The Importance Of Inclusive Sexual Education In Public Schools

Sexual education in schools has become a highly controversial topic over the past few years. Some people believe students should be taught abstinence-only education, while others believe students need the full on “sex talk”. While the sex education controversy may seem silly, it is very important that students receive the most efficient education possible. When it comes to education parents want their children to receive the most effective kind. This is also very true in terms of sex education. Sex education is very debatable right now as to whether students should be taught abstinence-only education or comprehensive sex education.

A 2014 study showed that most (95%) Ontario parents supported some form of sexual education, and approximately 82% of the same group of parents were supportive of a sexual education curriculum starting in elementary school. While this seems like a large percent of the population, the study did state that their research group were mostly well-educated middle to upper-middle class mothers. This positivity was echoed in a Globe and Mail article, which stated a senior student, Joel Louzado, “was moved that different sexual and gender identities would be introduced to students as early as grade 3, when they are taught that some kids have gay parents.” The article continued, stating that sexuality and same-sex relationships were not previously taught in school, and that most students learned about these topics through friends or online. A 2013 article reiterated these opinions; a two-spirited social studies teacher stated that “no mention of sexuality was ever made explicitly in any social studies unit.” These articles show that there are many different types of people who agree and promote the new sexual education curriculum in Ontario, and that the progressive teachings may, in fact, teach these young children to be accepting of other’s differences. Those who support the curriculum tend to see it as a way to help children deal with modern issues in a world where men and women are sexualized at younger ages than

Alabama’s sex education law strictly regulates the type of sex education programs that are taught in public schools. Currently, Alabama law does not mandate sex education, but if schools choose to offer sex education, they must teach, “homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public.” This harmful, discriminatory language should be repealed. All students deserve respect in schools, but the legal mandate currently in place prohibits discussion of LGBTQ relationships in a positive way and requires that teachers stigmatize and shame their students. Many of Alabama’s sex programs emphasize abstinence only for school-aged children. Young Alabamians don’t need shaming and stigma; they need access to comprehensive sex education to be equipped with the resources and tools to make healthy decisions about their lives. Countless studies have shown that sex education that focuses on abstinence rather than giving young people the proper tools to make healthy sexual choices are not effective. Through funds allocated to properly train faculty and staff on effective sex education – including for LGBTQ students – young Alabamians will be empowered to take responsibility for their

I think it is safe to say that no two words elicit more feelings of concern, anxiety, and anger in parents, and stirs up more controversy and debate than the words “sexual education”. This especially true with the implementation of the new, revised sexual education curriculum in Ontario schools. Consequently, this controversy has strongly divided individuals, families, and organizations between those who approved of and those who opposed and protested against school-based programs that providee sexual health education to children. But why so much opposition? This is due to the significant changes made to the sexual education curriculum and the sensitive nature of the topics being taught to children regarding sexuality as a whole, changes which are seen as both radical and “even more explicit and more age-inappropriate than before…” (“Ontario’s Radical,” n.d.).

“Research suggests that those responsible for training teachers and educational psychologists may not recognize the issue of sexual orientation as being relevant to their work. (McIntyre, 2009) Proper training for these individuals could help provide a foundation of education for teachers to be able to recognize and handle situations that arise. If professional attitudes were altered to better accompany those views of LGBTQ students, then we may have more success in training these people. “Teachers interviewed in this study reported lack of knowledge and training in matters of sexuality and needed reassurance from both parents and employers that the content of taught courses was acceptable.” (McIntyre, 2009) Knowledge is an important thing and should not be limited to only students, but teachers as well. Giving these teachers the proper education about how to address and identify LGBTQ issues would help

Sexual education is an important topic which as to be addressed due to the growing debates as to weather it should be implemented within the school system. The Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education states that sexual education curriculums addresses a range of topics including “puberty, effective contraceptive methods, prevention of STI/HIV, communication skills, sexual orientation, interpersonal relationships, and media literacy” (Public Health Agency of Canada). Children need to address such issues early in order to protect them from early initiation of sexual activity, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. The issue is then weather or not parents support such a program.

Human nature has shaped and developed many different social norms in our society, however, they also create many social problems when conflicting views come under scrutinization. Sexual education in America has been problematic since the late 1900’s because there is simply a lack of it. Sexual education has transformed over a hundred years, abated by the effect of religious upbringings and conservative outlooks. However, as evolved as it is today, it is still a national issue because of the ongoing struggle of comprehensive sexual education against abstinence, and in the midst of the two, students are still not being exposed to proper sexual health.

