Not to teach homosexuality in school? Then when?

I ventured to write this as so many parents have express concern over teaching sex education and homosexuality in school. Parents feel that it is inappropriate to even discuss homosexuality for less than 2 minutes during the sex education programmes in school.

I disagreed and see that it is necessary to cover sensitive issue as students this day are finding out things from sources like internet about their own sexuality. Students being taught in school about sexuality and homosexuality won't grow up having misconceptions about either.

When people are born a certain way through no choice of their own -- such as race, or looks, or handicaps -- should they be penalized by society?

Schools need to prepare students for their adult life and beyond. Teaching sex education involves three very "hot" topics: human sexuality itself, the behavior of sexual minorities, and youth sexuality.

Schools in Singapore are in a lose-lose situation. They will be attacked by both groups. One group will be the social and religious conservative students, parents, and organizations. The other groupwill be therapists, social workers, human sexuality researchers, human rights organizations, liberal students, liberal parents, gays, bisexuals, and lesbians.

It is the responsibility for parents to guide their children. While it is based on our view points, our beliefs and how we were taught; it is the core of who we are and what we believe children should be. Parents owe it to their children to be as knowledgeable and open minded themselves. Guiding them means allowing them to form their own ideas, own understanding and providing them with a foundation to make their own decisions. Giving them the ability of strong cognitive reasoning provides them a structure in which they will continue to grow into productive, contributing members of society as it evolves from generation to generation.

Today, students are exposed to many issues and homosexuality is just one them. They are challenged everyday with understanding drug use or abuse, sexual promiscuity, pregnancy, marriage, divorce, puberty, alcohol use or abuse, issues on religion, race, politics with the current war, and death; to name a few. Put that on top of academics, friendships, sports and learning basic personal hygiene and it can be quite stressful these days.

Homosexuality is not the root of pedophilia, it is not condemned. It is a difference that, like other human differences, should be accepted. Homosexuality is not evil, and it is not simply a lifestyle choice, but it is often uncomfortable for people who realize they are homosexual in a largely heterosexual and sometimes homophobic society. Society's response to homosexuality should be, not condemnation or marginalization, but acceptance.

However, school still have to run sex education. And what should be shown in the programme is critical cos' that will be the messages that will be send out to the youngters who may interpret it wrongly.