I have provided several videos that portray the need for Sex Education
Sex Education in Schools - Today Show - Kimberley O'Brien, principal child psychologist, discussed sex education with presenter, Lisa Wilkinson, from the Today Show.
Teen Talk: Sex Ed & HIV - Students discuss their conversations with parents and why sex education is important and how it will be beneficial in the future (intercourse for the first time)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Are You Lost?
Parent Resources
These resources provide information that may help with the conversations/discussion/questions with your children about sex and sexuality:
Websites:
These resources provide information that may help with the conversations/discussion/questions with your children about sex and sexuality:
Websites:
- National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
- Advocates for Youth
- Planned Parenthood: Tools for Parents
Books:
- Let's Talk About S-E-X: A Guide for Kids 9 to 12 and Their Parents by Sam Gitchel
Sex and Sensibility: The Thinking Parent's Guide to Talking Sense About Sex by Deborah M. Roffman
Questions Kids Ask about Sex: Honest Answers for Every Age by
- J. Thomas Fitch
- Sex is More Than a Plumbing Lesson: A Parent's Guide to Sexuality Education by Patty Stark
- Staying Connected to Your Teenager: How to Keep Them Talking to You and How to Hear What They're Really Saying by Michael Riera
- From Diapers to Dating: A Parent's Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children by Debra H. Haffner
Parents: Q & A
Why should I talk with my children about sex and sexuality?
It is important that children from the beginning understand and feel good about their sexuality. This will help them with their feelings, peer pressure, and relationships. Young adults will be less likely to make sexual risks if they: have a positive view of their sexuality, basic information regarding positive and negative outcomes of sex, information concerning their sexual health, know family and personal values, have self-esteem and confidence, and understand that their actions affect themselves and others. Parents should not rely on a one-time simple conversation; parents should want to be the primary source of information concerning sex and sexuality. Once these discussions have begun, help your son/daughter know that it is okay for them to come to you at ANY time, help them understand themselves, help them feel comfortable, and allow them to express concerns and ask questions to ensure that they are receiving accurate information.
When should I talk with my children about sex and sexuality?
Start the discussions when you think it is the right time. Many parents feel it is important to discuss sex and sexuality with their children before they enter junior high school, because they want to be the source of their information - not their peers, bus, locker room, etc. Just remember, you never want to play catch up. Keep the discussions consistent and on a regular basis. You want your children to feel comfortable, not embarrassed, and open to ask questions and express their concerns. As a parents, share your experiences or fears. Using other sources such as movies, shows, and books is helpful to add to your conversations
How do I begin this type of conversation?
Yes, sex is an uncomfortable topic - for you and your child. That is why it is easier to use everyday moments to prompt the conversation with your child - Advertisements (models - body image, self-esteem), Magazines, TV show character going through puberty, relative or friend is pregnant. Think about different things happening in your family's lives in order to add to the conversation. Think of questions you would like to ask your son/daughter. Possibly make a list of your opinions, values, experiences, etc to share with your child. Take is slow and one step at a time! It may be hard at first for your child to open up. Also remember, children learn by observation!
FACT: Our children will not be more likely to have sex if we talk about it. In reality, the children who talk with their parents about sex are more likely to postpone having sex even longer.
It is important that children from the beginning understand and feel good about their sexuality. This will help them with their feelings, peer pressure, and relationships. Young adults will be less likely to make sexual risks if they: have a positive view of their sexuality, basic information regarding positive and negative outcomes of sex, information concerning their sexual health, know family and personal values, have self-esteem and confidence, and understand that their actions affect themselves and others. Parents should not rely on a one-time simple conversation; parents should want to be the primary source of information concerning sex and sexuality. Once these discussions have begun, help your son/daughter know that it is okay for them to come to you at ANY time, help them understand themselves, help them feel comfortable, and allow them to express concerns and ask questions to ensure that they are receiving accurate information.
When should I talk with my children about sex and sexuality?
Start the discussions when you think it is the right time. Many parents feel it is important to discuss sex and sexuality with their children before they enter junior high school, because they want to be the source of their information - not their peers, bus, locker room, etc. Just remember, you never want to play catch up. Keep the discussions consistent and on a regular basis. You want your children to feel comfortable, not embarrassed, and open to ask questions and express their concerns. As a parents, share your experiences or fears. Using other sources such as movies, shows, and books is helpful to add to your conversations
How do I begin this type of conversation?
