This preparation would diffuse the mystery and fear that so often surrounds adolescence. In the information age, when we are inundated with images of and information about sex, reproduction and AIDS, we are forced to make decisions about our bodies at a young age. We need to balance the misinformation and hype that students learn on the street and from the media with hard facts taught in school. It's just as necessary as teaching math or English. And we must start young.
Eighth grade is simply too late.
We are not endangering the innocence of childhood. We are providing information that children sorely need.