Let’s Talk About Sex: The Comprehensive Sex Education Controversy in Public Schools
04/03/2012
The John R. Park Debate Society (the University of Utah Speech and Debate Team) is pleased to host the Irish Times national debate champions in a debate titled “Let’s Talk About Sex: The Comprehensive Sex Education Controversy in Public Schools.” The debate will focus on the controversy, merit and effectiveness of comprehensive sex education in public schools.
- What:
- “Let’s Talk About Sex: The Comprehensive Sex Education Controversy in Public Schools”
presented by the John R. Park Debate Society - Who:
- Irish Times National Debate Champions, University of Utah Speech and Debate Team
- When:
- Tuesday, April 3, 2012 5:30PM – 7:00PM
- Where:
- Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building (SFEBB), Room 1110
Since 1960, the Irish Times newspaper has sponsored a highly competitive debate tournament among Irish institutions of higher education with the grand prize of a tour of American universities and debate teams. This year, Eoin Kelleher and Elizabeth Ahern-Flynn of the Royal College of Surgeons were the winning debate team and the top individual debater was Michael Conroy of the University College Dublin Medical Society. These three champions will visit Utah from April 1stthrough April 4th to learn about the University of Utah, the history of Utah and American styles of debate.
The topic of comprehensive sex education is an especially controversial topic in both Utah and Ireland. The Utah Legislature in the recent 2012 legislative session passed House Bill 363- Health Education Amendments prohibiting comprehensive sexual education in Utah public schools, including all discussion of homosexuality, contraception or sex outside of marriage. In Ireland and Northern Ireland, various health departments have reported that a common standard of relationship and sexuality education in Irish public schools does not exist and that students receive the majority of their sexual education from peers. The public debate between Utah’s debaters and the Irish national debate champions will address this important question being interrogated by legislators, government officials, and educators in both Ireland and the United States.
The event is free and open to the public.
Click Here for Streaming Video of the Event
For additional information, please contact Michael Middleton (m.middleton@utah.edu.