For my Grad Seminar class I am reading a book called Contemporary Issues In Art Education.  Chapter 7 is called "Children Never Were What They Were: Perspectives on childhood,"  I felt like this chapter really speaks to the issue I'm addressing of teens engaging in sexual activities, and why this is such a troubling issue to us adults.  For one, many of us still view childhood as being a state of innocence.  "Children were viewed as being goodness itself, so that in representing the future, the best days always lay ahead.  Childhood embodied no less than the promise of an endlessly brighter and enlightened future. (pp. 99)  Though many of us may feel this way today, this way of viewing childhood has existed for quite some time, it originated during the enlightenment of the 18th century and was very present in modernism of the 19th century and early 2oth century.  As adults we battle with ourselves everyday transitioning from childhood to adulthood.  Adulthood represents maturation, and greater responsibilities including having our own children.  We believe in order to reach this state of adulthood we have to leave our child like qualities behind, so we hold on to this unrealistic, romantic, simplistic view of childhood, which we do because as adults we still desire to be a child. What we fail to realize is that these views are unrealistic. Our children are not living through innocent times. Children are regularly abused, emotionally physically, and sexually. "The media today offers images that are altogether more complex, fragmented, and often vile. "  Children are highly interested in violence, we have kids picking up guns and shooting each other. The media offers images of kids with brutal wounds, children who are soldiers, and children  going through prostitution.  Our youth aren't only affected by images they see of other children.  Lets just think how sex is a major part of our society.  Its on television shows, talked about through lyrics of many songs. Our children are aware that sex sells. I myself remember having my first conversation of sex at the elementary age (not with my mom). At a very young age I became very curious about my body and how certain physical interactions can cause many feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. We have to realize that sex is everywhere, and our society encourages our youth's curiosity of sex.