Common questions about sexuality education

Does sexuality education teach students how to have sex?

NO

Sexuality education begins at birth, and continues throughout life. It is much more than simply biology. Learning about sexuality involves learning about a wide range of topics including sexual development, reproductive health, interpersonal relationships, emotions, body image, decision-making, values and gender roles (The Clarity Collective, 1990; World Health Organisation, 2002).

Doesn’t teaching about sexuality at school detract from teaching about it at home?

NO

Parents/carers have the most significant influence on their child’s developing sexuality, and are their primary sexuality educators. The messages young children receive from parents/carers about their bodies and relationships lay the foundation for future learning about sexuality. Babies and young children naturally learn about their body through their experience of being cared for by the adults in their life and by exploring and touching their own bodies. Young children also learn by observing the relationships and roles of people around them. Children also receive messages about sexuality from the way their questions about sexuality are responded to, and answered by parents/carers (Milton, 2000).

Research has shown that sexuality education programs result in increased parent-child communication about sexuality (Latrobe University, 2008). Education services can work together with parents/carers to support one another in providing sexuality education. When this happens, children are supported to grow healthy and safe, and develop a network of trusted adults with whom they can talk about sexuality, and seek guidance and help from if needed.

Doesn’t sexuality education encourage sexual behaviour in adolescents?

NO

Research demonstrates that sexuality education programs are more effective when given before young people become sexually active, and when programs emphasise skills and social norms. Comprehensive sexuality education programs have been shown to help delay the onset of sexual activity, and increase the adoption of safer sexual practices in sexually active young people (Senderowitz & Kirby, 2006).

Aren’t students in primary school too young to need information about sexuality?

NO

Children are learning about sexuality all the time, whether or not this is done formally by parents/carers or teachers. This learning takes place every day, for example through observing adult relationships around them, and the images that they see portrayed in the media about gender, body image and relationships (Milton, 2000).

Children demonstrate curiosity about sexuality from a very early age, for example, by being inquisitive about the similarities and differences between male and female bodies, and interested in bodily functions and body parts (Child at Risk Assessment Unit, 2000; Milton, 2000).

For most boys and girls, puberty changes are experienced in primary school. Signs of puberty can commence as early as 9 years of age and so receiving sexuality education prior to the onset of puberty, ensures boys and girls are prepared for puberty changes and are not embarrassed or frightened by them. For those boys and girls who may develop earlier or later than their peers, it is important for them to understand that these changes happen at a different rate for everyone (Blake, 2002; Ray & Jolly, 2002).

If I don't feel completely comfortable teaching about sexuality and relationships, isn’t it better not to say anything at all?

NO

It is quite common to feel uncomfortable talking about sexuality. However, it is important not to let this stand in the way of providing sexuality education and meeting curriculum requirements. Acknowledging personal discomfort is a useful point to begin, and helps educators begin to plan to support themselves and implement a comprehensive sexuality education program. Talking about and teaching sexuality becomes much easier with practice.

If children and young people are not provided with factual information from trusted sources like parents/carers and teachers, they are vulnerable to the often inaccurate and misleading information about sexuality from other sources, such as peers, television and other media.

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