Comments on: middle schoolers and sex http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/ life, faith, youth ministry, emerging church, leadership, whimsy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:12:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Howie Snyder http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187166 Howie Snyder Wed, 13 May 2009 14:42:47 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187166 Okay, got it, Marko. Thanks for the clarification! Okay, got it, Marko. Thanks for the clarification!

]]> By: Fitz http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187160 Fitz Wed, 13 May 2009 14:15:00 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187160 We used the 'Sex. Dating.' video curriculum with our students - jr. and sr. high - this past spring. It was well-received. As a matter of fact, we had such good attendance that we are going to talk about sex every week now. :-) We used the ‘Sex. Dating.’ video curriculum with our students – jr. and sr. high – this past spring. It was well-received. As a matter of fact, we had such good attendance that we are going to talk about sex every week now. :-)

]]> By: marko http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187138 marko Tue, 12 May 2009 23:10:41 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187138 oops -- wrote that wrong, howie. i changed it. i'm actually surprised vaginal sex is HIGHER than oral. oops — wrote that wrong, howie. i changed it. i’m actually surprised vaginal sex is HIGHER than oral.

]]> By: Ginger S. MacDonald http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187136 Ginger S. MacDonald Tue, 12 May 2009 20:45:58 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187136 Good thing tweens can't have Twitter sex. We'd all be in trouble! Good thing tweens can’t have Twitter sex. We’d all be in trouble!

]]> By: David http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187134 David Tue, 12 May 2009 18:33:25 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187134 As a Sunday School teacher and youth leader, I have had occasion to address the topic of sex with children ages 9-12. It isn't usually planned, but somehow in the course of studying current events and listening to their conversations the need arises. Some girls have complained about the unwanted attention they receive since becoming more developed while others seem to enjoy it. The boys aren't really mature enough at this age to understand (in my opinion) why it is wrong to be thinking about those things the way I have heard them discussing it. I have had to reprimand one boy for his physical actions toward a girl ... I usually explain how God has specific plans for sexual activity (within the confines of marriage). How it is meant to be a beautiful expression of love and how the world has cheapened it. Sadly, I see some of our kids headed down the wrong road when it comes to their sexuality. They like the attention too much. It is sad to see the need for discussing sex at younger ages, but more and more pre-teens are getting sexually involved. As a Sunday School teacher and youth leader, I have had occasion to address the topic of sex with children ages 9-12. It isn’t usually planned, but somehow in the course of studying current events and listening to their conversations the need arises. Some girls have complained about the unwanted attention they receive since becoming more developed while others seem to enjoy it. The boys aren’t really mature enough at this age to understand (in my opinion) why it is wrong to be thinking about those things the way I have heard them discussing it. I have had to reprimand one boy for his physical actions toward a girl … I usually explain how God has specific plans for sexual activity (within the confines of marriage). How it is meant to be a beautiful expression of love and how the world has cheapened it. Sadly, I see some of our kids headed down the wrong road when it comes to their sexuality. They like the attention too much. It is sad to see the need for discussing sex at younger ages, but more and more pre-teens are getting sexually involved.

]]> By: Scott C http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187133 Scott C Tue, 12 May 2009 17:57:41 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187133 I'm about to start Group Publishing's Jr. High Exposed with my middle schoolers. Most of us talk about these issues with our high school students only to find out its too late for many of them. Besides, if they are learning about it at school at a middle school level, why shouldn't we be teaching about the biblical view in the church. I am really confused as to why there is so little curriculum designed for middle school students on this topic. I’m about to start Group Publishing’s Jr. High Exposed with my middle schoolers. Most of us talk about these issues with our high school students only to find out its too late for many of them. Besides, if they are learning about it at school at a middle school level, why shouldn’t we be teaching about the biblical view in the church. I am really confused as to why there is so little curriculum designed for middle school students on this topic.

]]> By: Howie Snyder http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187132 Howie Snyder Tue, 12 May 2009 17:42:56 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187132 Wait, you write, "i’m actually surprised that the percentage for vaginal sex is lower than the percentage for oral sex", but I'm reading that the percentage for vaginal sex is 12% while that for oral is 7.9% - ???? Wait, you write, “i’m actually surprised that the percentage for vaginal sex is lower than the percentage for oral sex”, but I’m reading that the percentage for vaginal sex is 12% while that for oral is 7.9% – ????

]]> By: Damon http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187123 Damon Mon, 11 May 2009 19:46:22 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187123 We did a study with our middle school, high school, and parents (parents had to attend if their teenager took part) using Rob Bell's book Sex God as a starting point. Parents met together and shared thoughts and insights on the book. At the same time, we based our teaching on some of the main points from the book with the students. The aim of this study was to encourage conversation between parents and teenagers, and give them a place to start the conversation. Overall, I think it went well once parents and students got past the taboos and giggles. We did a study with our middle school, high school, and parents (parents had to attend if their teenager took part) using Rob Bell’s book Sex God as a starting point. Parents met together and shared thoughts and insights on the book. At the same time, we based our teaching on some of the main points from the book with the students. The aim of this study was to encourage conversation between parents and teenagers, and give them a place to start the conversation. Overall, I think it went well once parents and students got past the taboos and giggles.

]]> By: Karissa http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187120 Karissa Mon, 11 May 2009 16:44:34 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187120 We just finished a series with our Jr. High and High Schoolers and by the end I was amazed at what our young teens are exposed to (and I thought I had a pretty good handle on things.) Our kids ran the gamut of sexual experiences and influences. Some students were hearing about porn and oral sex for the first time, while some of my 7th grade girls expressed that there are girls at school who are telling them that it's "cool" to get pregnant and "cool" to have sex with multiple guys. We focused on God's truth that "sex is good" but only when it's used the way God intended. I found Saddleback's curriculum to be really helpful. We used it as a start point and then turned it into something specific for our students and culture. Bottom line is that if our young teens aren't hearing the truth about sex at home or from us, then they're only hearing the lies. Lies from the media, movies, tv, etc, and lies from their friends. We just finished a series with our Jr. High and High Schoolers and by the end I was amazed at what our young teens are exposed to (and I thought I had a pretty good handle on things.) Our kids ran the gamut of sexual experiences and influences. Some students were hearing about porn and oral sex for the first time, while some of my 7th grade girls expressed that there are girls at school who are telling them that it’s “cool” to get pregnant and “cool” to have sex with multiple guys.

We focused on God’s truth that “sex is good” but only when it’s used the way God intended. I found Saddleback’s curriculum to be really helpful. We used it as a start point and then turned it into something specific for our students and culture.

Bottom line is that if our young teens aren’t hearing the truth about sex at home or from us, then they’re only hearing the lies. Lies from the media, movies, tv, etc, and lies from their friends.

]]> By: Matthew McNutt http://whyismarko.com/2009/middle-schoolers-and-sex/comment-page-1/#comment-1187118 Matthew McNutt Mon, 11 May 2009 13:13:16 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=5929#comment-1187118 Wow ... this was perfect timing! Next Sunday I start a series on sex with our middle schoolers and there are some people that think it's weird that I'm doing that. "Is that really necessary???" I usually respond, "have you met our kids???" Anyway, I just printed this post so I can have it kicking around. Wow … this was perfect timing! Next Sunday I start a series on sex with our middle schoolers and there are some people that think it’s weird that I’m doing that. “Is that really necessary???” I usually respond, “have you met our kids???” Anyway, I just printed this post so I can have it kicking around.

]]>