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SPN
Staff Writer
The
Caliber of Sex-Ed Instruction in Public Schools
The Delivery of the
Message
The
public controversy centered around sex
education in public schools has shifted. Where the question
was once whether or not sexual education should be taught in public
schools, the fray now questions the methodology of what is being taught.
The division exist between advocates of an "abstinence only"
approach (supported by the "No
Child Left Behind Act") versus the more traditional sexuality programs
that include the correct usage and protective qualities of contraceptives. Many parents however, find themselves more
concerned about the environment their children find themselves exposed to
when sex-education classes are being taught.
In
many schools across the country, these classes are gender exclusive,
however teachers can quickly find themselves out of control when facing a
room full of adolescent students. With classes full of immature
children titillated by the subject matter, giggles, whoops and
hollers echo into the halls as middle school children are exposed to
the deadly serious aspect of approaching their sexual development
responsibly. Their teachers constantly struggling to keep the children focused on the gravity of
what is being discussed. Consequently, because of the loose and
casual atmosphere of sex ed classrooms, thousands of parents question the
validity and the effectiveness of sex-education being delivered in public
education. If the message can't be delivered responsibly then should
it be delivered at all?
The sexual education of adolescent children is presented to parents as a
necessary and legitimate course of study. Shouldn't the demeanor of the
class and the accountability regarding the subject material be just as
serious and in depth as any other class centered around health and
science? Why is such a serious subject encapsulated within a
few days? Many parents feel that sex education programs in public
schools today amount to no more than a 3 day sex talk complete with
giggles, immature commentary, and very little real instruction taking
place rather than being approached in a true academic manner.
Taught properly, sexual education and development could easily become part
of any other scientific course of study like Human Biology, Human
Behavior, Human Anatomy or Health. More importantly, perhaps if
administrators present a more dignified and academic approach to the
delivery of sexual education, complete with test and grades, it may just
impress upon our children that they should view sex a serious part of
their human development rather than a recreational activity.
I Village.com:
Sex education that delays sexual activity
(excerpt) A new
and more effective sex education program called A PAUSE (Added Power and
Understanding in Sex Education) takes a different approach. Based on
extensive research at Exeter University’s Department of Child Health, it
doesn’t just focus on the physical aspects of sex, but also addresses the
emotional side. So far, around 100 schools have enrolled in this
ground-breaking programme.
Family Education.com:
Is It
Enough to "Just Say No":
(excerpt) Does sex education belong in
public schools? Yes, say 90 percent of parents around the country. But that
doesn't indicate parental consensus on what sex education means. Should it
be health-and-safety oriented? Informed by moral principles? Focused on
contraception or celibacy? School boards everywhere are wrestling with
different perspectives on a very touchy subject. This article explores the
"abstinence only" approach.
University of California - Center for Aids
Prevention Studies:
Does Sex Education Work:
(excerpt) The question is no longer should sex
education be taught, but rather how should it be taught. Over 93% of
all public high schools currently offer courses on sexuality or HIV.(1)
More than 510 junior or senior high schools have school-linked health
clinics, and more than 300 schools make condoms available on campus. The
question now is are these programs effective, and if not, how can we make
them better?
Rethinking Schools Online:
Let's
Talk About Sex -
(excerpt)
With more and more sex ed teachers focusing on
abstinence - often against their better judgment - many students are not
receiving the kind of information those very teachers feel they need,
according to research by the Alan Guttmacher Institute.
Yahoo
News Health Reuters:
US Teachers Untrained for Birds-And-Bees Questions
(excerpt) NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Only a minority of US elementary school
teachers are trained in how to best answer students' questions about
sexuality, new research suggests
Reading
Writing and Reproduction: Educators Vary in Style and Content When Teaching
Sex-Ed
Washington Times.com:
Parents
demand say on sex education
USA
Today: Health & Science
Sex education stirs controversy |
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