MON - I agree with you on MANY levels. However, I currently teach in a Title I school with 90% poverty and mostly minority kids. I can say almost unequivocally that the parents of my students ARE NOT talking to them about sex - either the emotional or scientific aspects. We teach what's called an "Abstinence Plus" curriculum, which emphasizes abstinence but teaches about birth control and STDs. We talk a lot about the emotional aspects of sex as well. The feedback I usually get from the kids is gratitude that someone has explained this stuff, and I can say with certainty that I definitely have their attention more than any other time in the school year. They want and need to know this stuff, but none of their parents discuss it.

So I think in some cases, the schools need to do what the parents won't for the good of society.