Children should learn sex education early

Dear Pastor,

I want to thank you for the good work that you have been doing for Jamaica. I grew up not getting any instruction from my mother. She never taught me to expect my period.

When I had my first experience with my period, it happened at school. I did not know what to do. It was my teacher, a man at that, who called one of the female teachers to help me, and they took me to the bathroom and the teacher provided pads for me. I was so embarrassed. I did not return to school for more than one week. When the teacher asked me what was wrong with me, I told him that I did not know.

When I went home, instead of my mother explaining everything to me, she said 'Now you can breed so you better be careful with boys'. I can never forget that embarrassment in class. I have daughters and before they got to age 10, I told them that they should expect their period. I even told my boys that their sisters are going to go through that cycle. I showed my girls how to protect themselves. Nobody showed me until it happened and my teacher rushed me to the bathroom.

A friend of mine told me that her mother did not tell her anything either, and it was her stepfather who told her what to do when her period came. He went out and bought the pads for her and showed her how to use them. This girl has never forgotten the embarrassment either. But her stepfather told her that she was lucky it did not happen when she was in public.

Lots of things come under sex education, but people in Jamaica still fight sex education. You have talked about these things for years and I congratulate you. Continue to keep up the good work.

C.R.

Dear C.R.,

It was unfortunate that you were never told that you should expect your period every month. It was your mother who should have at least instructed you and told you what to expect and what to do. She failed to do her duty, and as a result, you were deeply embarrassed at school.

Lots of things come under sex education. Some people ignorantly believe that when we talk about sex education, we are talking about a boy going to bed with a girl and having sexual intercourse. But it is much more than that as you know. We asked ourselves at what age should sex education be taught in schools and the answer is simple. As your children begin to understand how their bodies function, they should be taught what to expect.

I hope you will continue to pray for me as I continue to share my knowledge with the world.

Pastor