Abstinence only education has been the most prevalent form of instruction in middle and high school courses for years in the United States. Instead of providing accurate scientific facts, it has been primarily based on ideology and what has been traditionally morally accepted: sexual activity within a heterosexual marriage. As a result, teenagers have been taught through biased information influenced by current heteronormative standards. Consequently, abstinence only education fails to acknowledge the minority populations of teenaged students who are different genders and sexualities other than a heterosexual male. Realistically, it can be inferred that a majority of the student bodies in America are rich in diversity. The classroom is no longer composed of homogenous individuals. Instead, classrooms are full of adolescents of various genders, sexualities, ages, and ethnicities. Abstinence only education strictly instructs through biological and reproductively compatible terms rather than addressing other methods of having sex, specifically pertaining to the LGBTQ community. The current curricula typically teaches that penile-vaginal sex is the “proper” way to have intercourse and that it is customary that sex occurs only between a man and a woman. Thus, emphasizing how genitalia should be used rather than having a more holistic approach towards sex. Ultimately, this disregards all of the possible mechanisms that exist when it comes to physical touch. As a consequence,

Across generations, we contend that education needs to be queered and queried in ways that disrupt normative presumptions regarding sexuality and that questions

While abstinence-only sex education discusses solely abstinence, comprehensive sex education provides information about various areas of human sexuality and methods to practice safe and healthy sexual behaviors. To fully understand the controversy surrounding comprehensive sexual education, one need to obtain knowledge about the history of sex education in the United States, legislation, class content, and the effects of sexual education policies on student populations.

Sex education has been an ongoing debate for decades. In the early 1970’s, twenty states voted restricting sex education from the school curriculum, leaving the District of Columbia and only three states (Maryland, Kentucky, New Jersey), requiring schools to teach sex education. By the mid 1980’s, a deadly disease permitted through sexual intercourse was recognized; the fear of catching a disease sex education quickly became accepted. In 1986, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop felt sex education should start as early as third grade stating, ‘“There is now no doubt … that we need sex education in schools and that it [should] include information on heterosexual and homosexual relationships. The lives of our young people depend on our

The focus on this issue comes from how HIV prevention education is usually taught in a heterosexual viewpoint, rather than any other sexual orientations. According to the author, policy changes to the way schools tackling issues of sexuality can provide teens and young adults more awareness of the benefits of maintaining a good sexual health. Australia has encountered problems with sexual education policies, where the curriculum hasn’t adjusted their framework to be more inclusive of other religions or sexual preferences. Nevertheless, the article fails to cite ways to ensure that the policy changes that should happen to Australian school curriculums can be made possible with the support and what kind of support should be seen in order for sex education to transform into something

If you could choose between a teacher teaching you about sex or your parents who would you choose? Now unless you have a weird relaionship with your parents or your not weirded out by your parents talking about sex then you probibliy would prefer to be taght by a teacher. In the public school system, it is pretty common for districts to teach a sex education class. These typically take place between 5th and 8th grades, though sometimes earlier and sometimes later. Some districts take a different approach, teaching a form of sex-ed to every grade, with corresponding age appropriate material. For example, a second grade class might learn about what to do if an adult is touching them inappropriately, while a high school class may learn how to put on a condom and the variety of birth control options that are available. While teaching sex education is seen as a good idea by most, there are some who do not approve of it being taught in schools. However, those who do not approve are failing to recognize the numerous benefits of teaching sex-ed to kids.Sex-Ed is a controversial topic, but reason dictates that it is a good idea to teach kids about sex. Sex-Ed is widely taught in U.S. schools – though some people don’t think it should be.Informed ChoicesThe fact is that a classroom is the only place that some kids will be offered accurate information about sex. Many parents make the mistake of not talking to their kids about sex, thinking it makes them less likely that they will

Picture a young couple being on the verge of exploring their sexual desires for the first time. The question is does this young couple have the proper education to make this life changing decision? They most likely were given their education from the school they attend. Hopefully the school taught them what they needed to know to make such a decision. Should sex education be taught at school by teachers or by the parents?

As a health science teacher, my educational philosophy is to provide my students with an inclusive, evidence-based approach in addressing sex education in my classroom. The state-mandated teaching standards promoting a biased, abstinence-only program, however, do little to communicate reliable and inclusive information about sexuality. Texas provisions and education codes relating to sex education should sustain amendments that fully address the sexual health needs of every student, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation or sexual expression.