Analysis of statements with reference sources

.....media contribute to violence?

Some research has shown that the media contributes to the emergence and exhibition of violent behavior in young people, or at least the desensitization to violence. The American Psychological Association summarizes the body of literature and claims that at the very least, extensive exposure to violent imagery can desensitize a child to violence ("Television and Video Violence," n.d.). Other research may reveal a more causal relationship between exposure to violence in the media and violent behavior. For example, a meta-analysis of 15 different studies has shown "evidence strongly suggests that exposure to violent video games is a causal risk factor for increased aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, and aggressive affect and for decreased empathy and prosocial behavior," (Kaplan, 2012). This does not mean that all people who are exposed to media violence will exhibit violent behavior or aggression, but that care must be taken when children are exposed to violence in video games, television, or other media.

When children are exposed to violence, as they inevitably will be, parents and other adult mentors need to be honest and open about the imagery. Instead of allowing the child to distort reality, mistaking what they see on the television with real life, parental engagement can help the child to distinguish between violent imagery and real violence. Some children may also be prone to aggression and violent behavior because of their personality or neurophysiology. Those children might also need targeted interventions that prevent violence, especially if they have been exposed to violence in the media.

It is impossible to eliminate all forms of violent media. The culture is replete with violent imagery, and the news media actually contains as much violent imagery as fiction media. To prevent problems from developing, adults need to limit exposure, and also to talk with children about what they are seeing to develop empathy and pro-social behaviors.

References

Kaplan, A. (2012). Violence in the Media: What Effects on Behavior? Psychiatric Times. Retrieved online: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/child-adolescent-psychiatry/violence-media-what-effects-behavior

"Television and Video Violence," (n.d.). APA. Retrieved online: http://www.apa.org/action/resources/research-in-action/protect.aspx

7. Teaching Sex Education in School

Teaching about sex, sexuality, gender, relationships, and other issues is a critical component of education because sexuality is central to life. Sex education prepares the child to be a responsible and ethical human being, as it helps promote safe sexual practices, helps individuals develop realistic expectations about sex and relationships, and helps eliminate the tendency for children to develop dysfunctional gender norms. Therefore, the goal of sex education should not simply be the mechanics of biological sex but the introduction of the child to what sexuality means psychologically and socially too.

One program in the Netherlands starts teaching this type of comprehensive sexuality education in kindergarten, something that more prudish Americans might find strange (de Melker, 2015). As de Melker (2015) puts it, the course is about 'sexuality education rather than sex education," and in fact it is a law that this course must be taught in the primary school. The core principles of the Dutch model of sexuality education include "sexual diversity and sexual assertiveness...respect for all sexual preferences and...skills to protect against sexual coercion, intimidation and abuse." It is hard to argue against this kind of comprehensive preparation for a young person's membership in the civil society, which is why this is exactly what should happen in the United States.

Parents should not be able to opt out of a program like this, because doing so would defeat the purpose of education. The parents might as well be able to opt out of their student's algebra class. As de Melker (2015) points out, "sexual development is a normal process that all young people experience, and they have the right to frank, trustworthy information on the subject," not information that has been filtered through their religion or any other distorted views. In fact, Garsd (2015) shows that a sex education program taught throughout primary school enhances the child's ability to recognize that there are multiple attitudes and viewpoints, not to "contradict" what is taught at home or in the place of worship.

References

De Melker, S. (2015). The case for starting sex education in kindergarten. PBS Newshour. Retrieved online: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/spring-fever/

Garsd, J. (2015). Beyond The Birds And The Bees: Surviving Sex Ed Today. NPR. Retrieved online: http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/06/01/406988245/beyond-the-birds-and-the-bees-surviving-sex-ed-today