OPINION ARTICLE: SEX EDUCATION, OR THE LACK OF IT.

By Jamie-Paige Tucker

If you’ve ever been in an intimate relationship, you will know that consent is not the same as making a brew. Confused? Well when I was in year seven, at roughly twelve years old, I remember watching a video that compared consensual sex to a cup of tea. This was a little cartoon and explained how silly it would be to force someone to drink a cup of tea, so why was it different when it came to sex. And If you successfully finished secondary school, then you would have had some sort of sex education yourself. But the quality of the education is often questionable.

I have a twelve year old brother, so I know how immature children of this age can be, and providing this education at such a young age runs the risk that it won’t be taken seriously. But in my opinion, it’s important that this is taught to children quickly.

Secondary school is a scary time for pre-teens as there is the overwhelming pressure to fit in. And sometimes it’s easy to feel like you need to keep up with what your peers are doing, and this does include sex. So, the earlier it’s taught, then in theory the safer, active kids will be.

So, what should be being taught? And in what style? Does it need to be an in-depth look into everything sex related, or will a basic understanding suffice? And I think the answer is both. Whilst in year seven, I think a basic understanding of safe sex and menstruation is sufficient enough to get them through the first few years of secondary school. However, by the age of fifteen I think a more complex teaching is necessary for a young adult. Not only for them to be safe, but so they are educated on consent and other sexual health matters that they are likely to come into contact with along the way.

We all know that Netflix released a series in 2019, “Sex education.” Which addresses many current issues including the confusions around sexuality, sexual assault and it answered general sex based questions that most teenagers have. But I find it strange that the best education for this topic is from a TV series.

By the start of puberty, most children have a basic understanding of their own sexuality, but not all sexualities are taught about. Speaking from experience, my school only taught about heterosexual relationships in detail, and rarely did anyone speak about homosexual issues. With the way the world is now, I think it’s important to teach kids about all of their options, and how to be safe with whatever they chose to do.

And after the #metoo movement, I’m surprised consent isn’t a bigger factor for sex education. Not in the cartoon way that I was taught, but actual examples and explanations about what consent really means, and why it’s so important to have it from both parties involved. Again, I learnt more about this from social media and from a TV show than I ever did sat in a classroom.

These issues need to be made a priority, especially in 2020, I would say that education system should start taking a leaf out of Netflix’s book. And start teaching kids everything they need I know.