[PASSED] Sexual Health and Education Act

[Wrapper]

Disclaimer, I have nothing to do with this, but it was recently submitted and is close to achieving quorum. Feel free to debate. I'll TG an invitation to the author shortly.

Sexual Health and Education Act

A resolution to promote funding and the development of education and the arts.

Category: Education and Creativity

Area of Effect: Educational

Proposed by: Zenatias

Description: The purpose of this act is to ensure that all public school students of specified ages are given access to factual, educational, non-threatening material in regards to sexual education.

ACKNOWLEDGING- That due to certain cultural/religious/personal beliefs, many people encourage "abstinence-only" lessons for minors. However, "Comprehensive" Sex Education has proven to be more effective in terms of reducing the number of teenage pregnancies worldwide, and the spread of sexually-transmitted infections, as well as making minors feel more comfortable and informed about their bodies.

ESTABLISHING- That all public schools include comprehensive Sex Education as part of their course curriculum, for those aged 10 to 18 years old.

CLARIFYING- The aspects of the act

1) The curriculum must give students accurate information on STIs, teen pregnancy, reproductive rights, pubescence, sexuality, gender identity, human anatomy, and methods of birth control. For those between the ages of 10 and 13 years old, only information on pubescence, sexuality, gender identity, and human anatomy are required. For students aged 13 and up, the curriculum must include lessons on STIs, teenage pregnancy, reproductive rights, and birth control as well. Age-appropriateness should be taken into consideration when planning how to approach each topic.

2) Parents may exempt their children from the entire course through contacting the school. Children may be excused from a particular lesson if they find the material to be upsetting, offensive, or distressing. Every effort should be made to accommodate modest children who are embarrassed by course materials, such as not requiring such students to answer a given question out loud. Students excused from the required course will be required to take a standard health course instead. Students asking to be excused from a particular lesson may sit in the hallway outside of the classroom or go to a designated study hall at the discretion of the teacher.

3) This course will not advocate underage sexual activity. Instead, this course will make the children aware of the emotional and physical risks of underage sexuality, and will instruct them how to look out for their best interests. Class materials should be factual, non-threatening, and thorough. However, pornographic content is strictly prohibited; this includes pornographic videos, images, writings, and other visuals.

4) It is not mandatory for private education to systems to offer Sex Education lessons, but encouraged nonetheless.

HEREBY- Establishes mandatory Comprehensive Sexual Education curriculum in public schools worldwide.

[Normlpeople]

OOC: Not overly surprised since this is the 4th time its ended up in queue, spammed as quickly as it failed quorum.

Sad part is, its workable. This version isn't, but its not far off.

[Separatist Peoples]

Good. It'll be nice to see something crash and burn.

[The Germanic European Empire]

OOC: Not overly surprised since this is the 4th time its ended up in queue, spammed as quickly as it failed quorum.

Sad part is, its workable. This version isn't, but its not far off.

I am wondering how it isn't workable currently? It seems acceptable - although me being kinda new to this I can't understand ...

[Normlpeople]

OOC: Not overly surprised since this is the 4th time its ended up in queue, spammed as quickly as it failed quorum.

Sad part is, its workable. This version isn't, but its not far off.

I am wondering how it isn't workable currently? It seems acceptable - although me being kinda new to this I can't understand ...

OOC: Its human-centric, completely optional (parents can pull thier kids out), and micromanagement in course material, yet vague at the same time.

[John Turner]

I am wondering how it isn't workable currently? It seems acceptable - although me being kinda new to this I can't understand ...

OOC: Its human-centric, completely optional (parents can pull thier kids out), and micromanagement in course material, yet vague at the same time.

On top of being the furthest thing from an international issue you can get.....

[Wallenburg]

OOC: I had been hoping for something to break the 18-day silence in the voting hall, but this is utter garbage.

IC: "This is utter garbage. Your age requirements are completely arbitrary and ridiculous, and do more harm than good. In Wallenburg specifically, the Indevian race develops at a slower rate than the human race. Their 10-year-old is the equivalent of your 8-year-old. Do you really want such young children learning about sexuality? We recognize that leaving young men and women uneducated about sex is a bad idea, but teaching prepubescent children the details of sex and birth control is absolutely disgusting. Leave them their innocence for a few more years, for Notch's sake! You claim that 'age-appropriateness should be taken into consideration when planning how to approach each topic,' yet you set requirements that directly contradict this suggestion.

