Condoms offer incredible protection against unwanted pregnancy and STD transmission. They are the idea contraceptive for responsible teenagers because they also provide STD protection.
But condoms need to be taken care of: They cannot get too warm or too cold (like in a car), be rubbed about (like in a pocket or a wallet in a [...]
Archives for April, 2009
Where to keep those pesky condoms?
Middle School Human Sexuality Class starting next week
I have a Middle School class starting next week, and still have a few open spaces.
This class covers a comprehensive sexuality program, and will focus on thinking deeply about sexual decision making. We will start with some basics, including language, anatomy, gender, and the reproductive process and move into appropriate Internet interactions, contraceptives, STDs, and [...]
Gender and sexual assault education
Last week my attention was mostly elsewhere. Some of that attention was on writing a piece for RH Reality Check about creating and implementing effective sex education programs about sexual assault and rape. A recent New York Times piece mulling over whether it is more appropriate to target education in gender-specific ways (i.e., for men [...]
Educational psychology and sex ed
My Ph.D. is in Educational Psychology. My time in graduate school was relatively evenly split between researching, reading, and talking about (1) how teenagers grow and develop, particularly around issues of sex and sexuality, and (2) how people learn, and how to support their learning in the most effective ways possible. This prepared me pretty [...]
Say “No.” But nicely.
On of the activities I do with my middle school students is have them role-play saying “No” to sexual advances and requests for a date. I do this not because I think they are in the thick of needing to say no to would-be-suitors and would-be-sexual partners, but because they will eventually be in the [...]
Who should do the sex education?
The parents.
I want to make it very, very clear that I strongly believe that the parents are the first and primary sex educators for their children, and in an ideal world would continue to be the primary sexuality educators through adolescence. Most of what I do is help parents learn how to be open and [...]
Buying condoms? In middle school?
Last weekend I took 10 middle school students to buy condoms.
None of the students wanted to come to class, which was unusual for them. Their parents pushed them, made them come. The students told me and my co-teacher: No way. We’re not going to buy condoms. The students asked me what they should say if [...]
