When I hear the words “family education”, I hear a few different things. First and foremost is the immediate thought that comes to my mind of parenting classes. This is where you would most likely go to get some help if you feel that you’re unequal to the task of raising your family. This can be especially helpful as well to single parents who have an overwhelming task in front of them and who might require guidance to help them through the muddy waters of parenting.
My other thought when I hear family education mentioned in the family education classes which are part of the school curriculum these days, and which help to prepare teenagers to go into the adult world of sex, babies, and responsibilities. Although these classes were around when I was growing up as well, I’m afraid to say that the social outlook wasn’t as liberal as it is now and it was an entirely different outlook that we faced.
Nowadays, with the advent of more and more teenage pregnancies, abortions, adoptions, and high mortality rates from any of these, teenage family education classes have had to become progressive and move with the times. Now you might find information and leaflets on just about anything you need to know about family education, being taught and discussed in these classes.
There are two schools of thought on this subject though, with one side for family education classes and the other side against it. The “for” side wants these classes so their kids will know better what they’re getting into when they start experimenting and what the repercussions could be for them if they don’t take the necessary steps to safeguard themselves.
The “against” side argues that by educating the children at such an early age about these things that you’re putting ideas in their head that wasn’t necessarily there, to begin with. And to a certain extent, this is true. If your child had no idea about sex, condoms, and the reproductive system, after attending family education classes they’ll know everything that you do, and probably more.
In effect, both sides are right in their ways, and we just need to learn to temper one with the other when dealing with this admittedly sticky issue of family education. When it comes to family education classes for adults, it’s a different matter entirely. Being adults they won’t necessarily need to learn about the reproductive system as such, what they will probably most be interested in though will be the help and knowledge they can gain in raising their families.