There's a major difference between providing sex education to an 11 year old girl and equipping her to do something she has no business doing.
I immediately signed my daughter up for the sex ed classes at school when she was 11. Both my ex wife (her mother) and my current wife also had long talks with her.... and I have spoken with her. I told her what some of those popular song lyrics really meant - and asked if that was all she thought she was worth? (NO WAY!). I told her how great a complete relationship between a man and a WOMAN (not a child) can be - and what some of the life consequences could be for her. How would she like to give up many of her dreams to do baby care 24/7.... and I've had her help some new moms with their infants - its great knowledge to have, but she doesn't need to be doing it at age 13. I told her about diseases, and the killer with AIDS who went around seducing young girls.... and asked if she'd like to be 16 and going to the prom, or dead being buried?
There's a reason why ages of consent are set at 17 - not just olde morality, but a serious understanding that an 11 year old girl isn't able to make a decision like that... anymore than she should be driving an SUV or drinking whiskey.
We need to protect and preserve their childhood. 25+ years in my line of work and you see examples of EVERYTHING - but that doesn't mean its okay. Rather than shrug my shoulders, I'll do what I have to to protect my children.
You want to debate kids just shy of 17 doing it, fine. But girls at 11 or 12, its just child molestation and rape. If we won't protect them, then what do we stand for? Any society that fails to protect its children will not survive and does not deserve to survive....and anyone I find molesting my girls will not survive.
I certainly see your point, and in no way am I advocating a young person to run out and have sex. Despite the laws, people are going to do what they want. There are laws against DUI and people get into their cars every day drunk. There are laws about illegal drugs, yet every day, there are people who engage in that activity. There are laws about minors buying alcohol, yet I'd bet every weekend, liquor stores have people who come in with fake IDs. Prostitution is illegal, yet I can drive to the downtown area of the city in which I work, and find a prostitute.
Again, my point is not to advocate a 13yo girl, running out, and having sex, but the fact remains that kids may do this, despite the talks, lectures, stats, etc. I don't think handing out pills is the answer, but condoms and sex ed classes instead.
Trust me, I'm the first one to have my blood boil when I see a young girl, probably still in school, pushing a baby carriage, thinking, "Yup, there is another kid I'm paying for!"
I just don't think people should assume it can't/won't happen to their child. Anything is possible.
Mike