Friday, November 30, 2007 Chastity-based sex education sought By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO City Councilor Teresita Mata-Maranon is pushing for the inclusion of a chastity-based sex education curriculum in high schools saying it could properly address the lifestyle of the youth today.
Maranon, who attended the 2nd World Congress on Chastity Education for the Youth of Today in Manila on November 20-22, said in her privilege speech Tuesday that the conference was indeed important especially in defining the character of children of today from those of their age 10 years ago.
"The difference could be very well attributed to their exposure to advancement in technology. This includes mobile phones and online activity, modernity of the generation, increasing materialism and liberation, the atmosphere in the family home, lack of support system and weakened spirituality. The youth of today tend to see with their ears and think with their feelings," Maranon said.
She added that survey shows that many youth today aging 15-18 years old are into sexual activities though more than 50 percent admitted they are not even ready for a steady relationship.
"Sex today is perceived to be something for fun and entertainment and not for commitment. The various mass media including mobile phones and the internet have now become the surrogate parents of our children, plus of course the easy access to pornography. It is as if the media has the authority to teach values to kids," Maranon lamented.
"We parents cannot just allow this without doing something. The lifestyle of the youth today, if not properly addressed, could possibly lead to promiscuity and perversion. The online world could expose the youth to sexual predators, ignite experimentation and worse, it could result to addiction," she added.
Thus, the lady councilor sees a reason for chastity education to be introduced in schools saying the issue cannot be discussed fully without theological implication.
According to Maranon, the emotional and spiritual danger of uncommitted sex should be emphasized to the youth who are faced with strong temptations.
Chastity-based sex education in schools, Maranon said, will really be helpful as it involves training in chastity as a virtue, which fosters a high level of personal maturity and makes one capable of respecting one's body.
In two separate resolutions approved Tuesday, Maranon requested the City Social Services and Development Office to promote family programs especially on "parenting" in different barangays in the city while requesting Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz to consider her proposal of a chastity-based sex education.
