Do U care about AWARE?

[csc]

[quote] was surrounded (sitting among of) by the gay and lesbian community that seemed to have turned up in full force.
[/quote]This was not reported in the newspapers at all !!!

[mintcc]

I am too uncomfortable with some of the wordings in the CSE program. I believe that MOE and the schools as well as AWARE should review the materials to be more targeted to the age group which the students who were taught. One should also raise the question of whether an advocacy group is a good choice to develop such sensitive programmes for our schools. Ourselves as parents should also make ourselves heard when we feel parts of our children's education materials objectionable to us.


That said, Public Education is just an aspect of AWARE's work, CSE part of public education and the questionable part of the CSE program form a small portion of the program. AWARE's work in many areas are commendable (helplines, legal clinics, support groups and counselling services, legislation/civil service policy changes for the equality of women) and many women had benefited from their work. I don't think hijacking of AWARE was justified and I am glad for the outcome of the AGM, not becuse I am pro or against the CSE or other gender issues but for issues quite nicely sum up by this article
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/05/aware-lessons-from-a-fiasco/

[csc]

My take is parents should take full responsibility for the sexual education of their children.


Even if sexual education is confined to the MOE syllabus, we have no idea who will be conducting it - this teacher may have different set of values and opinions which he or she is free to share while teaching the "neutral" syllabus. Such opinions and values are beyond MOE’s or parents’ control.

Teachers can exert a strong influence on their students too.

I’m thinking very seriously of taking my children out of the classroom when sexual education is being taught during the curriculum. They will stay at home and we will teach it instead based on our family’s values and beliefs. JMO.

[corneyAmber]

mincy:

but for issues quite nicely sum up by this article

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/05/aware-lessons-from-a-fiasco/

Sorry, I have to beg to differ about this article. The only comment I have is it is written in good English. Other than that, the view is still very lop-sided and its arguments flawed. There seems to be no lesson learned from and for the 'old guards'. How is that possible? :lol:

In a saga like this, both parties are seriously in the wrong and no party is superior than the other especially after you have seen the video clips on the conduct of the EOGM. If neither party has driven the saga to such an ugly fiasco, I would still respect them for what they represent.

[corneyAmber]

csc:

My take is parents should take full responsibility for the sexual education of their children.


Even if sexual education is confined to the MOE syllabus, we have no idea who will be conducting it - this teacher may have different set of values and opinions which he or she is free to share while teaching the \"neutral\" syllabus. Such opinions and values are beyond MOE's or parents' control.

Teachers can exert a strong influence on their students too.

I'm thinking very seriously of taking my children out of the classroom when sexual education is being taught during the curriculum. They will stay at home and we will teach it instead based on our family's values and beliefs. JMO.

Yes I agree with you. Parents' feedback is very important and if it is not happening, likewise we have to DIY and I rest my case as a parent. My friend highlighted her concern to me yesterday...kids listen to teachers alot!

[sunflower]

mincy:

One should also raise the question of whether an advocacy group is a good choice to develop such sensitive programmes for our schools. Ourselves as parents should also make ourselves heard when we feel parts of our children's education materials objectionable to us.

Agree.

ks2me:

csc :

wrote:
My take is parents should take full responsibility for the sexual education of their children.

Even if sexual education is confined to the MOE syllabus, we have no idea who will be conducting it - this teacher may have different set of values and opinions which he or she is free to share while teaching the \"neutral\" syllabus. Such opinions and values are beyond MOE's or parents' control.

Teachers can exert a strong influence on their students too.

I'm thinking very seriously of taking my children out of the classroom when sexual education is being taught during the curriculum. They will stay at home and we will teach it instead based on our family's values and beliefs. JMO.

Yes I agree with you. Parents' feedback is very important and if it is not happening, likewise we have to DIY and I rest my case as a parent. My friend highlighted her concern to me yesterday...kids listen to teachers alot!

Agree with the abv. I must say that teachers have a strong influence on kids. The other day while I was attending the school's workshop on changes in the Chinese language syllabus, many parents lamented that their children wld not listen if they tell their children to read Chinese story books or watch certain Chinese progs. They say their children will only do so if the teachers said so!

[mintcc]

ks2me:

the view is still very lop-sided and its arguments flawed. There seems to be no lesson learned from and for the 'old guards'. How is that possible? :lol: .

Agree about the part that it is kind of one sided. Now that the \"old guard\" have regain control again, they should too \"hao hao fan xin\" on what went wrong. It is interesting to note that with all the publicity, now AWARE had more than 3000 members compared to the original 300. Hopefully the new members are commited to helping with the cause and contributing after this rather than being members just to side with one or the other group.

csc:

My take is parents should take full responsibility for the sexual education of their children.

Yes I agree, but are such lessons in school compulsary? maybe the schools should get the parents to choose if they consent to allow their children to attend such classes.

[corneyAmber]

mincy:

Agree about the part that it is kind of one sided. Now that the \"old guard\" have regain control again, the should too \"hao hao fan xin\" on what went wrong. It is interesting to note that with all the publicity now AWARE had more than 3000 members compared to the origina 300. Hopefully the new members are commited to helping with the cause and contributing after this rather than being members just to side with one or the other group. .

That is increase by 10 folds, probably the most positive outcome of this saga without spending marketing $$! :lol: So I wish them well and be more prudent and holistic in their future approach.

mincy:

Yes I agree, but are such lessons in school compulsary? maybe the schools should get the parents to choose if they consent to allow their children to attend such classes.

Currently the option is already given for such workshops but the option does not come with so much information on what the programme is about (which most only know after this AWARE saga) so parents cannot make \"informed\" decision to opt out.

[westmom]

If I did hear correctly yesterday (i happened to pass the TV), the old guards said that they will review their CSE content in view of the feedback received. Personally I do not wish for such "sensitive" topics to be outsourced by MOE to teach our kids. CSE can be "amended" for now but how would one know when it is subtlely brought back into the program? Also, this CSE issue is only known to internet savvy parents and there are a lot of people out there who is still in the dark… who is signing away the consent forms from schools. For eg…my office staff (who are longtime parents) is not even aware of this CSE issue until i mentioned to them today !

[ZacK]

csc:

My take is parents should take full responsibility for the sexual education of their children.

I agree with you on this pt.

However I have a differing view on some of the pts highlighted in the preceding posts. I am not sure if one would have gay tendencies just by merely attending a CSE program that states that anal sex is healthy or homosexual acts are neutral etc. Pls note that I am not advocating either acts.

That is why my #1 goal is to be my sons closest friend so that they feel they can speak with me on any topics... This is the only way where as a parent I can be tuned to the psyche of my little ones and be able to address any deviations from the values that I would want to instil in them.

There is no known research that can affirm to why men/women have homosexual tendencies. Some attribute it to nature, some say these tendencies are a result of external factors.

Whatever it is... I do not know how I would react if my son/s tell me one fine day that they are dating guys :!: Would you as a parent tell them straight in the face that you are not agreeable with their choice? That there is only one way ie the mainstream lifestyle?

No parents in their right mind would want their kids to lead the alternative lifestyle becos socially it is just not accepted, at least in this current times. However do we then enforce our own set of beliefs onto our kids at the expense of their happiness? .... I seriously have no answer right now.

However knowing my personality... I will sit down with them to understand if this is what they really want, if they have deliberated on the consequences, knowing that they are determined even though the walk will be difficult ... I will probably give them my blessings... because a parent's love is unconditional. I would rather they lead a happy and fulfilling life then to go thru life denying who they are.

Juz my thots... :idea: