The teacher Starri Hedges took around 12 children to 'Smitten Kitten' to teach them about sex education. She claimed she did this:
'To provide a safe environment for students to learn about human sexual behaviour.'
The students attended educational workshops in the shop which sells sex toys and other products, though pornographic items were 'off limits'.
An 11 and 13 year old were amongst the group though they have since been withdrawn from the school as the trip was a 'major breach of trust'.
Hedges said she 'didn't communicate well enough with parents ahead of time' about the trip. Oops.
When I had sex education at my school we were shown a jumpy VHS of a cartoon couple and a demonstration of a tampon expanding in a glass of water. I wouldn't have dreamt about talking to a teacher asking what it would be like to actually have sex!
Possibly going to a catholic school meant we were shielded from learning the 'in's and out's' of sex but I think that having a better understanding growing up would have saved me a lot of time and hassle trying to figure it all out myself.
Obviously these parents were not aware that their children were going on this trip, but if this was in England would you give consent for your child to go?
Sex is still not widely discussed between parents and children or teachers and children, does it make sense for our children to talk to someone who they are more comfortable with and somewhere that they are not embarrassed to ask questions?
I do think that 11 is too young for anything but a brief introduction to sex, but teenagers should be provided with as much information as possible so they can make decisions for themselves. Maybe there wouldn't be so much pressure to 'do it' if it wasn't such a taboo?
What do you think? Would you let your child go to a sex shop in the name of education? Or is it too far and should be kept in a classroom?
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