Sex education is the study of human reproduction, sexual relationships, and the characteristics of being male or female. Such characteristics make up a person’s sexuality. Sexuality is an important aspect of human life, and almost all people—including children—are curious about it.
Children can learn about sexuality from parents, physicians, clergy, or other adults. They may also gather information from books and the media. Youths often receive incorrect information about sexuality from their friends. As a result, young people may form incorrect ideas long before a parent addresses the topic with them. Government agencies in many countries, including the Office of the Surgeon General in the United States, have called for more open communication with children and adolescents about sexuality. This article discusses how sex education is taught in schools and the controversy caused by such education.
How sex education is taught.
Sex education programs vary greatly from school to school. Some schools limit classes to one or several years of junior high or high school. Others offer a complete program, which lasts from kindergarten through high school. In addition, some programs are abstinence-only programs, and others are comprehensive programs. Abstinence-only programs teach students to delay sexual relations until marriage. Comprehensive programs stress postponing sex, but also include information about birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, and other consequences and complications of sex. This section describes a typical complete sex education program.
From kindergarten through grade 4, sex education teaches children about their bodies and attempts to promote a wholesome attitude toward the self as a growing person. Children are taught that males differ from females, and that both sexes are needed to produce babies. During these years, teachers try to correct any false ideas about sexuality that the children may have learned.
In grades 5 and 6, teachers introduce information that helps prepare the students for puberty. For example, the children learn about menstruation, nocturnal emissions, and the changes that will take place in their bodies. They also study reproduction in human beings, and how the male and female sexual systems work.
Most students reach puberty in grades 7 through 9. Their interest in sexuality rises at this time. Sex education can teach these students about the responsibilities of intimate relationships and dating. They also may learn about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases.
High school students learn more about the social and psychological aspects of sexuality. Marriage and the family may be discussed, along with such topics as rape, abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and prostitution.
The dispute over sex education.
Surveys show that most people favor some kind of sex education program in schools. Supporters of these programs feel that many parents have not done a complete job of teaching about sexuality. They also fear that children often receive false information from their friends and from magazines, motion pictures, and television. Therefore, they argue, school is the best place for children to receive correct and complete information about sexuality. In addition, several studies have shown that sex education can promote responsible sexual behavior without causing higher levels of sexual activity.
Opponents of school-based programs argue that children should learn about sexuality only from their parents. They feel that children need moral guidance when being taught about sexuality, and that only parents can provide this guidance. Some opponents of sex education charge that it causes young people to think about sexuality too much.
See also Calderone, Mary S.; Masters and Johnson; Sexuality; Sexually transmitted disease.
