes we had were laughable.

Kayt Sukel · 5:10 PM

The teacher wanted us comfortable with the terminology.

Melanie Berliet · 5:10 PM

Mostly because they started too late, I believe

Kayt Sukel · 5:10 PM

But the other great thing the program did was offer an anonymous question box.

Kayt Sukel · 5:10 PM

And this was in 6th grade, mind you.

Kayt Sukel · 5:11 PM

Even the joke questions were read aloud and answered.

Melanie Berliet · 5:11 PM

Oh I like the scream "penis, vagina" tactic

Kayt Sukel · 5:11 PM

And answered sincerely...

Melanie Berliet · 5:11 PM

So your sex ed started in 6th grade?

Melanie Berliet · 5:11 PM

don't you think that's a little on the late side?

Melanie Berliet · 5:11 PM

I would think it should begin in elementary school. Maybe as young as kindergarten

Kayt Sukel · 5:11 PM

So when one of the jokesters asked something like, "What do I do when I get a boner in math class?" The teacher would say, well, luckily, the erection won't last forever...

Melanie Berliet · 5:12 PM

Ha! That's a good answer

Kayt Sukel · 5:12 PM

and get some information in, making the joke an education opportunity.

Kayt Sukel · 5:12 PM

Mel, I agree.

Melanie Berliet · 5:12 PM

What is the state mandate in Texas these days re: sex ed?

Kayt Sukel · 5:12 PM

And I believe I did get some basics around second grade. But it was more body-centric. Real basic, real clinical.

Kayt Sukel · 5:12 PM

The state mandate in Texas. What's funny is I just watched this documentary on HBO about Ann Richards.

Kayt Sukel · 5:13 PM

And it was talking about how George Bush beat her for Governor. One of the tactics was to come out fighting against her stance on sex ed. Sending people flyers asking if they wanted their good Christian children learning about sinful behavior.

Melanie Berliet · 5:13 PM

Oh wow. That is so frustrating

Melanie Berliet · 5:14 PM

See, that sort of mentality truly depresses me. Because I don't know how to tackle that sort of ignorance in an adult.

Kayt Sukel · 5:14 PM

You can see the state law run-downs here: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-policies-on-sex-education-in-schools.aspx

Melanie Berliet · 5:14 PM

I think there's guilt at the foundation of those kinds of angry, self-hating views.

Kayt Sukel · 5:14 PM

You can see Kansas, which says: nn SB 376 Prohibits school district boards of education from providing instruction on health and human sexuality to students unless written consent has been received from students’ parents or guardians; requires hu

Melanie Berliet · 5:15 PM

In New York, what I think is interesting is that sex ed is mandated in middle school and high school, but when it comes to HIV/AIDS curriculum, prevention and birth control, there's a parental opt out option

Kayt Sukel · 5:15 PM

requires human sexuality instructional materials be provided to any parent or legal guardian upon request; requires boards to adopt policies and procedures related to such instruction.

Kayt Sukel · 5:15 PM

And then you see a place like Mass: nnHB 366 / SB 202 Requires health education be age-appropriate and medically accurate. Requires parental or legal guardian be notified of human sexual education instruction.

Kayt Sukel · 5:15 PM

Allows parents to opt out.

Melanie Berliet · 5:15 PM

maybe the parental opt out is a way to get sex ed in more states.

Melanie Berliet · 5:16 PM

very good, Sasha!

Kayt Sukel · 5:16 PM

I think parents should be able to opt out. I'll tell you one thing: if what my kids get is abstinence-only, I will opt them out.

Melanie Berliet · 5:16 PM

Good for you.

Kayt Sukel · 5:17 PM

I'd rather give them books, show them good webinars or take them to Planned Parenthood to ask questions

Melanie Berliet · 5:17 PM

You pointed to a list of controversial books I found interesting: http://bit.ly/RnTyTE

Kayt Sukel · 5:17 PM

Sasha and Jackie, I don't disagree that parents don't play an important role. I just don't think they play the only role.

Kayt Sukel · 5:18 PM

★ Spotlighted from Sasha A. Tcherevkoff

“PENIS! VAGINA!”

