The Real Education for Healthy Youth Act, and More
Are the Dutch Doing It Right?
Over on PBS, Dutch sexuality education is spotlighted, showing the stark contrast between sex ed there and in the U.S. Those behind the curricula make a strong case for starting sexuality education as early as 4 years old in order to convey the idea that healthy sexuality relies heavily upon respect, intimacy, and safety.
Making Parents Less Afraid of the Birds and the Bees
In Clark County, Kentucky, sexuality educator Shannon Phelps is teaching parents how to feel more comfortable talking about sexuality with their children. Her lunchtime classes are part of the dissertation research she’s conducting in order to earn her doctorate degree in interdisciplinary education sciences from the University of Kentucky.
Pope Francis Endorses Improved Sex Education… But What Would That Look Like?
In Pope Francis’s recently released letter on love and family, he makes an argument for better sex education. A writer for Quartz then picked apart the document, highlighting the passages that seem to hint at what a Pope-endorsed curriculum might look like.
NJ Makes a Move Toward Providing Additional Funding to More Comprehensive Sex Ed
A bill pending in the Senate, the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act, could provide funding for sex ed teacher training, and grants for more comprehensive education programs. If passed, this would include grants for sex education programs from Kindergarten onward, and would prohibit the use of federal grants for programs that promote gender stereotypes, suppress information about HIV/AIDS, teach medically inaccurate information, etc.
Berwick Catholic School Accused of Censorship in Sex Ed Class
In Australia, a Catholic school is under scrutiny for what some are deeming censorship and discrimination. Why? Students from St. Francis Xavier College were asked to tear out a page in their health workbook that contained definitions for heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and asexuality. The offending page also contained questions about premarital sex. Principal Vincent Feeney released a statement saying the decision was made because questions relating to premarital sex would be better answered in a religious education class.
