BBC promises to review its sex education video for youngsters

From the Daily Mail:

The BBC is to review a controversial film for youngsters which shows a computer-generated couple having sex, after it was slammed by MPs.

Corporation bosses were summoned by concerned Schools minister Nick Gibb to answer questions about the education video which is directed at primary-aged children as young as nine.

Mr Gibb told The Sun: 'Parents are justifiably worried materials like this are being used in lessons.'

In addition to computer-generated images in explicit sexual positions the Sex and Relationship Education CD-Rom by BBC Active also features animated figures making love.

There is also footage of a naked man and woman, used to demonstrate the differences between the sexes, information about 'wet dreams' and masturbation, and graphic diagrams of genitalia...

The BBC stands by the film, saying it has been put together after consultation with local authorities and experts in education.

A spokesman for BBC Active said the film had already been widely used but would now be updated.

In 2008, Barack Obama fended off criticism from the McCain campaign about his support of a proposed piece of legislation in Illinois to teach sex education to kindergarten students.

Obama, in typical fashion, scoffed at the criticism and said supporting the [sex ed] bill was "the right thing to do", adding that he had only supported the teching of 'age-appropriate' sex education to the kindergaten students [how to defend themselves against sexual predators etc.].

However, as I noted at the time:

The Illinois bill clearly states as follows:

The program established under this Act shall...shall include age appropriate instruction in grades K through 12 on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV..., [and] sexual abstinence etc.

I also noted as follows:

The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US [SEICUS], in its "Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Kindergarten through 12th Grade", states that [PDF file] sex education courses should be appropriate to the "age and developmental level of the students". Sound familiar? The Obama campaign even sent the SIECUS guidelines to MSNBC when asked about this issue last year. SIECUS, like Obama, also recommends that teachers talk with students about inappropriate touching etc.

However, SIECUS also recommends that the following be taught to students, ages 5 through 8:

Reproduction requires that a sperm and egg join. Vaginal intercourse – when a penis is placed inside a vagina – is the most common way for a sperm and egg to join. Babies usually come out of a woman’s body through an opening called a vagina.

Human beings can love people of the same gender and people of another gender. Some people are heterosexual, which means they can be attracted to and fall in love with someone of another gender. Homosexual men and women are also known as gay men and lesbians. Two people of the same gender can live in loving, lifetime committed relationships.

Touching and rubbing one’s own genitals to feel good is called masturbation. Some boys and girls masturbate and others do not. Masturbation should be done in a private place.

The most common ways for a person to get an STD [sexually transmitted disease] is to participate in sexual behavior or share a needle with another person who is already infected with an STD.

President Obama is a graduate of Harvard Law School, a wise man indeed; perhaps the BBC should appoint him as their spokesman and have him argue their case.