Kayt Sukel · 5:18 PM

Let's face it, our kids are going to get a very broad sexual education. From books, movies, friends, etc.

Melanie Berliet · 5:18 PM

And Sasha, you taking control of your daughter's sexual education doesn't have to mean that you do the talking. As Kayt pointed out, there are webinars. And there's always Planned Parenthood

Kayt Sukel · 5:18 PM

There should be a safe place where kids can ask questions to help separate out the real from rumor.

Kayt Sukel · 5:18 PM

Thank God for Planned Parenthood!

Kayt Sukel · 5:19 PM

But, Mel, some of those books are fantastic.

Melanie Berliet · 5:19 PM

Planned Parenthood has great tips on implementing sex ed in schools (geared towards teachers, but perhaps also relevant within the home): http://bit.ly/RnTyTE

Kayt Sukel · 5:19 PM

★ Spotlighted from Sasha A. Tcherevkoff

“I agree with Jackie Kane: Parents should be teach children. However as a parent its not that easy to sit down with my daughter and start talking about sex. #hard #awkard silence”

Kayt Sukel · 5:19 PM

The idea that "It's Perfectly Normal" should be banned makes me crazy.

Kayt Sukel · 5:19 PM

Kids should not grow up fearing/hating their bodies!

Melanie Berliet · 5:19 PM

Right! The title "It's Perfectly Normal" is itself wonderful

Kayt Sukel · 5:20 PM

I'm having flashbacks to "Mean Girls" where the one little girl is twerking to Kelis' Millkshake.

Kayt Sukel · 5:20 PM

That's the thing: think of all the ridiculous rumors you heard as a child about sex.

Kayt Sukel · 5:20 PM

Even just about bodies.

Melanie Berliet · 5:20 PM

Sasha, are you sure your daughter associates music videos with sex? If you mean that she imitates sexual dance moves, that doesn't mean that she has any idea that those moves are "sexy"

Kayt Sukel · 5:20 PM

Funny story, one of my daughter's friends at camp got hit by a ball in the crotch-area. She ran over and yelled, "I just got hit in the balls!"

Melanie Berliet · 5:21 PM

hahahahahaha. I love that story so much!

Kayt Sukel · 5:21 PM

★ Spotlighted from Sasha A. Tcherevkoff

“I think music videos have played the largest role in my daughters sex education to date. And thats a scary thought.”

Kayt Sukel · 5:21 PM

That's an opportunity. And it was for me. When I heard the story, I told my kids that balls were slang for testicles and only boys have them.

Melanie Berliet · 5:21 PM

On a related side note, I think it was Betty White who said we should all stop saying "grow some balls" and start saying "grow a vagina"

Kayt Sukel · 5:22 PM

That led to a question about why only boys have testicles. And we talked a bit about differences in bodies.

Melanie Berliet · 5:22 PM

I'm not familiar with the hairy palms myth

Kayt Sukel · 5:22 PM

Sasha, my Dad was always told too much masturbation led to eyesight decline.

Melanie Berliet · 5:23 PM

I remember being told that guys with small feet have small penises

Kayt Sukel · 5:23 PM

Sex is everywhere. Even the supposedly innocuous Disney TV shows talk a lot about wanting and receiving attention from the opposite sex.

Melanie Berliet · 5:23 PM

★ Spotlighted from Sasha A. Tcherevkoff

“Hairy Palms. #1 rumor/myth in sex education”

Kayt Sukel · 5:23 PM

I remember hearing that you couldn't get pregnant if you had sex in a swimming pool.

Kayt Sukel · 5:24 PM

But kids hear a lot of stuff. With the Internet, they are seeing stuff way wilder than an accidental peek at Dad's monthly Playboy.

Melanie Berliet · 5:24 PM

Well this leads me to an interesting rule I've heard about recently that I can't understand.

Kayt Sukel · 5:24 PM

I think it's even more important to address the basic mechanics of sex early on with kids.

Kayt Sukel · 5:24 PM

★ Spotlighted from Sasha A. Tcherevkoff

“@MB I think at 7 years old she is starting to understand what "sex" is from tv....and I thinbk she has just started to says words like "Sexy"”

Kayt Sukel · 5:24 PM

So as they get older, and get all this confusing, conflicting information, there is education about that, too.

