I believe in God, but I refuse to adhere to ANY religion. I think religion is a crutch for the weakness of man. That’s just my opinion.

However, I think RELIGION as a course of study is simply fascinating. I eat it up. I am totally fine with public schools teaching religion. As long as it covers ALL ideas and viewpoints. So, that means Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Atheism, Paganism….EVERYTHING. Even those against atheists and pagans often find something interesting to learn by taking such general “survey” courses. I took two or three religion courses in college and I loved them. Even though I don’t currently–nor will I ever, I think–subscribe to any one religion, I do believe it’s an awfully interesting course of study and I highly recommend it for everyone.

I come from the train of thought that says we as humans should learn as much as we can about our fellow humans. Learn about their religion, learn about their culture. And, yes, though we may disagree, learn about their opposing lifestyles. I think it only makes us better and stronger in the end.

I think this is a clear indication that open sex-ed programs can reduce the amount of sex with teenagers. It’s certainly more practical than teaching abstinence, which is basically nothing more than a teacher waving a magic wand in the hopes that the students will follow the lesson.

I agree with the cucumber/condom thing. This is just silly. As for promoting homosexual marriage, perhaps schools should leave the whole relationship discussion out of the curriculum. I was raised–proudly–by two liberals who taught me to respect ALL relationships regardless of sexual preference. I don’t think marriage needs to be taught in public schools no matter the sexual ideology.

What should be taught in school is respect. Respect for differing opinions and sexual preferences. You don’t have to like anything, but respect shows us all that human beings deserve more than being called a “f*g” or a “ni***r” simply because one’s religious “superiority” has dictated such.

Plain and simple: I’ll teach my 3 kids the morality of sex and relationships, the schools can teach science & biology. No cucumbers, no moralizing about lifestyles, no two-mommy/two daddy stuff. I don’t want someone else’s values taught to my kids using my tax dollars, and I would suspect liberals & homosexuals would feel the same way if their children were being taught my conservative, Christian values.

Parents teach morals & values; schools teach the 3 R’s and science. Period. For those whose parents don’t do the job, how is that any different from the scads of things so many fail at today? Is the school to address them all? How would there be enough time? There is no correction for bad parenting.

The public school systems have no problem with teaching religion. They have a problem with mentioning Chritianity. The public schools in our area teach about Jewish holidays, teach about Islam, teach secular humanism. I’ve heard of schools teaching Wiccan rituals to ‘help the children deal with stress.’ They teach the religion of environmentalism…not teaching the children to be good stewards of the Earth, but they practically worship the Earth. The problem is that they are willing to teach EVERYTHING except Christianity.

I know exactly the role it is playing. Its a model necessary for education.

If porn was meant, perhaps they would have used something that wasn’t so.. . vegetable.

Good comments, everyone.

actus – seriously, I wonder about your ability to make connections. The lowly cucumber is replacing a male sexual organ (I think the other word may get caught in the filter). Sexuality misused for entertainment or titillation is porn, as far as I’m concerned. This is titillating rather than educating.

If you do contact her in the next couple days, please give her a bit to answer you. She just had a baby yesterday, so she may not be on the internet for awhile.

Cucumbers aren’t porn.

Andy-
I think the problem with the current sex education and movie sex is that there is no mention of the effects of STD. My son works in a hospital ER and they “double-glove” because there might be a problem with a single glove. The fact is that intercourse or even oral sex with an infected person might in turn infect you. That is why abstinence is the only “safe sex”. Condoms provide some measure of safety, but deep throat kissing eliminates that protection just as effectively as a leaking condom.
The facts of life are that sex is risky (with or without condoms) unless you know your partner is healthy. Sex can produce a baby (not an “unwanted pregnancy”) and you should be prepared for that consequence.
I have no problem with a clinical discussion of the “facts of life” – I just don’t want immorality added in. I especially don’t want deviant (”alternative”) life styles lauded as “normal.”