Student SPHere 2008-09

The past two weekends, I groggily dragged myself out of bed when it was still dark to take a one-credit Saturday course in the SPH: Sexuality Education: Criteria, Curricula and Controversy.

Yes, it was weekend. And yes, I was there from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. And yes, don't remind me, it was beautiful outside both Saturdays. But if I had to sacrifice sleeping in on beautiful Saturdays for any class, I'm glad it was this one.

While I think the issue of sex ed in schools is super interesting, I would never have considered it an area of great focus for me. And I think one sign of a fantastic class is that it makes you think you just might be able to really get into a topic you never thought much about. This class definitely nailed that for me.

We spent the first Saturday exploring the background stuff, where teens are developmentally and sexually, what behaviors they take part in with and without certain types of sex ed and how common terms such as "abstinence" are used all over policy and practice without a clear definition. It was a great mix of lecture, discussion and activities--I especially enjoyed an activity where, in small groups, we acted as a local school board and had to decide at which grade levels to introduce certain sex ed topics into the curriculum. Fascinating, as it was hard to step out of the public health role (where we all wanted to teach everything in like, kindergarten) and into the real world, where parents are often hesitant to let their kids "grow up too fast."

The next weekend was centered around policy and curricula themselves. I always find policy interesting--especially policies and funding such as those surrounding sex ed, which more or less ignore all evidence that strongly points to comprehensive programs in favor of abstinence-only education. And as we paged through actual curricula, the differences were obvious. My group was assigned an extremely conservative, abstinence-only curriculum that made no allowances for kids who are already sexually active, who identify as GLBT or who, for whatever reason, will choose not to marry. It used negative words and scare tactics to freak kids out and make them feel as if sex is only acceptable and enjoyable in a heterosexual marriage--which will of course be happy and healthy if you follow all the rules. Wow.

The instructors, adjunct SPH faculty who work in the field, were great and really brought the material to life. They teach only this course, once in the fall and once in the spring, and it fills fast--so I highly recommend registering early if you want to take it. And I highly recommend taking it!

Even if you're like me, who had no particular interest in working with teens and sex, you'll walk out of there ready to sign up for a job at a school-based clinic, volunteer at Planned Parenthood on the weekends and go visit your legislators on your lunch break.