Melanie Berliet · 5:24 PM

I know of a mother who refuses to allow her daughter to wear red nail polish. She can wear purple, blue, pink, etc. But not red. It bothers me because it seems she is teaching her daughter that red is "sexy" and therefore bad

Kayt Sukel · 5:25 PM

Not just P-in-the-V stuff, but a place where they can learn about desire, biology, myths, homosexuality, etc.

Melanie Berliet · 5:25 PM

Kayt, what are your thoughts on color discrimination?

Kayt Sukel · 5:25 PM

That's a whole other issue, right? I mean, girls get the idea that "sexy" is bad, and yet something they should be trying to be.

Melanie Berliet · 5:26 PM

Right. it's a conflicting message to send.

Kayt Sukel · 5:26 PM

And color discrimination? I mean, pink can be sexy. Just look at Victoria Secret marketing.

Melanie Berliet · 5:26 PM

Yeah, it's totally nonsensical.

Melanie Berliet · 5:26 PM

And yet, the underlying message is that red is too "mature" (i.e. sexy)

Kayt Sukel · 5:27 PM

So here's the question: what should schools be tackling then?

Melanie Berliet · 5:27 PM

Everything, hopefully.

Kayt Sukel · 5:27 PM

(Mel, I've heard the same argument about bikinis, too...and there is nothing "sexy" about a 7 year old in a bikini).

Kayt Sukel · 5:27 PM

★ Spotlighted from Sasha A. Tcherevkoff

“Well i guess all these silly myths/rumors are the very reason we argue for sex ed in school. Becuase if left up to parents and the kids the next myth we may hear is that you can get pregnant by using twitter too often.”

Melanie Berliet · 5:27 PM

sexual health, STD/STI prevention, birth control options, mechanics, pleasure

Kayt Sukel · 5:27 PM

I agree. Comprehensive is the way to go...and most studies back that up.

Kayt Sukel · 5:28 PM

So why the huge push for abstinence-only?

Kayt Sukel · 5:28 PM

Which, studies show, does not work. Here in the great state of Texas, we have a huge teenage pregnancy rate.

Kayt Sukel · 5:28 PM

And I think a lot of that has to do with a lack of sex ed.

Melanie Berliet · 5:28 PM

One of my favorite memories is of watching Look Who's Talking as a young girl. That opening scene where the sperm swims up to the egg was actually very informative

Kayt Sukel · 5:28 PM

But what if you had any questions?

Kayt Sukel · 5:29 PM

I mean, it's a fantastic animation. But...it doesn't touch on why you'd like said spermies swim up your vagina in the first place.

Melanie Berliet · 5:29 PM

Yeah. The older generation that didn't have sex ed and is now in office still advocates for the misinformation they got

Melanie Berliet · 5:29 PM

Kayt, a good point. But for me at the time it was at least something. I wasn't getting any information elsewhere, unfortunately.

Kayt Sukel · 5:29 PM

And they argue that if we talk about it, we'll encourage sex.

Kayt Sukel · 5:30 PM

I notice that when they talk nutrition, they don't worry about people wanting to eat all the cake.

Melanie Berliet · 5:30 PM

A very good comparison, Kayt!

Kayt Sukel · 5:30 PM

Sasha, yes, probably so.

Melanie Berliet · 5:30 PM

And obesity is maybe even more of a problem than teenage pregnancy

Kayt Sukel · 5:31 PM

Again, here is where I feel that I have to advocate for the UU church again. Our Whole Lives is AWESOME: http://www.uua.org/re/owl/

Melanie Berliet · 5:31 PM

It's tough tackling the Kirk Camerons of the world

Kayt Sukel · 5:31 PM

And I've gone to teen classes to talk about DIRTY MINDS. It was great to be asked questions about the brain stuff.

Melanie Berliet · 5:31 PM

★ Spotlighted from Sasha A. Tcherevkoff

“Can we say there is direct correlation between religion and abstinence-only education?”

