"I never heard any of this stuff before. Where are they getting it from?"

 "Why didn't my rabbi teach me any of this?"

It is a terrible shame that the importance of maintaining sexual purity isn't stressed more in religious day schools. When you think about why, though, the answers are simple: Its a topic no one is comfortable talking about.

 I can imagine few greater tortures than trying to teach a rowdy group of "modern" high schoolers why it is so important to guard your eyes. The ridicule you open yourself up to is tremendous, and you risk damaging your relationships with your students.  Combine that with the risk you take for complaints by angry parents, or even getting fired, makes it very un-economical for a teacher to try to teach this super-important topic.

In addition, there is the strong risk of doin gmore damage than good. Many of the most dangerous topics in the Jewish world- feminism and homosexuality are two that come to mind- are extremely sensitive and volatile, and nearly impossible to discuss properly in a public setting. The issues are so emotionally charged that the most respectful conversations can explode with just a single miscalculated word. For this reason also, many people go through their entire adolescent and adult lives without confronting the isue seriously.

 This is a terrible shame. Sexual purity is the foundation of our covenant with G-d, and the school years are the time when a child is just beginning to form his sexual identity and habits. If teachers, rabbis, and principals would have the courage to address the issue while students are young, it could help save them much misery later in life.