Sex Education was a good idea, in 1964, when Mary Calderone said that young people weren't getting any education on Sex. I mean, it's a brilliant idea and I'm sure it has stopped some unwanted pregnancies and it has given young people some education about sex and contraception. But in retrospect, when we were in Year 10 and 11, sex education was really awkward. And it's not just because students didn't pay attention or take it seriously - it's because of the Teachers as well.
I can think of nothing worse, than your tutor, who is probably over 30, talking to a class of 14-16 year olds about orgasms. I mean, you have to feel kind of bad for them. They didn't sign up for that shit, just like you didn't. Although, I do give a large amount of credit to Teachers who do their research and take it on the chin. My tutor was a pretty stern and serious science teacher who loved loved LOVED his subject, and he was probably the last person I wanted to hear about Sex from. However, he took us by surprise. We were a class full of trouble makers, and the fact that the boys only made a couple of un-funny comments and shouted out "pussy" and "boner," they actually listened to the videos he showed us. He made the lessons pretty digital, which helped us engage more. However, there's just not a lot that you get a chance to cover in one hour a month about sex. And as for those teachers who just slid their way through a PowerPoint, we felt your pain.
My problem with sex education, is that there just isn't enough time, resources or impact for people to actually have knowledge about pretty important things. The fact that we get an hour a month, if even that, to talk about a significant part of our lives, is shocking and detrimental to personal development. Since I've been in sixth form, I don't think that I've ever even had a PD on Sex. In year 10 and 11, the most that I learnt about was STD's, and how you should always use contraception and the different types. Why is it that young people were never taught about Relationships, as well as Sex? Surely the ground basis for sex should be stemmed from relationships? Why aren't we encouraged to learn how to fix relationship problems, how to address issues with a partner, a part from just losing virginity? Why aren't girls told about the different types of pill that there are, and how they can affect and damage your body? And what if you get pregnant? Where's the support on abortion and keeping the baby? And never have I ever, been taught about gay sex and relationships. These subjects, are all things that I had to learn about independently, through my own mistakes (and believe me I made loads of those.)
The topic of sex and relationships has really expanded and developed over time, especially due to the advancements in the internet and media that we can watch. I just think that a school board and a specification cannot keep up and actually make an impact on young minds. There's things that young people need to know about, that just aren't being covered. Programmes like Netflix's "Sex Education" are stepping stones to a new perspective on Sex Education and have helped many young people, but if we cannot actually change a flawed specification, then there needs to be something new, something better that actually makes a difference. Here's my proposition.
The whole awkward part about Sex Education is solely surrounded around adults. Parents giving you "The Talk," and Teachers wading through a PowerPoint filled with STI's and contraceptives. The age gap is massive, and the perspectives are completely different. "The Talk" just turns into an act of condescension and you feel like you're being told off rather than educated. It just doesn't work. So what if we erased that element?
I'm 18. I attend Sixth Form. I moved out at the age of 16. I've had toxic relationships, friendships, bad sex, good sex, I've experimented with people and life. I've worked hard, I've broken down, I've struggled. And I just want to give you my own experiences and advice online. No awkward face to face contact. No judgement. I bet most of you could even teach me new things. An exchange of knowledge, where we feel the most safe - online.
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