Kayt Sukel · 5:32 PM

(Dirty Minds is my book, btw, insert shameless plug here: http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Minds-Brains-Influence-Relationships/dp/B007PM1UWS/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1391396169&sr=8-1)

Melanie Berliet · 5:32 PM

Kirk Cameron recently spoke out against "fornicators and adulterers", FYI

Melanie Berliet · 5:32 PM

Oh really! I didn't know you'd spoken to high schools, Kayt. That's great. How did that come about?

Kayt Sukel · 5:32 PM

Here's the thing: it's okay to believe that you should not have sex outside marriage or practice adultery.

Melanie Berliet · 5:32 PM

Did the schools invite you, or did you approach them?

Kayt Sukel · 5:32 PM

But it's not okay to deprive people of important health information.

Kayt Sukel · 5:33 PM

This was not a school--this is a church. And I was invited.

Kayt Sukel · 5:33 PM

The Unitarian church has programs for kids, teens and adults. It's great--and evidence-based.

Melanie Berliet · 5:33 PM

Yes, I suppose Kirk has the right to voice his opinion on pre-marital sex and adultery. But I do believe his views are dangerous

Kayt Sukel · 5:34 PM

And that's the thing: sex is a beautiful thing. But it can have dire consequences. And people need to understand those consequences in order to make sound decisions.

Kayt Sukel · 5:34 PM

This is about health education, not moral education.

Melanie Berliet · 5:34 PM

Definitely. We often talk about teen pregnancy and sex ed, but sexual health and the prevention of STIs/STDs is soooooo crucial.

Kayt Sukel · 5:34 PM

Or, at least, in my opinion, it should be.

Melanie Berliet · 5:35 PM

You don't get a second chance when it comes to HIV, or HSV

Kayt Sukel · 5:35 PM

Very true.

Melanie Berliet · 5:35 PM

According to the Centers for Disease Control and the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 65 percent of all sexually transmitted infections contracted by Americans this year will occur in people under 24. One in four new HIV infections occurs in p

Melanie Berliet · 5:35 PM

..in people younger than 22.

Kayt Sukel · 5:35 PM

But I also think that it's okay to tell kids that sex is great--and because it's great, it can often make you a little careless.

Kayt Sukel · 5:36 PM

Give them the ammunition to understand/act BEFORE they are naked in the backseat of a Chevy.

Melanie Berliet · 5:36 PM

What do you think of using silly names for female and male genitalia as many parents do?

Kayt Sukel · 5:36 PM

I am firmly against that. It is a penis. It is a vagina.

Melanie Berliet · 5:36 PM

most well educated parents I know have funny names for penis and vagina

Melanie Berliet · 5:36 PM

I am against it, too

Kayt Sukel · 5:37 PM

Do they have funny names for other body parts?

Melanie Berliet · 5:37 PM

Because I think you're inherently teaching that "penis" and "vagina" are bad.

Melanie Berliet · 5:37 PM

Nope! Just genitalia

Kayt Sukel · 5:37 PM

There's so much shame heaped on folks about their bodies.

Kayt Sukel · 5:38 PM

Not just because of sex, also because those are also the areas of the body responsible for evacuation.

Melanie Berliet · 5:38 PM

Oh yeah. I did a piece on the designer vagina phenomenon: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/04/designer-parts-inside-the-strange-fascinating-world-of-vaginoplasty/255188/

Kayt Sukel · 5:38 PM

I am a staunch advocate of the real, clinical names for body parts.

Kayt Sukel · 5:38 PM

I still don't feel like I understand vaginoplasty.

Melanie Berliet · 5:39 PM

It is so sad that women are so embarrassed about their vaginas. And that stems from not knowing that vaginas can vary so widely in appearance

Kayt Sukel · 5:39 PM

YES! There was some photographer who did a project showing how different they all are.

Kayt Sukel · 5:39 PM

I wish I could remember the name.

Kayt Sukel · 5:39 PM

But vaginas/vulvas -- wildly vary. And if they work right, it's all good.

Melanie Berliet · 5:39 PM

I know of a Tumblr that encourages women to post anonymous photos of their vaginas

Kayt Sukel · 5:40 PM

Maybe that's it.