Yes, sex is an uncomfortable topic - for you and your child. That is why it is easier to use everyday moments to prompt the conversation with your child - Advertisements (models - body image, self-esteem), Magazines, TV show character going through puberty, relative or friend is pregnant. Think about different things happening in your family's lives in order to add to the conversation. Think of questions you would like to ask your son/daughter. Possibly make a list of your opinions, values, experiences, etc to share with your child. Take is slow and one step at a time! It may be hard at first for your child to open up. Also remember, children learn by observation!
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| Don't just "have the talk"; Teach your children about Sex Education and all the aspects involved |
FACT: Our children will not be more likely to have sex if we talk about it. In reality, the children who talk with their parents about sex are more likely to postpone having sex even longer.
The Missing Piece
After researching and discussing sex education with my peers, friends, and family, I have discovered that most people did not receive adequate, or accurate medical information, facts, or statistics within their sex education classes or programs. It is disappointing to think that schools, who are preparing students for their futures, do not provide useful or safe information in regards to sex and sexuality, let alone resources for where to look for help if needed!!
There is a missing piece entirely, concerning many sex education programs. I never remember learning about sexual harassment or sexual assault. These two VERY important topics were never discussed in my own personal experience in my sex education program. If students do not learn about these two concepts, they may never know they are even being sexually assaulted or sexually harassed. Students need to understand conversations and encounters that they may experience in their futures, which is why I am going to provide brief information pertaining to both of these crucial concepts in life.
Sexual Harassment: "Those jeans are looking real tight these days" - fellow classmate, colleague, etc
- It is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical act of a sexual nature.
- This results from the behavior of someone who is trying to have power over you such as an employer, supervisor/manager, teacher, co-worker, fellow student, just to name a few.
- Both men and women can be sexually harassed
- It can be: repeated sexual remarks, jokes, or teasing, unwanted comments about your body or clothing, requests or demands for sexual favors, insulting sounds, staring at your body, touching oneself sexually in front of others - Most of these behaviors are NOT allowed on school property and most places of employment
- How it affects the victim: You may feel scared, angry, depressed, trapped, powerless, embarrassed, stressed, unable to concentrate, and lower self-esteem and confidence levels as a result
- What to do if you are being harassed: Tell the person that is harassing you that it is offensive and ask him/her to stop. Record the harassment and your reactions as well as any eye witnesses. Talk to a teacher, administrator, and parents about your concerns. If nothing is being done to put a stop to this harassment, contact the Office of Civil Rights, State Department of Human Rights, Rape Crisis Service of Planned Parenthood, or an attorney
Sexual Assault: "She's just asking for trouble by dressing like that" - Misconception
- It is any forced non-consenting sexual act. This includes rape, sodomy, child sexual abuse, incest, or unwanted touching.
- Sexual assault is about power and control
- It is NOT about feelings, affection, or love
- Awareness is our best chance for reducing the risk of becoming a victim *** Yet, it's not taught in most sex education programs, interesting point.
- Rape can happen to anyone - children, students, wives, mothers, the rich and the poor, boys, and men.
- Be assertive - NO means NO!!
- Trust your instincts. If it feels like a dangerous situation, it is.
- Limit alcohol and drugs. They impair your judgment and make you vulnerable
- Watch any of your drinks (alcohol or non-alcoholic). Date rape drugs do exist
- Communicate boundaries. Set sex limits. Have conversations with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner, etc
- If someone is sexually assaulted: Victims are not to blame. Seek medical or law enforcement help
- Medical: treatment of STDs, pregnancy prevention, HIV/AIDS, treatment for physical injuries, or evidence collection for any type of assault
- Law Enforcement: report to the police, file a proxy report through the Rape Crisis Service
- Counseling: victims may find they are struggling after the assault - lack of concentration, lack of trust, nightmares, panic attacks, stress, fatigue, irritability, etc
"It is estimated that one in three women and one in seven men will become the victim of some form of sexual assault in their lifetime"
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| Talk with Your Children about Sex - Listen to them, Support them, Give them accurate information |
Free Confidential Services - Rape Crisis Service (Monroe County 546-2777)
www.pprsr.org/rapecrisis
Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region, Inc.
Fact or Fiction: You decide!
Please watch this short clip Fast Facts, which gives basic statistics of STDs and pregnancy rates in the U.S. , in comparison to several other countries.
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| Teen Pregnancy Facts |
Let's Talk About Sex
SEX: Are we afraid of this subject America?!
