Sex Education, Public and Private Schools, Provincial exams

I thought all of these hot topics were fairly relevant to my future teaching in schools. First and foremost private schools provide another avenue to find a job in this current saturated job market.  Along the lines of what we actually talked about in class today I think that private schools are a solid option for parents who feel they want to give their kids a slightly higher priced education with smaller class sizes and a school with more prestige that may help them get to that university they want in the future, or have a certain religious belief they want instilled at their child in school as well as at home.  I know personally my parents thought about and gave me the option of going to a private school, which i declined. I knew a few kids who went to private schools and it just wasn't for me i was in schools that i excelled in and had friends in so the move didn't make any sense.  I think its an excellent option for certain students who have the resources to go that route. I also think that the fact that most schools are very expensive puts a hardship on the parents especially of those students who go onto post secondary and have to pay for that as well as it is an extra burden for some.  The provincial exam issue is another contentious one the lack of which i think removes some accountability from teachers as to the marks they give their students. With a standardized provincial exam the teacher who gives the students too high or too low a grade can be subjected to some sort of review by their school or district although this may not happen in actual practice.  It also gives some sort of mark for universities to look at when giving entrance to applicants.  Putting all this pressure on one test may be unfair for students but for those moving to post secondary that is the way it is.  The current optional system only serves those who wish to gain entrance and government scholarships to universities and has removed a certain amount of accountability from teachers. The last topic sex ed is probably the most contentious of all, when to teach and what to teach if at all.  I think it is irresponsible to teach abstinence in the current society we live in and a more forward approach beginning at a young age needs to be implimented. Starting first with appropriate personal relationships between peers and moving into areas of puberty, physical development, sexual development, couple type relationships, lesbian gay and transgender relationships and finally sex, contraceptive and STI education.  All this needs to be universal so all students are getting the same important education. I personally would feel better able to handle areas of relationships and physical development and puberty and would probably bring in someone from outside to to the sex, contraception and STI talks so as to keep the student teacher relationship more open and avoid any awkwardness. Also i feel that those in the professional (public health nurse, counselor) have more experience in those areas and  would be better suited to teaching that material.