Sex education is taught across the United States, and each state has its own set of requirements for the course's content. All programs, however, would benefit from a 21st-century update. No matter if a school uses an abstinence-only approach or teaches comprehensive sex ed, these following ideas would contribute to a more thorough education.
1. Teach consent.
Explain, “You are not allowed to have sex with someone unless they want to have sex with you, too.” Consent is not taught even in comprehensive sex education. If you don’t have a verbal “yes” from someone, then no, you are NOT allowed to have sex with them. Remind students that rape can occur even in a relationship or marriage. No one is ever required to have sex with someone else.
2. Condoms are a safe and easy way to prevent pregnancy and STD transmission.
While comprehensive programs do teach about condoms, they also teach about diaphragms, cervical caps, spermicide, IUDs and other contraceptive methods that aren’t the easiest for teenagers to go get. Condoms, on the other hand, can be bought by a person of any age, and they are much more affordable than an IUD, for example. Telling teens they can use a diaphragm can just overwhelm them, because where do they get that? How much is it? They may just forego using a contraceptive altogether. When teaching ways to prevent pregnancy, the best idea would be to highlight the accessibility of condoms. Teenagers are going to have sex no matter what, so it’s best to explain the most affordable way to stay protected.
3. Gay students will be in your class.
Don’t forget about them. Since a gay couple can’t get pregnant, schools don’t feel the need to teach them appropriate sexual education. This rationale ignores the reality that gay students deserve accurate medical information as much as straight students. Even if they can’t get pregnant, they can still get an STD, and it is still important to emphasize that condoms or dental damns are effective in preventing the transmission of STDs.
4. Students are going to have sex.
Don’t make statements on whether a student should or should not be having sex purely based on their age or marital status. Instead, encourage students to educate themselves so they can decide if they are emotionally mature enough for this decision.
5. Abstinence is a great thing to teach.
Not all high school students are ready to have sex, and encouraging them to wait until they feel ready is a great thing to teach. But don’t teach them that they can only have sex while married or once they're in a committed relationship. A great alternative would be to remind them that they are the only person who can determine when they’re ready to start having sex.
6. High school is the last formal setting they will receive sex education.
After that, they will learn through their own experiences, through word of mouth and through the internet. Make the education they receive in high school worthwhile and give them medically accurate information so they can make practical decisions.
7. Don't lump sex education with drug/alcohol education... they're not the same.
Often times, students will learn about the negative impacts of alcohol and drug abuse in the same semester they learn about sex. This makes it seem like sex is a negative activity in which students should avoid at all costs when really, this is not true. The majority of people will have sex during their life, but the majority of people will not do meth in their life. So don’t lump the two in the same category.
8. Be accepting.
Don’t make a student feel dumb for asking something you think should be common knowledge. In the same token, don’t act surprised if a student knows something that you think only a very experienced person should know. Everyone has sexual experiences at different ages, so there shouldn’t be one expectation for how students are.