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX is a highly recommended film for both parents and young adults. It focuses on the importance of the issues concerning sex and sexuality, with a humorous approach. They discuss where students learned about sex whether it was through a sex education program, peers, in the gym locker room, parents, etc. There were many misconceptions that were presented such as "if you have sex in water, you can't get pregnant". The film reveals that within our society, we do not know how to think about sex or how to discuss it. However, we can not eliminate sex or sexuality. As a nation, we need to determine how we can better educate our children and our students about sex and sexuality.
Synopsis:
LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX takes a revealing look at how American attitudes towards adolescent sexuality affect today’s teenagers. We live in a society that uses sex to sell everything from lipstick to laptops. Yet fear and silence around sex and sexuality also permeate our culture. Teens are paying a terrible price for this confusion in unintended pregnancy, STDs, and even HIV. And American taxpayers are paying billions to treat these entirely preventable problems.
The film’s director James Houston, an Australian fashion photographer now based in New York, tries to make sense of our contradicting attitudes about sex and sexuality by talking to the people they most affect: teens and their families. The film’s groundbreaking research includes testimony from experts and an examination of how other nations have succeeded at protecting adolescent sexual health where the U.S. is failing. A winner of the Youth Award at the Mostra de Ciencia e Cinema Festival and an official selection of the Provincetown International Film Festival, LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX challenges the viewer to take on this often uncomfortable subject and help protect the future of our young people.
http://www.letstalkaboutsexthefilm.com/about.html
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX is a highly recommended film for both parents and young adults. It focuses on the importance of the issues concerning sex and sexuality, with a humorous approach. They discuss where students learned about sex whether it was through a sex education program, peers, in the gym locker room, parents, etc. There were many misconceptions that were presented such as "if you have sex in water, you can't get pregnant". The film reveals that within our society, we do not know how to think about sex or how to discuss it. However, we can not eliminate sex or sexuality. As a nation, we need to determine how we can better educate our children and our students about sex and sexuality.
Synopsis:
LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX takes a revealing look at how American attitudes towards adolescent sexuality affect today’s teenagers. We live in a society that uses sex to sell everything from lipstick to laptops. Yet fear and silence around sex and sexuality also permeate our culture. Teens are paying a terrible price for this confusion in unintended pregnancy, STDs, and even HIV. And American taxpayers are paying billions to treat these entirely preventable problems.
The film’s director James Houston, an Australian fashion photographer now based in New York, tries to make sense of our contradicting attitudes about sex and sexuality by talking to the people they most affect: teens and their families. The film’s groundbreaking research includes testimony from experts and an examination of how other nations have succeeded at protecting adolescent sexual health where the U.S. is failing. A winner of the Youth Award at the Mostra de Ciencia e Cinema Festival and an official selection of the Provincetown International Film Festival, LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX challenges the viewer to take on this often uncomfortable subject and help protect the future of our young people.
http://www.letstalkaboutsexthefilm.com/about.html
Effective Sex Education Program
Objective:
The purpose of this program is to provide students with adequate and accurate information concerning sex and sexuality. It is responsive to the needs of all students - girls, boys, various home-lives, ages, cultures, experiences, etc. My intentions of this program would be to: lower the average age of students when they participate in intercourse for the first time & decreases risks of sex (for when it does occur)
The purpose of this program is to provide students with adequate and accurate information concerning sex and sexuality. It is responsive to the needs of all students - girls, boys, various home-lives, ages, cultures, experiences, etc. My intentions of this program would be to: lower the average age of students when they participate in intercourse for the first time & decreases risks of sex (for when it does occur)
- What is sex? How do you define it?
- What are different forms of sex?
- What is sexual assault?
- What is sexual harassment?
- What are positive outcomes of sex?
- What are negative outcomes of sex?
- Teen pregnancy
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- HIV/AIDS
- Contraception/Birth control
- Methods on how to avoid intercourse - i.e. peer pressure, conversation with a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
- Dealing with social pressures - i.e. media, popular culture - advertisements, television, movies, music, magazines, etc
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| "Let's Talk About S-E-X" |
So, who should provide sex education?
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| Who Should Teach It? |
Sex Education can be taught in a variety of contexts, which allows parents and teachers to have the opportunity to share the responsibility of teaching their children/students.
Guardians/ Parents: At home, parents and children can have simple conversations where issues, concerns, or questions are expressed. These conversations can begin early in the adolescent stage and continue through high school and beyond. Some children may feel comfortable talking to their mom and/or dad whereas others feel very embarrassed and prefer not to have these discussions. If this is the case, parents should not consider this as "there is nothing left to talk about". As parents, do not put off having these discussions or answering questions for your son/daughter because we do not want them to believe that sex is not important.
