By Isari Martinez
Sex education — the teaching of all things related to sexual health — has always been controversial for schools, and the subject continues to be debated, especially over what should be taught and when.
"What we discuss with our high school students is different from what we talk about with our elementary students,” said Kristel Ann Foster, a school board member in the Tucson Unified School District. “We want to make sure it’s comprehensive and inclusive and also age appropriate.”
Ideally in elementary school, students learn about body development. In middle school, students study health and sexuality, and healthy relationships are studied in high school.
Daniel Laney, a student from Cholla High School, said his experience learning sex education from elementary to high school left much to be desired.
“We were mainly doing bookwork,” Laney said.
Liza Puig, a former student at Tucson High Magnet School and Laney’s mother, said when she was in elementary they had a “Brown Bag Class,” which referred to a bag that had feminine products in it.
Her high school sex ed classes only taught about the reproductive system, contraceptive choices and STDs. “It was just plain, pretty basic,” Puig said. “I think it was pushed more in high school, because the sexuality was becoming more open then.”
TUSD has appointed a family life curriculum committee to update the content and materials, and the school board is expected to vote on their recommendations this month.
“I don’t think the curriculum is very up to date, and I don’t think there is a consistency across the district because we (have not had) professional development regarding this curriculum in a long time,” Foster said.
"What we discuss with our high school students is different from what we talk about with our elementary students,” said Kristel Ann Foster, a school board member in the Tucson Unified School District. “We want to make sure it’s comprehensive and inclusive and also age appropriate.”
Ideally in elementary school, students learn about body development. In middle school, students study health and sexuality, and healthy relationships are studied in high school.
Daniel Laney, a student from Cholla High School, said his experience learning sex education from elementary to high school left much to be desired.
“We were mainly doing bookwork,” Laney said.
Liza Puig, a former student at Tucson High Magnet School and Laney’s mother, said when she was in elementary they had a “Brown Bag Class,” which referred to a bag that had feminine products in it.
Her high school sex ed classes only taught about the reproductive system, contraceptive choices and STDs. “It was just plain, pretty basic,” Puig said. “I think it was pushed more in high school, because the sexuality was becoming more open then.”
TUSD has appointed a family life curriculum committee to update the content and materials, and the school board is expected to vote on their recommendations this month.
“I don’t think the curriculum is very up to date, and I don’t think there is a consistency across the district because we (have not had) professional development regarding this curriculum in a long time,” Foster said.
According to Minnie Almader, who works in counseling at the University of Arizona, when students aren’t taught correctly before they come to college, they may not be armed with adequate sexual health and safety knowledge to make the best decisions and choices.
This can put them at increased risk for health issues or risky sexual encounters, she said.
“In my professional opinion, one of the misconceptions young college students may have is that sexuality is a very personal and confusing topic,” Almader said.
“We can learn healthy ways to express our thoughts and emotions regarding sexuality.”According to Minnie Almader, who works in counseling at the University of Arizona, when students aren’t taught correctly before they come to college, they may not be armed with adequate sexual health and safety knowledge to make the best decisions and choices.
This can put them at increased risk for health issues or risky sexual encounters, she said.
“In my professional opinion, one of the misconceptions young college students may have is that sexuality is a very personal and confusing topic,” Almader said.
“We can learn healthy ways to express our thoughts and emotions regarding sexuality.”
This can put them at increased risk for health issues or risky sexual encounters, she said.
“In my professional opinion, one of the misconceptions young college students may have is that sexuality is a very personal and confusing topic,” Almader said.
“We can learn healthy ways to express our thoughts and emotions regarding sexuality.”According to Minnie Almader, who works in counseling at the University of Arizona, when students aren’t taught correctly before they come to college, they may not be armed with adequate sexual health and safety knowledge to make the best decisions and choices.
This can put them at increased risk for health issues or risky sexual encounters, she said.
“In my professional opinion, one of the misconceptions young college students may have is that sexuality is a very personal and confusing topic,” Almader said.
“We can learn healthy ways to express our thoughts and emotions regarding sexuality.”