Melanie Berliet · 5:40 PM

to showcase the differences. Show Your Beautiful Vagina: http://show-your-beautiful-vagina.tumblr.com/

Kayt Sukel · 5:40 PM

Everyone has a different body. If someone wants some molded "perfection," they sell Fleshlights for that.

Melanie Berliet · 5:40 PM

Fleshlights!

Kayt Sukel · 5:41 PM

That's another thing about sex ed: it should include masturbation.

Melanie Berliet · 5:41 PM

Yes! I'd like to think we're long past the era when we teach kids that touching themselves is bad.

Kayt Sukel · 5:41 PM

I remember when Jocelyn Elders was lambasted for even suggesting that sex ed include masturbation

Melanie Berliet · 5:41 PM

I always think of Kinsey and the contraption he was forced to wear to prevent him from jacking off

Kayt Sukel · 5:41 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/07/18/cnn25.tan.elders/

Melanie Berliet · 5:42 PM

I have girlfriends who still feel embarrassed about masturbating.

Melanie Berliet · 5:42 PM

or deny doing it

Melanie Berliet · 5:42 PM

which I find difficult to believe

Kayt Sukel · 5:42 PM

Kids should not be (a) learning about sex from porn or (b) learning that the natural ways their bodies work are wrong/shameful

Melanie Berliet · 5:42 PM

Masturbating is perhaps the best way to get to know your body and to start having better sex!

Kayt Sukel · 5:43 PM

And saying that it is wrong, will lead to hairy palms, bad eyesight, an inability to climax with a partner...it's all WRONG.

Melanie Berliet · 5:44 PM

Cheers to that. Misinformation is really dangerous

Kayt Sukel · 5:44 PM

We're almost out of time and that's another issue--so much misinformation in supposed "educational" sex programs.

Melanie Berliet · 5:44 PM

Right. It's saddening. As you said earlier, I'd rather my kids not receive any sex ed than be exposed to the "abstinence only" misinformation campaign

Kayt Sukel · 5:44 PM

Especially in the abstinence-only camp. There have been exposes saying they are telling kids condoms aren't effective and that masturbation leads to diminished sex with a partner.

Melanie Berliet · 5:44 PM

(my hypothetical kids)

Melanie Berliet · 5:45 PM

I've read that too!

Melanie Berliet · 5:45 PM

Scare tactics aren't effective

Kayt Sukel · 5:45 PM

So, in closing, talk to you kids about sex! Keep it at their level.

Kayt Sukel · 5:45 PM

Talk with your schools about providing comprehensive education.

Melanie Berliet · 5:45 PM

With sex-ed, or drugs for that matter. The egg in the frying pan approach ain't helpful.

Kayt Sukel · 5:45 PM

Don't make it icky/uncomfortable. And if you aren't up for it, point your kids in the right direction to get good information.

Kayt Sukel · 5:46 PM

Melanie Berliet · 5:46 PM

Yes! You don't have to be the one to deliver the information in this day in age of limitless internet resources

Melanie Berliet · 5:46 PM

Thank you all for tuning in/listening. And please join us again in two weeks!

Kayt Sukel · 5:46 PM

Yes, thank you!

Kayt Sukel · 5:46 PM

And if you have any ideas for topics, email us! info@kaytsukel.com

Melanie Berliet · 5:47 PM

yes please! melanie.berliet@gmail.com (bye bye!)

Kayt Sukel · 5:47 PM

Adios!

Forum · 56

Forum· 56 comments

35 visitors

Tawkers AdminApr 16, 2014, 10:04 PM

Welcome to the comment section of the Tawk, where audience members can share their thoughts about the main conversation happening on the left. Don't by shy! Entering questions and comments is the only way to get the attention of the two Hosts on stage!

Jackie KaneApr 25, 2014, 11:12 PM★ Spotlighted

I think the parents should teach the kids, since the parents are the #1 teachers of their kids

Esther NjeruMay 5, 2014, 11:59 AM

It is very important to teach sex ed....

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:13 PM★ Spotlighted

PENIS! VAGINA!

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:17 PM★ Spotlighted

I agree with Jackie Kane: Parents should be teach children. However as a parent its not that easy to sit down with my daughter and start talking about sex. #hard #awkard silence

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:18 PM

Kayt: I agree.

