We are dealing with a generation of students who are accustomed to getting information, whether reliable or not, via some sort of stimulating interactive experience through the internet and television. If this medium attracts and keeps the attention of these students, something as important as sex education should, at the very least, have an online component. I would think any vitally important message for the health and welfare of students should be using the most effective method of communication; educationally sound web-sites, podcasts, blogs...

The alternative to sex education in class is pregnancy in class.

The opportunity to learn, research, and work online provides a sense of relevance, currency, and even limited privacy to young people as they seek to answer questions they may have about themselves, their bodies, and personal topics that may be difficult to chat about in a classroom setting.

It cannot be overstated, however, that it is through a human connection with a trusted adult, whether parent or teacher, that our students need to be able to confirm and understand this information. In any online research, the ability to question and verify the accuracy of information, as well as the need to place information in a personal context, is essential. This best occurs with a person who knows the student's background, level of comprehension, and perhaps even what other information they have been exposed to -- accurate and respectful, or not.

Shouldn't it be three-fold? I certainly agree that in-school sex education, both by teachers and on-line resources, is of vital importance. However, shouldn't parents (or parent-figures) also be held responsible, in some part, for the sex education of our youth (i.e. their youth…you helped bring them into this world , did you not?)? Not only scientific research, safe-sex practices, and the option of abstinence should be taught, but individual experiences from parents (or parent-figures) should be addressed. What happened (or maybe it never was) to parents talking openly to their children? And if you do not talk openly to your kids, you should figure out how. Not only will this help kids’ sex-education, but their overall growth into adulthood.

Parents should be the ones to talk to their children. However, parents are sometimes reluctant to do so. Then another trusted adult should be available. Anything by anybody can be put online. Teens need to be taught how to get rid of garbage and get reliable information.

What's the fuss??

Sex education should be conferred on the kids by parents. The mechanics in Biology class and the wisdom of what sex (act of) is used for and what we should look out for if the kids make this choice, should be exposed by teachers.

It couldn't be simpler. So online, offline, on the bus who cares as long as they get it and get the bare truth (No pussy footing around). For the moral right look at how many abandoned crack babies there are in the US who know one wants. Parents stop abdicating all you responsibilities to the education system. They are YOUR kids after all.

Get real - all living things have been doing it for eons...stop this crazy PC stuff already!

I agree with Laurie, however I think it is the responsibility of the parent(s) to first introduce this topic with their children. How can they not? Look at the world, it is bombarded by sexual stimulus everywhere you look from TV, to billboards to kids themselves. Unless some parents are hermits it's not easy to miss the sexual messages that permeate our society.

I would never leave the discussion of such an important topic to teachers. I am a public school teacher but even in my class I encourage students to talk to their parents. The consequences of premarital sex and out of wedlock pregnancies are ravaging our society and this despite years of "safe sex" instruction. Public schools do not teach abstinence as the standard or goal - The students know this so they don't feel any pressure to remain pure.

I have four boys and as their father will teach them that sex is a beautiful expression of love that God has designed for a husband and wife in marriage. But I will also tell them the negative consequences of having sex before that time. My boys will understand sex and its proper role. After they leave my home they will hopefully make wise decisions and heed my advice.

So let's leave sex education to parents! It's their job.

I feel both would be just fine; however, the parents or parent must be informed that it will be taking place. It's important that the parent have an open discussion about what the child learns. It's also an opportunity for the parent to educate their child about peer pressure, SDT's, especially Aids since it does kill, self respect, and that NO means NO. Hopefully the child will feel comfortable when the time is right to ask for support from their parents when peer pressure is at it's highest.

Sex education should be taught by the parent as this is an embarresing subject for the tender teen. My experience was in Health Education class in HS. My teacher was hot after me and any question I had he would explain in horrible detail from the beginning. My Mother never spoke a word to me but did attend sex ed movies with me. She would ask if I had any questions but since the subject was scary for her why would I ask anything? I never heard anything about moral issues, self-esteem issues or that I could just say NO. So my 1st experience was just because everybody else was doing it so it was time for me to join in at 16. I got pregnant and had an abortion. That was the consequence of her inability. I hear alot about how parents should be the only teachers of sex ed. Well one such couple are graduates of UofA and an engineer and CPA. The subject of sex came up when I explained to my Grandson why a dog has testicles that hang down from it's body. This couples son heard the story and her reply was "a man and woman agree to have a child and pregnancy happens" This boy knew better than that so he kept pushing. Her next brilliant reply was that while parents agree they roll around on top of each other. Given my experience with parents inabilities what chance does her two children have? These are not idiot parents (or are they?) Online and in class are complements to what a parent should teach. Most parents can't talk about it as I feel they see sex as a moral issue (a purity issue-give me a break) sex is life's love for itself. Don't be fooled. Women are not given the foreknowledge of knowing when pregnancy can happen (such as an animal in heat) and most young people are ignorant to the fact that it CAN happen to them. Has anyone heard the expression "one thing lead to another and it just happened" If women knew exactly when pregnancy could occur I think there would be far fewer births. If lust wasn't hard wired into a young man's mind he wouldn't live in the life cycle of thinking about sex every 10 minutes of so. And let's not forget the media's ever-present bombardment that has no moral implication attached to it's warped idea of such a beautiful act between two lover's in love. Nature attaches the highest of sensations to this union in order to urge us to the next sexual opprotunity so that pro-creation can occur.And since we are all alive aren't we happy it did? Most parents are not the best teachers of sex. Most teachers don't have the ability to teach in ways a parent can given the love a child has, and online learning can be both a gift and a curse. My speech to my children is that it is best to save this expression for marriage as sex is tied up to heart strings and marriage is a safer haven for tenderhearts. I say that it is a beautiful expression two bodies feel as one and that pro-creation is it's objective. We are blessed with means for contraception and protection and that to engage in sexual activity without a sober mind can have life-long consequences. And aren't we as a society suffering these consequences. What a lovely world it would be if all children were conceived in love? The self-esteem issues alone would be Earth-shattering not to mention health issues and political implications.