Sex Ed Courses - What Teens Think They Need
I recently learned about the Fresh Focus Video Contest designed to give teens the chance to critique sex education courses. To participate in the contest, the young people can make a video from one of two perspectives: either point out what was useful (and not useful) in classes they've already taken or redesign the sex ed curriculum. The slant is: "Why is sex so interesting and sex ed so boring?"
I remember my own sex ed class my senior year in high school New Jersey in 1971. Mrs. Snarsky taught it. I don't remember much of the specifics about the class, but I do remember that to complete the course I wrote an essay. I remember that I got an "A" on it and that Mrs. Snarsky really liked it. Perhaps this was some foreshadowing of my future livelihood...?
Despite the fact that my memories of the class are somewhat vague, I am rather sure that I did not take a comprehensive sex ed course. It would have been great if I had because I remember searching out the answers to my questions about sex in all sorts of creative ways. I think I searched the index of any biology or physiology book I found at home, the school library, and the town library. Mostly, I found the word "sex" used to mean "gender." It was pretty frustrating. The Selectric typewriter was the highest tech gadget I knew and I only saw them on the desks of our town bankers. Personal computers were many years away and the Internet would be years beyond that!
So, I chuckle a little about aspects of this contest.
I viewed a few of the videos and so far they've taken the tact of pointing out what was wrong with the sex ed courses they've taken. I expect that most of the entrants in this contest will come from that perspective. It's a lot easier to showcase flaws in sex ed curricula than offer an ideal one - all in two minutes or less (the contest guidelines ask for short videos). I've also found that opinions about the content of sex ed courses tend to range quite widely, among adults as well as teens, so it's hard to satisfy everyone.
It's also not a surprise that some sex ed courses would be filled with messages based on scare tactics and fear (the focus of some videos). It's what "abstinence only" courses offer - "Don't do it. You'll get diseases or pregnant!" So, these are easy targets for the budding video producers.
It's also the case that generally people are more likely to voice criticism than praise - particularly teens and particularly with video as the medium. Nevertheless, I think that it's a great idea for a contest that this group of nonprofit reproductive health organizations concocted since the winner gets a scholarship prize of $3,500!
Any time we can get young people to consciously examine the source of their ideas and attitudes about sex, it's a very good thing.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: sex education, teen sex, video, health and wellness
I remember my own sex ed class my senior year in high school New Jersey in 1971. Mrs. Snarsky taught it. I don't remember much of the specifics about the class, but I do remember that to complete the course I wrote an essay. I remember that I got an "A" on it and that Mrs. Snarsky really liked it. Perhaps this was some foreshadowing of my future livelihood...?
Despite the fact that my memories of the class are somewhat vague, I am rather sure that I did not take a comprehensive sex ed course. It would have been great if I had because I remember searching out the answers to my questions about sex in all sorts of creative ways. I think I searched the index of any biology or physiology book I found at home, the school library, and the town library. Mostly, I found the word "sex" used to mean "gender." It was pretty frustrating. The Selectric typewriter was the highest tech gadget I knew and I only saw them on the desks of our town bankers. Personal computers were many years away and the Internet would be years beyond that!
So, I chuckle a little about aspects of this contest.
I viewed a few of the videos and so far they've taken the tact of pointing out what was wrong with the sex ed courses they've taken. I expect that most of the entrants in this contest will come from that perspective. It's a lot easier to showcase flaws in sex ed curricula than offer an ideal one - all in two minutes or less (the contest guidelines ask for short videos). I've also found that opinions about the content of sex ed courses tend to range quite widely, among adults as well as teens, so it's hard to satisfy everyone.
It's also not a surprise that some sex ed courses would be filled with messages based on scare tactics and fear (the focus of some videos). It's what "abstinence only" courses offer - "Don't do it. You'll get diseases or pregnant!" So, these are easy targets for the budding video producers.
It's also the case that generally people are more likely to voice criticism than praise - particularly teens and particularly with video as the medium. Nevertheless, I think that it's a great idea for a contest that this group of nonprofit reproductive health organizations concocted since the winner gets a scholarship prize of $3,500!
Any time we can get young people to consciously examine the source of their ideas and attitudes about sex, it's a very good thing.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: sex education, teen sex, video, health and wellness
5 Comments:
Hey Louanne, I'm not sure where you grew up but my mom told me to go to the library after her basic lessons on sex if I wanted to learn more, and since I am forever curious I did that. I found several books on sex in the public library (health and medical sections) after going thru' the card catalogs using several subjects until I found what I wanted. It was work but it was there and this was probably back in the early 50s. I made sure my son knew early on what was what (at one time I was working in Labor and Delivery in a large hospital and he had the unprecedented privilege of being allowed into the nurses station once when I got called in to scrub on a C-Section)and I kept up with things as he matured and then I kept after him to tell my granddaughters when I found out they were learning things from their classmates (right or wrong); they probably should have started about 2 years before that when the girls stayed awake all night to watch their cat have babies in one of their beds. So, between myself, my son and his wife (after even more prodding from him) we are now 3 generations of fanily and self taught but correctly taught when it comes to sex education. This is a subject that should be taught at home without government interference but I realize that isn't always done and I think it is a shame. When you see girls that are only 10 and 11 years old having babies like I have you realize how important it is to start early and never mind waiting for whatever/whenever the schools feel it is appropriate.
Hi Louanne,
I too am a sexologist, sexuality educator, and parent. I just wrote a book called, Third Base Ain't What it Used to Be: What Your Kids are Learning About Sex Today - and How to Teach Them to Become Sexually Healthy Adults. I think that it may be a helpful resource to your readers who are desperately trying to tackle these tough subjects with their toddlers, tweens, and teens.
Take care,
Logan Levkoff, M.S.
Hey Louanne,
My 12 year old daughter isnt like the other ones she doesn mind sex ed classes im sorrta worried
The problem with sex ed - whether it's the stuff served up in the schools or by parents - is that it's usually handed out in isolated doses and not integrated into all the other things kids are taught from earliest childhood about taking care of themselves, ethical behavior, and biology. My theory is that, if we're doing it right, kids shouldn't remember being taught about sex any more or less than they remember being taught about right and wrong, using the toilet, or saying please and thank you.
We at ISIS (Internet Sexuality Information Services) wanted to let you know about a new contest we are running (and Thank you for running the Fresh Focus contest it was amazingly successful!)
The new contest is called In Brief: What if Your Undies had the Last Word… We are asking people to design a pair of underwear that communicates a difficult truth about STDs or that can serve as a conversation starter about safe sex. We are imagining underwear as the last physical thing that separates a person from their partner. It would make a strong statement to have a message there that could remind people to talk with their partner about safe sex practices or that brings up STDs (which are often difficult to do in sexual situations-when you need to the most) in a non-threatening way. And user generated content is a great way for people to start thinking about their underwear and more importantly what is under the underwear.
The start date of the contest is April 3 and runs through May 15. http://www.undiescontest.com
Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.
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