A missed opportunity to talk about the value of sexual ethics

John Bellavance

The ABC article entitled “Power and purity” about the Four Corner program rightly pointed out the inappropriate content and approaches to fostering sexual ethics in a school.

However, parents, schools and faith traditions that properly encourage children without shame and pressure to postpone sexual relations until a committed relationship, reduce the number of sexual partners and discuss problematic issues around pornography should not be painted with the same brush as the school in the 4 Corners report.

Without love and intimacy, sex can become empty, self-serving, ungratifying, or even abusive.

What the article fails to mention is that there is good evidence that programs that encourage young people to adopt these sexual ethics and practices promote healthy choices and relationships; advice that parents would give their own children.

The article missed the opportunity to discuss the benefits of best practice teaching of sexual ethics to young people. It is in this