Parents are the primary sex educators

The Ontario government needs to do more than rethink the sex education curriculum; they need to reconsider the role of parents

May 5, 2010 | by Peter Jon Mitchell , Researcher, Institute of Marriage and Family Canada
PDF:  Parents are the primary sex educators

Endnotes

  1. Ontario Ministry of Education (2010). The Ontario curriculum grades 1-8; health and physical education. Toronto: Queen's Printer for Ontario, p.10.
  2. Albert, D. (2009, Spring). With one voice (lite). Washington: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Retrieved May 3, 2010 from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/pubs/WOV_Lite_2009.pdf and
  3. Teens talk about sex, regret, and the influence of their parents (2000, June 30). Washington: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Retrieved May 3, 2010 from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/pubs/NotJust_FINAL.pdf
  4. Mitchell, P.J. (2009). Rated PG: How parental influence impacts teen sexual activity. Ottawa: Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. Available at http://imfcanada.php-dev.domain7.com/issues/rated-pg
  5. Miller, B.C., Benson, B. and Galbraith, K.A. (2001). Family relationships and adolescent pregnancy risk: a research synthesis. Developmental Review, vol. 21.
  6. Longmore, M.A., Manning, W.D. and Giordano, P.C. (2000). Preadolescent parenting strategies and teens’ dating and sexual initiation: a longitudinal analysis. Bowling Green: Center for Family and Demographic research.
  7. DeVore, E.R., Ginsburg, K.R. (2005, August). The protective effects of good parenting on adolescents. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 17(4). Retrieved September 17, 2009 from http://www.percdublin.org/Files/Protective_effects_good_parenting.pdf
  8. Fillion, K. (2010, May 10). Gender expert Leonard Sax on the empty world of girls. Maclean’s, pp.19-21.
  9. Ibid.
  10. For the complete interview with Dr. Grossman see, “You’re teaching my child what?” An interview with Miriam Grossman, MD (2009, September 9). eReview no. 77. Ottawa: Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. Available at http://imfcanada.php-dev.domain7.com/issues/youre-teaching-my-child-what
  11. 10. Healthy, Happy and Hot, produced by International Planned Parenthood Federation in January 2010 is described as “a guide for young people living with HIV.” It advises, “Sometimes people choose not to have safer sex. If this is something you and your partner agree to, then it is your choice.” (p.12) The guide provides alternative risk reduction strategies such as generous lubrication. This amounts to little more than advising young people to cross their fingers or hope for the best. Available at http://www.ippf.org/NR/rdonlyres/B4462DDE-487D-4194-B0E0-193A04095819/0/HappyHealthyHot.pdf