Question

• What topics should be addressed in a sex education course?

• How can sex education be made less threatening, embarrassing and preachy?

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of separation of sexes for sex education.

• At what age should sex education begin? Why?

• How can instructors teach such a class without imparting their own values and beliefs?

• Explain 3 research findings in the text that would be of value in a sex education course.

• Can peers be used to effectively teach sex education? If so, how?

• Do you think contraceptives should be provided as part of the curriculum? If so, what barriers might you encounter as a result of providing contraceptives? How would you handle these barriers?

• What issues are of special interest to homosexual and bisexual youth? How would you make sure these issues were addressed?

• What if adolescent parents enrolled in your course? Would you provide parent education or would you focus on students who were not yet parents? Explain your decision.

Answer 1

What topics should be addressed in a sex education course?

Topics to be addressed in a sex education course may contain the following: human body including the reproduction system, puberty, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, contraception, dating, consent, sexually transmitted diseases, decision-making, communication, abstinence, how to handle peer pressure, awareness on LGBTQ etc.

How can sex education be made less threatening, embarrassing and preachy?

Sex education can be taught in a fun way to make them less threatening, embarrassing and preachy. Maybe rapping a song containing lyrics on consent and saying No loud and clear will be one way to catch the youngsters’ attention and at the same time not making it awkward at all. Teaching the risks of unsafe sex by comparing it to risks in a sport like football or car racing will be more comfortable for the students to learn it. Etc.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of separation of sexes for sex education.

Advantages separation of sexes for sex education: It’ll make both boys and girls comfortable as the other gender is not present around them, so less awkward. Students are more likely to ask questions and clear any doubts.

Disadvantages separation of sexes for sex education: Will reduce the efforts at normalization of sex education and will create unnecessary barriers in talking about sex between genders. It may not sensitize the sexes towards each other, it will add to the mystery of sex and complicate it instead of demystifying it and uncomplicate it. It’ll be stealing of an opportunity to listen to each other’s (genders) opinions, questions and perspectives.

At what age should sex education begin? Why?

As children are getting more and more exposed to content on media regarding sex, it’s better to start early, maybe age 10 onwards. The reason is, it will prepare and help the youth to avoid accidental pregnancies, reduce unconsensual sex, avoid STD’s, eliminate abortions etc.