My Ideal Sex Class

Sex Ed class is a class that teaches young students about sexuality and sexual health. Typically, it discusses issues like sexual development, contraception, STIs, and healthy relationships as well as reproductive anatomy. Sex ed is held between middle to high school, for either a single period or throughout the whole year depending on your school.

Sex education is important because it gives students information that they can trust to help them make decisions on their sexual health and the future they see for themselves. The danger of unplanned pregnancies and STIs can be decreased with education, and it also encourages safe and responsible sexual activity. Sex education should cover not only the physical, but also the emotional and social components of sexuality. Ideally, I think that the teacher should talk about topics like consent, being respectful, and positive relationship communication; skills that are essential for successful adult relationships.

For some students who might not have access to information at home or in their communities, sexual education in school is especially important. It eliminates widespread misconceptions about sexuality and can help lessen shame and prejudice.

Sex education is an essential part of health education and may improve the general well-being of individual people as well as whole communities. It gives students the knowledge and tools they need to make wise choices about their relationships and sexual health.

I don't remember much from my sex education class, but I often think about it and wish I had learned more. In seventh grade, my PE teacher was in charge of the class. The week before the class started, letters were sent home stating that a parent had to allow us to attend or opt-out. Of course, my parents signed it.

The class started, our PE instructor led the lesson (so I wasn't uncomfortable) and I only recall that there weren't many students there. He gave us a quick explanation of what we were going to learn before becoming silent. All he did was play the class's sexual education video. In that film, the fundamentals of sex education—the human anatomy, differences between what parts boys and girls have, and of course, the mechanics of sexual reproduction—were covered. What we would need to know in the future beyond these basics was only vaguely stated in the video. Everyone else in the room seemed calm about it, so I just went through without too emotional of a response on the outside, but I felt really lost and confused inside. I thought the video's explanation would solve a lot of my questions. I did learn a lot about sexual reproduction, but not enough to definitely pass along to a friend. I just remember the video ended and how the bell rang sending us to our next class. No one let out a loud laugh. There was only a video and that was it; everyone left the room.

My ideal sex education class would seem and feel welcoming. I think this class should begin instructing eighth graders, especially coming from my hometown. Many of my friends and classmates started sexual activities when they were young and needed similar direction as I did while growing up. Relationships, gender identities, STIs, consent, and puberty/reproduction will all be covered in my ideal course. Several subtopics, including body image and the prevention of sexual assault would be talked about too.

It is a brand-new era. I think sexual education should include all aspects of reproductive well-being. Our society is evolving, so should lessons. All high school students, in my opinion, should apply condoms to a manikin (the medical version of the mannequins we see in stores), like we did in my PE class in my 11th year. Therefore, in my perfect class, that exercise would undoubtedly be included. There will be many materials, videos, and mentors that I think should be included in the lesson. For students who would rather conduct their own study rather than speak in front of others there will be alternative lessons because everyone is different.

Young kids and young people should get proper sexual education; inclusive sex ed should be a priority for all.

Pulane Hill will graduate from McKinley Tech High School in Washington, DC. She was the Historian in student government for the class of 2023 and plans to study marketing and minor in graphic design in college.