"Furthermore, clause two and five create huge gaps that essentially make the entire proposal optional. I suppose that is a good thing, considering how awful the requirements of clause one are, but this deeply undermines what little respectability this proposal has."

[Tinfect]

OOC: I had been hoping for something to break the 18-day silence in the voting hall, but this is utter garbage.

OOC:
As had I, but holy fucking shit that is too close to vote for comfort, and unlike the last one of its sort, it doesn't appear obviously Illegal. I'd file a GHR for Optionality, but, it's not an easy tell, thing could just as easily go either way.

Alright, here we go, let's tear it apart, even though the Author will undoubtedly never check this thread and would be unable to actually alter it with critiscsm anyway...
IC:

ESTABLISHING- That all public schools include comprehensive Sex Education as part of their course curriculum, for those aged 10 to 18 years old.

"The Imperium may be possessed of longer lifespans than other Member-States, but, we do not find the stated minimum age acceptable in the slightest. If your population is so short lived that this is considered necessary, do consider ceding control to a less primitive, and more effective, Government."

1) The curriculum must give students accurate information on STIs, teen pregnancy, reproductive rights, pubescence, sexuality, gender identity, human anatomy, and methods of birth control. For those between the ages of 10 and 13 years old, only information on pubescence, sexuality, gender identity, and human anatomy are required. For students aged 13 and up, the curriculum must include lessons on STIs, teenage pregnancy, reproductive rights, and birth control as well. Age-appropriateness should be taken into consideration when planning how to approach each topic.

"Non-Human populations do exist within Member States. I believe they would object to their children being forced to learn Human anatomy."

2) Parents may exempt their children from the entire course through contacting the school. Children may be excused from a particular lesson if they find the material to be upsetting, offensive, or distressing. Every effort should be made to accommodate modest children who are embarrassed by course materials, such as not requiring such students to answer a given question out loud. Students excused from the required course will be required to take a standard health course instead. Students asking to be excused from a particular lesson may sit in the hallway outside of the classroom or go to a designated study hall at the discretion of the teacher.

"Absolutely not. the Imperium will not allow students to exempt themselves, or to be exempted by others, from their studies for any reason."

4) It is not mandatory for private education to systems to offer Sex Education lessons, but encouraged nonetheless.

"Exempting private institutions effectively nullifies any effectiveness this Proposal may have had. The Imperium is opposed, and suggests that your Government consider drafting their proposals in the halls of the General Assembly prior to submitting them to the Secretariat."

[Vancouvia]

Time for a vote

[We Couldnt Agree On A Name]

OOC: Its human-centric, completely optional (parents can pull thier kids out), and micromanagement in course material, yet vague at the same time.

On top of being the furthest thing from an international issue you can get.....

National sovereignty is dead, John.

[Traitor Legions]

'"This appears to be rather biased to typical humans - the education that goes on in the Legions involves harsh training to make Marines out of children, not teach them sexual education. Is this proposal suggesting that that be shoehorned in to all schools, regardless of the specific culture and society in that nation?"

[Separatist Peoples]

On top of being the furthest thing from an international issue you can get.....

National sovereignty is dead, John.

OOC: Hardly. National sovereignty is at it's new high. A sick bastardization of "Nyah! You can't make me!" and half-baked notions of internationality, perhaps. As a counterpoint to International Federalism and WA Interventionism though? Close enough to count, unfortunately.

[Wrapper]

This is now at vote. The author has not responded to an invitation to participate in this debate.

[Normlpeople]

"I have not only voted against, but have half a repeal written should this look like it will pass" Clover said "I am not opposed to the idea, however, this is unsatisfactory."

[Kryozerkia]

'"This appears to be rather biased to typical humans - the education that goes on in the Legions involves harsh training to make Marines out of children, not teach them sexual education. Is this proposal suggesting that that be shoehorned in to all schools, regardless of the specific culture and society in that nation?"

"I have not only voted against, but have half a repeal written should this look like it will pass" Clover said "I am not opposed to the idea, however, this is unsatisfactory."

