SEX EDUCATION FOR EDUCATORS
A TWO DAY TRAINING SEMINAR Beyond the Basics FOR EDUCATORS TEACHING SEXUALITY EDUCATION TO STUDENTS
Sexuality education remains highly varied between school to school, even teacher to teacher.
In many cases sexuality education taught 20+years ago was not much different. We learned about body parts and how they functioned - all scientifically accurate and generally useful to know.
Then there was the cautionary tales of risky behaviour. None of which prepared the student who see themselves being different trying to navigate complex emotions, attractions, and relationships with peers.
Under international human rights law, we all have a right to good quality education but rarely do parents, governments, and the education system see sexuality education done well.
In this workshop for sexuality educators, I take an approach that is rooted in comprehensive sexuality education - seeking to move the bar beyond anatomy and risk, to ensure students are better prepared to lead empowered sexual lives where they feel comfortable in their own bodies, can exercise their right to bodily autonomy, and are equipped with the skills to challenge and stand up for what they feel is right.
Sexuality is an integral part of being human. It is a complex set of personal, social, and spiritual experiences that go beyond sexual activity. According to WHO 2006(a), sexuality is not just about what our body does and what we do with our bodies, it is how thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles, relationships are experienced and expressed. Sexual health is one aspect of sexuality and a key component of overall health and well-being.
Sexual health requires a comprehensive understanding of sexuality. As an educator, it is important to discuss sexual health in the context of a person's entire self and experience of the world.
The comprehensive approach is also in line with the 2008 Public Health Agency of Canada Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education, which consider sexual health a key component of overall health and well-being.
Comprehensive sexuality education recognizes sexuality as an integral part of being human and includes the ways that sexuality is expressed, manifested, and impacted by emotional, social, cultural, physical, psychological, economic, spiritual, political, and economic aspects of an individual's life (UNESCO, 2009). It provides a holistic understanding of sexual health. In this way, comprehensive sexuality education considers how sexual health is related to human rights, gender norms, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being, civic engagement, and the social determinants of health ( environmental, political, and economic.
Sexuality education is often taught as part of physical and health education in provincial and territorial curriculums across Canada. All provincial and territorial ministries of education have set out mandates or expectations for the provision of sexuality education in schools, however, the extent to which different ministries of education provide specific learning activities that correspond to their teaching guidelines or curricula varies. Updates to provincial and territorial curricula often also lag behind social and technological changes impact sexuality education.
Beyond the Basics has been designed with the dual purpose of providing school-based educators with learning activities that are consistent with the most up-to-date provincial/territorial mandates for sexuality education and community-based educators with a range of learning activities for comprehensive and high-quality sexuality education.
Sexuality education remains highly varied between school to school, even teacher to teacher.
In many cases sexuality education taught 20+years ago was not much different. We learned about body parts and how they functioned - all scientifically accurate and generally useful to know.
Then there was the cautionary tales of risky behaviour. None of which prepared the student who see themselves being different trying to navigate complex emotions, attractions, and relationships with peers.
Under international human rights law, we all have a right to good quality education but rarely do parents, governments, and the education system see sexuality education done well.
In this workshop for sexuality educators, I take an approach that is rooted in comprehensive sexuality education - seeking to move the bar beyond anatomy and risk, to ensure students are better prepared to lead empowered sexual lives where they feel comfortable in their own bodies, can exercise their right to bodily autonomy, and are equipped with the skills to challenge and stand up for what they feel is right.
Sexuality is an integral part of being human. It is a complex set of personal, social, and spiritual experiences that go beyond sexual activity. According to WHO 2006(a), sexuality is not just about what our body does and what we do with our bodies, it is how thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles, relationships are experienced and expressed. Sexual health is one aspect of sexuality and a key component of overall health and well-being.
Sexual health requires a comprehensive understanding of sexuality. As an educator, it is important to discuss sexual health in the context of a person's entire self and experience of the world.
The comprehensive approach is also in line with the 2008 Public Health Agency of Canada Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education, which consider sexual health a key component of overall health and well-being.
Comprehensive sexuality education recognizes sexuality as an integral part of being human and includes the ways that sexuality is expressed, manifested, and impacted by emotional, social, cultural, physical, psychological, economic, spiritual, political, and economic aspects of an individual's life (UNESCO, 2009). It provides a holistic understanding of sexual health. In this way, comprehensive sexuality education considers how sexual health is related to human rights, gender norms, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being, civic engagement, and the social determinants of health ( environmental, political, and economic.
Sexuality education is often taught as part of physical and health education in provincial and territorial curriculums across Canada. All provincial and territorial ministries of education have set out mandates or expectations for the provision of sexuality education in schools, however, the extent to which different ministries of education provide specific learning activities that correspond to their teaching guidelines or curricula varies. Updates to provincial and territorial curricula often also lag behind social and technological changes impact sexuality education.
Beyond the Basics has been designed with the dual purpose of providing school-based educators with learning activities that are consistent with the most up-to-date provincial/territorial mandates for sexuality education and community-based educators with a range of learning activities for comprehensive and high-quality sexuality education.