Implementing Sex Education
So you have volunteered to
teach sex education in your school or program … or perhaps you have been
“drafted” to do so … or maybe you see an obvious gap in information
about this topic and feel compelled to do the right thing? Whatever
reason brings you to this place, you are about to undertake an exciting,
valuable, necessary, and complex journey.
Many educators feel anxious or tentative in tackling the topics of
sex, sexuality, and sexual health. They may feel overwhelmed about where
to start or confused about what to teach and when to teach it.
www.sex education for world.blogspot.com is here to help. As the nation’s oldest and most trusted
provider of sexual health care, and with a national network of sexuality
educators, we can help you advocate for comprehensive, medically
accurate sexuality education in your school or program. We can also help
you develop or choose a curriculum and implement it with confidence.
We believes that parents and guardians should be the
primary sexuality educators of their children. As with other complex
issues, many parents may need support, resources, and expertise from
schools and other organizations. It is important that young people
receive age-appropriate sexual health information and develop practical
skills for keeping healthy. Educators can help families by providing
culturally meaningful learning opportunities in safe and nonjudgmental
environments so that young people can learn about sexuality in a healthy
and positive context.
Highlights
What Is Medically Accurate Sex Education?
Sometimes, people mistakenly believe that “sex ed” refers only to
sexual behavior (e.g., sexual intercourse) and not the full array of
topics that comprise sexuality. These include information and concerns
about abstinence, body image, contraception, gender, human growth and
development, human reproduction, pregnancy, relationships, safer sex
(prevention of sexually transmitted infections), sexual attitudes and
values, sexual anatomy and physiology, sexual behavior, sexual health,
sexual orientation, and sexual pleasure.
Comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education covers the wide
array of topics that affect sexuality and sexual health. It is grounded
in evidence-based, peer-reviewed science. Its goal is to promote health
and well-being in a way that is developmentally appropriate. It
includes information and communication skills building as well as values
exploration. Ideally, sex ed in school is an integrated education
process that builds upon itself year after year, is initiated in
kindergarten, and is provided through grade 12.
What Are Abstinence-Only Programs and Why Don’t They Work?
Abstinence-only programs (also called abstinence-only-until-marriage
programs) promote abstinence from sexual behavior. They strictly exclude
discussion of other important sex ed topics, especially those concerned
with birth control, safer sex, and sexual orientation. In fact,
abstinence-only programs often provide inaccurate and alarmist
misinformation about the effectiveness of condoms, contraception, and
safer sex.
Advocates for Youth is a not-for-profit organization that champions
efforts to help young people make informed and responsible decisions
about their reproductive and sexual health. It posts helpful online
information about the scientific evaluation of abstinence-only programs and how they fail our children.
Why Is Sex Education Necessary?
We are all sexual. Sexuality is an integral part of each person’s
identity. Learning about our sexuality and achieving sexual health and
well-being are lifelong processes that begin at birth and continue
throughout our lives. Although parents and guardians are the primary
sexuality educators of their children, children also receive messages
about sexuality from many other sources. Some of them may have more
negative than positive impact. Schools and other community-based
organizations can be important partners with parents to provide young
people accurate and developmentally appropriate sexuality education.
The goals of comprehensive sexuality education are to help young
people gain a positive view of sexuality and to provide them with
developmentally appropriate knowledge and skills so that they can make
healthy decisions about their sex lives now and in the future. Medically
accurate sexuality education is an investment in our children’s future —
their well-being. Our “return on investment” could be a generation of
young people who have heard more helpful messages about sexuality than
the provocative media images and/or silences they currently witness. It
could be a generation of women and men comfortable in their own skin;
able to make well-informed, responsible decisions; form healthy
relationships; and take care of their bodies.
Who Supports Sex Education in School?
Public opinion polls show that most Americans support sex education.
Parents and students want sexuality education to be taught in our
schools. National surveys underscore parental support for school-based
sexuality education. For example, a 2004 survey
conducted by National Public Radio, the Henry Kaiser Family Foundation,
and the Kennedy School of Government documented that more than 90
percent of parents support sexuality education in our schools. The study
also showed that the vast majority (93 percent) of parents found that
the sex education programs in their children’s school were either very
helpful or somewhat helpful to their child in dealing with sexual
issues.
How Is Comprehensive, Medically Accurate Sex Education Effectively Implemented?
Comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education is a systematic
and layered education process that supports youth and their families
and helps them acquire the sexuality-related information, skills, and
motivation necessary to act in ways that are congruent with their
values. While parents and guardians are their children’s primary
sexuality educators, the majority of them feel that they need support
and/or professional expertise to lead the way. Schools, as well as faith
groups and community-based organizations, all have a role to play. In
fact, the nature of our education system in America puts schools in the
ideal position to take the lead in this process.
Ideally, medically accurate sexuality education would be taught each
year in our schools from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Like all
school subjects, the information and skills that are taught are
age-appropriate, reflect best-practice, and build on the previous year’s
learning. According to Dr. Douglas Kirby, a senior research scientist
for ETR Associates in Scotts Valley, CA, and a nonpartisan expert on the
effectiveness of school and community programs in the reduction of
adolescent sexual risk-taking behaviors, (
Public Health Reports, 190 (1997), 339-360) effective sexuality education
- uses behavioral goals, teaching methods, and resources
that are age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate, and culturally
competent
- is based on theoretical approaches that have been proven to be effective
- takes place over sufficient time to cover necessary topics and skills
- employs a variety of teaching methodologies that present the content in ways that make it relevant to the student
- provides basic, accurate information about the risks of unprotected
sexual intercourse and how to avoid unprotected sexual intercourse
- includes activities that address peer pressure and cultural pressure
- practices decision making, communication, negotiation, and refusal skills
- utilizes teachers who are well-trained, comfortable, and believe in the program
With this in mind, educators may need guidance in how to select the
goals, the information, the activities, and the methodologies to
effectively teach about sex and sexuality. There are many highly
regarded curricula, teaching tools, and professional development
opportunities that teachers may find helpful. As with all resources,
educators are urged to preview the material for the appropriateness of
the content for their particular needs and the standards of their
communities.
How Do I Implement Comprehensive, Medically Accurate Sex Education?
It can be normal to feel overwhelmed by the task of developing and
implementing comprehensive sex education in your school or program. Some
educators find it helpful to talk with other professionals — mentors
and/or supervisors — who have already implemented comprehensive sex
education. It is important to get support from your school or
organization.
- Assess your own attitudes, values and beliefs.
- Involve parents, school faculty, administration and staff, community
leaders, and student leaders early in the process. You can benefit from
their collective wisdom, help assure the development of culturally
appropriate content, and garner wide-spread support.
- Increase your comfort level with the topics.
- Research what is already being done on this topic by your school,
organization, or community. Identify the greatest gaps and needs in the
students’ knowledge and skills.
- Brush up on content and seek out appropriate professional development opportunities.
- Partner with other teachers and youth-serving professionals to help
ensure effectiveness and to add depth and breadth to your sexuality
education program.
- Research and select an established, evaluated sexuality education
curriculum or develop a curriculum of your own. Use your state
department of education, school board policies, and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. as places to start.
- Double-check that the content of your lessons balances the need to
impart information, to develop skills, and to inspire motivation.
- Review various teaching methodologies and incorporate them into each lesson plan.
- Once you have developed or selected a curriculum, send out a
communication to parents/guardians (and other stakeholders) and offer
them opportunities to familiarize themselves with the content.
- Carve out adequate time to implement the lessons.
- Develop a strategy for creating a safe learning environment.
- Develop and practice a protocol for answering difficult questions.
- Develop and implement an evaluation plan for your program.
- Develop and implement a plan to get feedback from all stakeholders.
So Now What?
While this may feel like a huge undertaking, break it down into discrete steps such as
- Assess the needs.
- Research solutions.
- Garner support.
- Develop a plan.
- Develop or select a curriculum.
- Create lesson plans.
- Gather resources.
- Have fun!
It may help to keep in mind that you may be the only adult who will
ever talk to a young person about sexuality in an honest, accurate, and
nonjudgmental way. Your good intentions, your positive, healthy
attitude, your nonjudgmental tone, and the information you offer may be
more than appreciated — it may save a young person’s life.
Armed with knowledge about comprehensive, medically accurate
sexuality education, you now need to jump in! Talk with a mentor or
colleague, browse your local library, or surf online to become
acquainted with the breadth and scope of resources available.
Contact
www.Sex education for world.blogspot.com
near you to talk with and learn more about this important topic. Many Sex Education affiliates provide consultation and training to
assist with implementing sexuality education programs.