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:18 PM★ Spotlighted

I think music videos have played the largest role in my daughters sex education to date. And thats a scary thought.

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:20 PM★ Spotlighted

Hairy Palms. #1 rumor/myth in sex education

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:22 PM★ Spotlighted

@MB I think at 7 years old she is starting to understand what "sex" is from tv....and I thinbk she has just started to says words like "Sexy"

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:23 PM

@MB If you masturbate you will get Hairy Palms.

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:24 PM

Wait? You mean you CAN get pregnant after pool sex...shit.

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:25 PM★ Spotlighted

Well i guess all these silly myths/rumors are the very reason we argue for sex ed in school. Becuase if left up to parents and the kids the next myth we may hear is that you can get pregnant by using twitter too often.

Sasha A. TcherevkoffMay 7, 2014, 5:29 PM★ Spotlighted

Can we say there is direct correlation between religion and abstinence-only education?

diyowna bieberMay 19, 2014, 9:32 AM

Whats oral sex

diyowna bieberMay 19, 2014, 9:34 AM

This is really cool thanks

cole jacksMay 20, 2014, 2:57 AM

Yep

jordan tenganMay 21, 2014, 12:47 AM

Fuck ya

Fouad fofoMay 21, 2014, 7:38 PM

Marcos CastilloMay 23, 2014, 6:16 AM

Hello

shady shadyMay 24, 2014, 5:38 AM

Hey

sam blockMay 24, 2014, 1:25 PM

hello all

sam blockMay 24, 2014, 1:25 PM

hello

Jesse TylerMay 25, 2014, 6:04 PM

Hey

Gustavo PatinoMay 26, 2014, 4:21 AM

Hey

Gustavo PatinoMay 26, 2014, 4:21 AM

Sex

hicham qoqoMay 26, 2014, 11:25 PM

hello

dinesh kumarMay 27, 2014, 5:23 PM

Yes

Arielle EdwardsMay 28, 2014, 2:31 AM

Hi?n

Harry stylesMay 29, 2014, 6:14 PM

Sex is good

cas poirierMay 29, 2014, 10:07 PM

Hey

cas poirierMay 29, 2014, 10:07 PM

jason BiggsJun 2, 2014, 9:08 AM

Hey everyone

Brittlaynd CyrusJun 3, 2014, 3:06 AM

Hey

Brittlaynd CyrusJun 3, 2014, 3:07 AM

Heyy

Emily .Jun 3, 2014, 3:13 AM

Hey

Navjot SinghJun 6, 2014, 6:23 AM

Hlo

zaxo zaxoJun 6, 2014, 1:55 PM

Hı

Bo EssaJun 6, 2014, 2:11 PM

khan UzzalJun 9, 2014, 5:15 PM

Hello

khan UzzalJun 9, 2014, 5:16 PM

Hello

khan UzzalJun 10, 2014, 7:56 AM

Hello

Ryan wJun 11, 2014, 12:33 PM

dody dodyJun 11, 2014, 2:52 PM

chasity WilliamsJun 13, 2014, 3:51 AM

I just read the message where someone said this girl told her age didn't know how she got pregnant because she always spit? Haha u can't get pregnant through oral sex,the uterus isn't attached to the stomach.

Reece JohnsonJun 13, 2014, 3:32 PM

I believe it should

Antonio CaldwellJun 13, 2014, 3:53 PM

Hi everybody

Mamadou SyJun 16, 2014, 4:31 AM

Gang.

Amerisa WeinmasterJun 17, 2014, 1:39 AM

Amerisa WeinmasterJun 17, 2014, 1:40 AM

Amerisa WeinmasterJun 17, 2014, 1:41 AM

Lol

Antonio CaldwellJun 17, 2014, 5:47 PM

Hey

rami karwanJul 5, 2014, 1:32 PM

delete deleteJul 12, 2015, 6:57 PM

Omg I've never had sex but maybe I should try it

delete deleteJul 12, 2015, 6:57 PM

I've never had sex but i should try it

delete deleteJul 12, 2015, 6:58 PM

Lol jk jk I swear