SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
L V Nagarajan
1.0 Introduction
It is a good idea to educate the youth of this country on Sex, since it is one of the major aspects of life itself. It is quite dangerous in the present context to leave the youth to learn the aspects of sex on their own, from the society around them. Since such a type of responsible social set-up has long broken down, it is the duty of the society to find an alternative. High Schools are being considered as one of those places where such an education on sex could be imparted. In proceeding to provide such a system of sex education, a lot of thought should be given in commencing, maintaining and improving such a system. We should be careful about four major aspects of this education: they are a) the content, b) the candidate, c) the class and d) the counsellor. These aspects are individually discussed along with my suggestions.
2.0 The Content:
What should sex education consist of? We should take care to see that it does not become a substitute for pornography. Love and morality should be made the fabric on which the sex education will be scripted. Care should be taken to see that it does not kindle undue passions among the youth undergoing such education. It should respect the institution of marriage and should not encourage sub-normal and abnormal sexual behaviours, such as homo-sexuality. With the above consideration in mind I propose the following broad content to be included in the syllabus for sex education.
§ The biology of sex
Coming to age and maturity
Fertility and menstruation
Sperms and Eggs
Genetic aspects of pregnancy
§ The physiology of sex
Sexual organs
Sexual urge and union
Sexual Hygiene
The process of pregnancy
Sex determination
Period of pregnancy and child growth
Process of delivery
Lactation and feeding the child
§ The psychology of sex
Hormones
Sexual urge, love and lust
Male and female aspects of sex
Impotence, sterility and cure
Erectile Dis-function and Frigidity
Aphrodisiac
Enjoyment and satisfaction
§ Sex and moral values
Teenage and sexual care
Normal, subnormal and abnormal Sex
(eg. Man/woman, Self/Masturbation, Homo Sexual – respectively)
One Man / One woman concept
Avoiding homosexual behaviour
Sexual crimes
Sex and society – Ethics and Etiquettes
§ Sexual infections and deceases
Evils of promiscuity
Sex on sale
Sexually Transmitted Deceases
Safe sex
§ Conception and Contraception
Menstrual Cycle and pregnancy
Oral contraceptives
Day-after Pills
Abortion and health
Vasectomy and tubectomy
IUCDs
Condoms and femidoms
The contents of sex education as proposed above may be discussed by a panel of doctors, biologists and social scientists and a final list of contents may be evolved.
3.0 The Candidate
Normally whatever we learn, there is always an urge to put to practice what we have learnt. In many cultures including ours, premarital sex is not accepted. Hence sex education can only start at an age close to marriageable age. We should also allow our children to remain as children for as long a period of time as possible. In a highly populated and poor country like ours we wish to maintain a marriageable age of 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. Considering these facts we may say, sex education may start only at the age of 15 for both boys and girls.
The content for sex education, proposed as above, has to be suitably divided into three modules and be prescribed for three years. Starting at a minimum age of 15, the students can complete the three modules at the age of 18. However the age, at which to start the sex education and when to take the successive courses, should be left to the decision of the parents. The classes should be separately held for boys and girls. The students should be monitored for proper understanding of the course material without any mental aberrations.
4.0 The Class
Sex education classes should be held separately for boys and girls, at different places and at different times. This will ensure a higher acceptance from the parents of the boys and girls. These classes should be held in such a way that even non school-going children and drop-outs may attend and benefit. The children should be taught to use the books and course material discretely to avoid misuse by other children and other non students.
5.0 The Counsellor
The counsellors (or teachers) for sex education should be selected with utmost care. We should have only male teachers for boys and female teachers for girls. The teachers should have impeccable moral values. They should generally be happily married persons. They should have undergone special training in sexology. They should be further trained by a panel of doctors, biologists, psychologists and social scientist on the contents of sex education as proposed above.
6.0 Conclusion
In our country, i.e., India, with an ancient culture and a largely conservative population, we have to approach the subject of sex education with great care. The above are my suggestions which may be considered by all concerned. It may hopefully promote open discussions in public forum.
Nagarajan L V
