From Russia With Love---A Smart Idea I Can Get Behind

RUSSIAN OFFICIAL ADVOCATES USING LITERATURE FOR SEX EDUCATION

Learning the birds and the bees through Tolstoy?

That’s what Pavel Astakhov, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Russia, suggest that Russian schools embrace.

Speaking to the Russian news channel Rossiya-24, Astakhov, who opposes the introduction of sex education in schools, suggested that educators fill in the gap with classic literature.

“The best sex education there is, in fact, is Russian literature and literature in general,” Astakhov said. “Children should read more. Everything is there, all about love and about relationships between sexes. Schools must raise children in chastity and with understanding of family values. “

Astakhov warned the Ministry for Science and Education against formal sex ed classes in Russian schools, but said he was for reintroducing Soviet-style lessons on the ethics of family life.

“I am very glad that the ministry abandoned this idea because today it is very dangerous to let any specialists of this kind anywhere near your children,” Astakhov said. 

I can agree wholeheartedly with this idea. The less government bureaucrats always grinding a political, cultural agenda get in the act---and the more responsibility parents rightfully take---the better society is for everyone.   Of course, we live in a fallen world with broken and decaying family structures and values. Still, there have got to be better ways to educate little one to the extent and in the timing they can begin to comprehend, without over-educating them. Our world is awash with way too much information.