Up Front by Emma Hart

Read Post

Up Front: It's Not Sex, and It's Not Education

834 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 34 Newer→ Last

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    now that it has become part of thelarge family of inducted verbs,

    “What are you doing in there George?”
    “I’m working on my column”
    “You are doing what?”
    “I’m columning, I’m columning”
    "did you learn that at school dear?"

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Hannah,

    hmm, Diane Taylor, what do you think would be a more open and honest byline? The fact that she's (possibly a former) social worker? Or the fact that she's the Secretary of the Ecclesia Dei Society of New Zealand Council.

    Nothing wrong with that - although the minutes could probably be clearer - but open and honest disclosure isn't a bad thing - in newspapers as well as bedrooms. You'd think christianity and postgrad ethics would teach someone that. Probably an honest mistake.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • Ian MacKay, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    A Report on the "success" of Virgin at Marriage showed that while many teens avoided vaginal sex, many had had fun with many other activities including group masturbation and anal sex. Would be interesting in the wedding night marriage bed.

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report Reply

  • Louise, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I decided when I was pregnant with my second child that I would introduce to my son the biology of what was happening. He was 3.5 at the time. It was as much for my benefit as for his, because I reckoned I could get in some practice for talking about this stuff so that when the trickier questions started to come as he got older we'd both be comfortable talking about them. He loved the book I got, and especially liked 'the purple swimming things'. He told anyone who cared to listen how the baby came to be in mummy's tummy. And we had some pretty funny questions, like 'do the sperm come out when Daddy's at work?'. I figure the questions and the complexity of my responses will change with his physical and emotional maturity.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2008 • 19 posts Report Reply

  • Heather Gaye,

    From the comments on that Diane Taylor piece:

    I have always been amazed that the increase in sexual activity among young people leading to pregnancy, abortion and STI's has happened alongside the increase in sexual education in schools. Instead of admitting it was making the problem worse, their answer is to educate more and more how to do it.

    Also, direct correlation with global warming. Obviously teens are now wearing fewer clothes. There's a reason they refer to attractive peers as "hot", you know.

    Morningside • Since Nov 2006 • 533 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Heather Gaye,

    direct correlation with global warming

    hemlines have varied naturally since Noah, don't you know

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • JoJo, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Oh, my, Ian punned on my comment. I am honoured, sir.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Quick, everyone, go and read this. I’ll wait here.

    No, seriously. I love Clarisse Thorne. There’s a lot there I can’t relate to, because we had such very different sexual upbringings, but a lot of it chimes so hard for me.

    “I’m columning, I’m columning”

    I love a good columning.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Tamara, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Oh my goodness! Thank you very much! I wish I was still in touch with my intermediate school friend who was also a fan. Perhaps she's reading now?

    New Zealand • Since Oct 2010 • 115 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Deborah,

    The Herald has also printed a partially literate screed from someone who claims to have studied and research sex education at university.

    Good grief. That really is some mad shit.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Yes, but only episodes four to six. The other films don't actually exist. Not in my universe, anyway.

    Agreed Rich! It's tough when her introduction to Star Wars is Clone Wars... oh the humanity!

    and by which we mean christian only

    Sacha, you might be aware the situation in NSW where an hour's religious instruction, various denominations, is enshirened in law! The kids don't have to attend, but if they don't they are not allowed to be given curriculum related instruction. Only this year has there been an amendment to allow for the students no attending religious instruction to attend ethics classes. Absurd!

    I decided when I was pregnant with my second child that I would introduce to my son the biology of what was happening. He was 3.5 at the time.

    Louise, we kinda did the same but I confess we left out some of the detail. I fear I'm letting the PA side down... I promise a more frank approach in the future.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tim Hannah,

    hmm, Diane Taylor, what do you think would be a more open and honest byline? The fact that she’s (possibly a former) social worker? Or the fact that she’s the Secretary of the Ecclesia Dei Society of New Zealand Council.

    Yes, they really might have pointed out that she's a conservative Catholic associated with Caritas (who do, it should be noted, do some good things), who gives seminars with names like Grace of State versus Culture of Death ("A discussion of the complementary educational roles of parents and teachers, according to the teaching of the church").

    No one who parrots the Pope's vile "Culture of Death" line should be regarded as a secular authority on sex.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to JoJo,

    Ian punned on my comment

    must. resist. responding.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I think you just have to do what you think is right, and what you're comfy with, at the time. If you're squirming with embarrassment, it's not going to help anyone, isn it?

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Paul Williams,

    an hour's religious instruction, various denominations

    would make far more sense

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Emma Hart,

    I delight in hearing new perspectives, and discovering new women writers, (New to me, I mean). And once again, it's all down to you, Emma.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Sacha,

    If you're squirming with embarrassment, it's not going to help anyone, isn it?

    That feels like not even a rationalisation, cheers Jackie.

    would make far more sense

    We were happy for our five year old to do a couple of terms of Ba'hai on the basis that it's broadly theist and appeared to simply teach a generic morality. We'll be signing up for ethics as soon as its available.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    discovering new women writers

    Basically my job at The Lady Garden, linking to stuff Clarisse Thorne has written.

    Time parents fought flawed system

    Absolutely it is. The sex education curriculum should be standardised across all state schools. Just like the rest of biology.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Paul Williams,

    That feels like not even a rationalisation, cheers Jackie.

    Ah, is that a good thing?

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Moral panic this close to an election? hooda thunk it?.
    Is this Hair Dunne whipping up support for his oan (sic) party or is "The Don of Darkness" behind this with help from his funny mentalist pals?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    a hollow horny shaft fringed with vanes of barbs...

    ...it’s all down to you, Emma.

    Coal to Newcastle?
    Eider thought this referred to that old
    bed saw about the difference between
    erotica and pornography:
    "Erotica is using a feather while
    pornography uses the whole duck!"
    to paraphrase Isabel Allende

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    Very good. An obvious rationalisation is never enduring. Your advice/observation has the benefit of being sound.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    a hollow horny shaft fringed with vanes of barbs…

    Oh Ian, you flatter.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to 3410,

    They’re still going.
    NZH: Jim Hopkins: Time parents fought flawed system

    This is beyond ridiculous. Hopkins' column is completely mad.

    To be fair, there has been one guest opinion piece in defence of sex education. But the editors have clearly worked out what's going to generate more page views.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 34 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.