"Let's Talk About..."
By: Eden Winkler
Despite its prevalence in modern society (on TV, YouTube, music, etc.), sex remains a culturally taboo topic, especially inside an educational or professional setting. However, many schools are choosing to use it as a learning opportunity instead. Rather than shunning sex, some are taking the advantage to educate their students on it, and, according to numerous students and faculty at William Chrisman High School, it is time for that ideology to be brought inside Independence classrooms.
In a small, informal survey about whether or not the school would benefit from offering a Sex Education class, 114 out of 115 students and teachers responded with “Yes.” Of that number, 100% agreed that consent should be taught regardless of whether or not a Sex Ed class was formally offered.
“Sex Education helps us expand ideas of how our bodies work and how we can take care of them while doing normal things, like having sex,” said William Chrisman junior Xalaya Byers. “If we get teens educated on the topic, it has the potential to be very beneficial to society.”
Currently, 28 states mandate both HIV training and Sex Education in schools; California is one of them. Chrisman math teacher Aubrey Hollingsworth recently transferred from California. She says the law got a lot of attention where she worked.
“Very controversial with the parents of our school district… but a form was sent out and if the kid wanted to opt-out, they just went to the office and worked on some different stuff.”
Hollingsworth agreed Chrisman could benefit from a sex-ed class. “Absolutely. I think about my son, and I don’t know that I would really want him to be exposed to all that, but I do know that I would want him to be safe.”
While many say that sex education is a necessity, some contend that it should come from the home instead, arguing that parents are better fit to determine their child’s physical and psychological needs. However, the findings of a 2018 Planned Parenthood study found that 98% of likely-voting parents reported that they believed it’s important for sex education to be taught in high school.
The state of Missouri allows for Sex Ed to be provided via a school district’s discretion. Currently, small aspects of Sex Ed are discussed at the high school level within the ISD, such as sexually transmitted diseases and how the reproductive system works. However, those elements are covered in multiple, separate courses. There is no comprehensive class for Sex Education offered. The Independence School District has yet to respond to any questions regarding curriculum or the district’s approach to sex ed in general.
In the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, consent is a specific component many Chrisman students agree should be included in any conversation about sex ed. The legal definition of consent, according to Law.com, is to voluntarily agree to an act on the proposal of another, which may range from contracts to sexual activities.
“Consent needs to be clear and understood by all parties,” said Chrisman junior Carmen Branch. “As of now, I think the school could be doing more to help students understand what that means.”
Missouri law states that consent is only required to be covered inside of a Sex Ed curriculum, however, as claimed by an overwhelming student response, consent should be taught regardless of if a school offers Sex Education or not.
“Having boundaries and giving permission is just basic respect.” Said Xalaya Byers. “Schools are always talking about how we should respect each other, but never go in-depth on what that means. People think respect is strictly a mind thing, but it’s a control thing too. Having the decency to respect someone’s wishes and body can really create a fine line between healthy and unhealthy relationships and we should absolutely be taught that in school.”
In a small, informal survey about whether or not the school would benefit from offering a Sex Education class, 114 out of 115 students and teachers responded with “Yes.” Of that number, 100% agreed that consent should be taught regardless of whether or not a Sex Ed class was formally offered.
“Sex Education helps us expand ideas of how our bodies work and how we can take care of them while doing normal things, like having sex,” said William Chrisman junior Xalaya Byers. “If we get teens educated on the topic, it has the potential to be very beneficial to society.”
Currently, 28 states mandate both HIV training and Sex Education in schools; California is one of them. Chrisman math teacher Aubrey Hollingsworth recently transferred from California. She says the law got a lot of attention where she worked.
“Very controversial with the parents of our school district… but a form was sent out and if the kid wanted to opt-out, they just went to the office and worked on some different stuff.”
Hollingsworth agreed Chrisman could benefit from a sex-ed class. “Absolutely. I think about my son, and I don’t know that I would really want him to be exposed to all that, but I do know that I would want him to be safe.”
While many say that sex education is a necessity, some contend that it should come from the home instead, arguing that parents are better fit to determine their child’s physical and psychological needs. However, the findings of a 2018 Planned Parenthood study found that 98% of likely-voting parents reported that they believed it’s important for sex education to be taught in high school.
The state of Missouri allows for Sex Ed to be provided via a school district’s discretion. Currently, small aspects of Sex Ed are discussed at the high school level within the ISD, such as sexually transmitted diseases and how the reproductive system works. However, those elements are covered in multiple, separate courses. There is no comprehensive class for Sex Education offered. The Independence School District has yet to respond to any questions regarding curriculum or the district’s approach to sex ed in general.
In the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, consent is a specific component many Chrisman students agree should be included in any conversation about sex ed. The legal definition of consent, according to Law.com, is to voluntarily agree to an act on the proposal of another, which may range from contracts to sexual activities.
“Consent needs to be clear and understood by all parties,” said Chrisman junior Carmen Branch. “As of now, I think the school could be doing more to help students understand what that means.”
Missouri law states that consent is only required to be covered inside of a Sex Ed curriculum, however, as claimed by an overwhelming student response, consent should be taught regardless of if a school offers Sex Education or not.
“Having boundaries and giving permission is just basic respect.” Said Xalaya Byers. “Schools are always talking about how we should respect each other, but never go in-depth on what that means. People think respect is strictly a mind thing, but it’s a control thing too. Having the decency to respect someone’s wishes and body can really create a fine line between healthy and unhealthy relationships and we should absolutely be taught that in school.”