Dr. Julianne Malveaux:
“Of course they should teach sex education in schools, but there has to be parental involvement, and if parents have a strong moral objection, they should have an alternative activity. Young people need to know how bodies function and all of that. And absent of people learning at home, school is an important place to do that.”

Ronald Portis:
“Yes, they should, because children should know. Like any other subject taught, sex education should also be included.”

Barbara Minor:
“Sex education should be taught in school. I think it’s very important that children understand about their hygiene and about different diseases that they can contact from sex. Because it’s not taught does not mean they will not participate. So, children really in middle school should understand what can happen to them and what can happen to their bodies as a result of having sex. I think it’s very important because so many of our children nowadays don’t have parents to teach them about sex. We have many children whose parents can’t teach them because they don’t understand themselves. Many children today are being raised in foster homes, by grandparents and, in some cases, almost raising themselves.

Elayne Marchblanks:
“I think sex education should be included in the schools with emphasis on abstinence and also some programs about self-esteem. I think that’s what’s creating our problems sexually with our children. They don’t have any education, but they also need to feel better about themselves.”

Randy Evans, with 8-year-old daughter Kai:
“I think that sex education should be taught, but it should be predicated based upon the type of education that they are being exposed to. I think they should be honest and explain the whole function of the human anatomy about young girls and boys reproductive organs. I also think they should teach them about the responsibility -when you have intercourse – to use protection and things like that. This of course is not to tell them to go out and engage in sexual activity, but to basically educate them about the dangers and what it entails. Educate them about their bodies and keeping the body clean, hygiene etc. But also [the schools] should try to get their parents involved. They should notify their parents and let them know that they’re teaching sex education. You have certain people, based upon their religious views and also other views, who could be opposed. Overall, I think that would be good.”

Note: Julianne Malveaux is a well known economist, author and commentator, and President/CEO of Last Word Productions, Inc., a multimedia company.