It definitely has enough flaws to make for an easy insta-repeal. Between the age requirements and species-centric aspect, any author could draw up a repeal together without much trouble.

[Vancouvia]

Yeah this one's gonna pass 55/45

[Kryozerkia]

Yeah this one's gonna pass 55/45

If it passes, it will be by a margin because it's a wedge issue.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

It's a good idea, but there are too many inappropriate specifics. I felt I had to vote against.

[LeaveAlone]

ESTABLISHING- That all public schools include comprehensive Sex Education as part of their course curriculum, for those aged 10 to 18 years old.

In addition to other's concerns, 8 whole years of sexual education is a long time to squander on something that takes most people a couple weeks to pick up.

[We Couldnt Agree On A Name]

"I have not only voted against, but have half a repeal written should this look like it will pass" Clover said "I am not opposed to the idea, however, this is unsatisfactory."

Wouldn't it make more sense to write a campaign letter?

[Separatist Peoples]

"I have not only voted against, but have half a repeal written should this look like it will pass" Clover said "I am not opposed to the idea, however, this is unsatisfactory."

Wouldn't it make more sense to write a campaign letter?

OOC: if you're like me and spend half your time playing from a phone, that's not always possible. Normlpeople may have that issue, too.

[Bananaistan]

"I have not only voted against, but have half a repeal written should this look like it will pass" Clover said "I am not opposed to the idea, however, this is unsatisfactory."

Wouldn't it make more sense to write a campaign letter?

OOC: You don't get a badge for that!

Srsly, who wants to spend time and money campaigning against something that's just rubbish rather than distasteful. It's far easier to justify time and/or money spent on a good repeal.

[Normlpeople]

Wouldn't it make more sense to write a campaign letter?

OOC: if you're like me and spend half your time playing from a phone, that's not always possible. Normlpeople may have that issue, too.

OOC: Half would be an improvement. Im on the road most of the time... And on my phone all of that. Can't really run a script on it

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

We the Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper have decided to vote against this proposal. While it addresses an area of health that could use a little bit of attention, we feel that there are too many problems with the execution. To wit:

ESTABLISHING- That all public schools include comprehensive Sex Education as part of their course curriculum, for those aged 10 to 18 years old.

We feel that definitive ages for comprehensive Sex Education should be determined by member nations. What passes for physical or sexual maturity in one culture may not be the same as in other cultures. As a matter of fact, for us, given our customs and our physiology, ten is too young for such an education.

2) Parents may exempt their children from the entire course through contacting the school. Children may be excused from a particular lesson if they find the material to be upsetting, offensive, or distressing. Every effort should be made to accommodate modest children who are embarrassed by course materials, such as not requiring such students to answer a given question out loud. Students excused from the required course will be required to take a standard health course instead. Students asking to be excused from a particular lesson may sit in the hallway outside of the classroom or go to a designated study hall at the discretion of the teacher.

We find this clause unacceptable. Should parents be allowed to exempt their children from mathematics? Or language arts? Why should schoolchildren be allowed to opt out of any subject? Our education system is there to provide our younger citizens a well-rounded education, not some piecemeal bits of schooling that would therefore limit their potential.

4) It is not mandatory for private education to systems to offer Sex Education lessons, but encouraged nonetheless.

Unacceptable as well. The way this is worded, one may interpret this clause to prohibit our nation from making such education mandatory in private schools. In order for private education programs to be accredited, they must meet certain standards of education. We won't allow private schools to elect what core subjects they deem worthy and what core subjects they don't.

We believe the author's heart is in the right place with this proposal, but this does need quite a bit of work in order to be acceptable to us.

[Deanson]

3) This course will not advocate underage sexual activity. Instead, this course will make the children aware of the emotional and physical risks of underage sexuality, and will instruct them how to look out for their best interests. Class materials should be factual, non-threatening, and thorough. However, pornographic content is strictly prohibited; this includes pornographic videos, images, writings, and other visuals.

Why? I don't see why anything remotely pornographic is to be completely banned. This is a very minor gripe, however.

Overall, I agree with the general sentiment of the act. However, the age restrictions should be removed and left up to the member nation to decide, as how development and sex plays a role can vary significantly between nations (as well as differing biological factors as others have pointed out).