TITLE

The Desirability of Involving Adolescents in Sex Education Planning

AUTHOR(S)

Reichelt, Paul A.

PUB. DATE

April 1977

SOURCE

Education Digest;Apr1977, Vol. 42 Issue 8, p38

SOURCE TYPE

Periodical

DOC. TYPE

Article

ABSTRACT

The article focuses on the desirability of involving adolescents in sex education planning. Sex education is still not an integral part of the school curriculum. That may sound strange, given all the rhetoric and media attention concerning sex education, but evidence indicates that far fewer than half of the high schools have any sort of population education. Without teen input, sex education programs often teach the physiology of human sexuality without relating it to the psychosocial aspects. Sex education then ends up being taught like a cut and dried electronics course complete with schematic diagrams. Attitudinal topics are often avoided. Adolescent input, in terms of attitudinal data, is a great aid as a discussion starter. Teenagers are both worried by pluralistic ignorance of sexual knowledge and highly interested in the opinions of their peer group. To promote open discussion between the sexes, it is hoped sex education programs will discard the old practice of sexual segregation. Those planning and conducting sex education programs need input from teenagers to be reminded that they are dealing with opinions which are in a state of formation and flux. A well-run sex education program can be an important part of this process. Adolescents must be regarded as people with important things to say and must be included in sex information programs not just as passive receivers, but also as active partners in policy formulation and operation.

ACCESSION #

18683633

Tags: SEX education;  TEENAGERS;  CURRICULA (Courses of study);  AGE groups;  SCHOOLS;  PHYSIOLOGY

 

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