** As families, parents and children tend to watch television together. If there is a show on that references sex, take this opportunity to create a conversation with your son/daughter. Sometimes the media can be unrepresentative of the actuality of sex - Teen Mom, 16 & Pregnant, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, etc.
Educators: It is important that with any sex education program, the parents and the teachers work together. Parents need to be notified what is taught in the classroom setting, so that they can reinforce what has already been taught. School-based sex education can be effective because it provides accurate and adequate knowledge as well as enhances attitudes and behaviors of the students. Most programs are lesson-based, however, I feel that the students will be better engaged if the activities were hands-on, fun, and interactive. Guest speakers and trips will emphasize real-life applications within the program. I feel that the students need to be involved in the creation of a sex education program. This will increase the relevance and help reinforce the messages to their fellow peers.
** Parents, educators, and students need to work and learn together. We need to provide plenty of opportunities for questioning the messages that students receive from the media and advertisements as well as plenty of time for one-on-one discussions and questions.
To Teach Sex Education OR Not to Teach Sex Education: That is the Question
Hi everyone! My name is Adrian Diggins. As of May 2012, I am a graduate of Nazareth College of Rochester, with a Bachelor's degree in Inclusive Education and Spanish. As part of a final component for my Gender & Education course, I have designed a blog, which provides information for parents and students in the subject of sex education. It is my hope that this blog will help me in my future as an educator. In other words, I believe that it is essential as an educator to work with parents to ensure that the students are learning the same information and values in school and at home and that they are consistently being reinforced.
Sex Education is a hot topic in the field of education. In many states, it is not mandated to be taught within the public school system. However, for many students, school may be the only place that they would be able to receive or to learn this sort of information. Many students may not have parents that are willing to sit down, talk, and teach them about sex education. On the contrary, some parents may not agree that it is the school's job and/or responsibility to teach their children about sex. Some parents believe it is their role to discuss sex with their children. This can be a problem though. How do we know that ALL parents are teaching their children about sex education? We don't. We will never know whether there is a conversation, comments, or even acknowledgement of the existence of sex for children from their parents. So, how can we be sure that our children and our students are being taught sex education, safe practices, etc?
Sex is a controversial topic. As an educator, I must consider what it is I want to teach within the topic of sex education (with the approval from administration and parents). What is sex? Are there many forms of sex? What are safe sex practices? What are the positives/negatives of sex? HIV/AIDS prevention? What are possible sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? Where can I find resources to learn more about sex? These are just some questions to consider when beginning to design a program or a class unit about sex education.
Overall, as a woman, a student, and a pre-service educator, I understand the importance of sex education. I truly believe that teachers, parents, and community members need to work together to ensure that our children and our students are safe. Within my blog, I hope to provide basic information for a future sex education unit as well as sources for parents to utilize because sex is not just a talk about whether your son/daughter are having sex. Teachers and parents need to provide adequate information and resources to ensure that our children and our students are well-informed about sex. I hope to continue adding to this blog throughout my career as an educator.
Sex Education is a hot topic in the field of education. In many states, it is not mandated to be taught within the public school system. However, for many students, school may be the only place that they would be able to receive or to learn this sort of information. Many students may not have parents that are willing to sit down, talk, and teach them about sex education. On the contrary, some parents may not agree that it is the school's job and/or responsibility to teach their children about sex. Some parents believe it is their role to discuss sex with their children. This can be a problem though. How do we know that ALL parents are teaching their children about sex education? We don't. We will never know whether there is a conversation, comments, or even acknowledgement of the existence of sex for children from their parents. So, how can we be sure that our children and our students are being taught sex education, safe practices, etc?
Sex is a controversial topic. As an educator, I must consider what it is I want to teach within the topic of sex education (with the approval from administration and parents). What is sex? Are there many forms of sex? What are safe sex practices? What are the positives/negatives of sex? HIV/AIDS prevention? What are possible sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? Where can I find resources to learn more about sex? These are just some questions to consider when beginning to design a program or a class unit about sex education.
Overall, as a woman, a student, and a pre-service educator, I understand the importance of sex education. I truly believe that teachers, parents, and community members need to work together to ensure that our children and our students are safe. Within my blog, I hope to provide basic information for a future sex education unit as well as sources for parents to utilize because sex is not just a talk about whether your son/daughter are having sex. Teachers and parents need to provide adequate information and resources to ensure that our children and our students are well-informed about sex. I hope to continue adding to this blog throughout my career as an educator.
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| Charlie Brown - Questions concerning Sex Education |
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