Sex Education in Australian Public School - Coursework Example

SEX EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC SCHOOL Name: Course Instructor’s name Institution Date Introduction Sex is education is described as an act of creating awareness to both younger and grown-up students regarding everything they require to know about sex. In nations such Australia, sex education is one of the debated issues in the learning system whereby over the years it has been uncontrolled in the public schools (Alldred, 2010). Sex education does not only involves the topics about sex, but it include other thoughtful issue such as sexuality, reproduction and as well as the sexual health of the students. In different cases, parents do not feel comfortable speaking about sex to their children. Therefore, in the current ages it has emerged the obligation of the schools to address sex education in a manner of educating both school children and school adults. For some people, sex education is described as a recreational subject rather that a serious matter. As such, from a personal perspective, sex education can be helpful to the school children at any stage in the school, or it may be inappropriate for students as it can be negative in the education. From a personal viewpoint, in Australia sex education need to be taken seriously in the public school at any learning level. The course should be developed in the learning institution because it can benefit to both teachers and students. However, as people advocate for sex education to be asserted compulsory in the Australian public schools, the negative side of the course must be considered. For a better understanding, the course should at some point be banned from being attended by the kindergarten children as it may be irrelevant to them. Therefore, this paper focuses on discussing the reasons for sex education being made compulsory in the Australian public schools from the kindergarten level of education onwards. Furthermore, the paper will present the reason against making sex education compulsory in the public schools in Australia. Many teachers get concerned or tentative in handling the subject of sex in learning institutions. In most cases, the educators feel overwhelmed regarding where they should start or even get confused with the main areas they will teach and when is the appropriate time to teach this course of sex. Therefore, due such situation while teaching the sex issues in the school, it is importantly required for one to look at both sides of sex education. As such, making sex education compulsory for kindergarten children onward, can either be beneficial or at a time be unnecessary to the students. Below is an explanation of the reason that may make the Australian government make sex course a compulsory subject in the public school at any level. Also, the reason that may make one be against the move by the government and as well as discussed comprehensively. Reasons why sex education should be made compulsory in public school from kindergarten and onwards. To start with, sex making the sex education compulsory in public school from kindergarten will make the children and adults to have early exploration regarding the sex act. Quite a number of young children learn about their body at a tender age (Greslé 2013). As such, children come to know about their body when they start walking and talking. Therefore, teaching children the matter of sex from the nursery level of school will be an essential move for both the students and the parent. Evidently, in the year 2008, the UN officials presented a report that demonstrated that effective teaching of sex education make the young students gain explorations regarding their attitude toward sex and as well as values in their life. More so, on the same year, the UN presented another report reflecting sex education in the school. In the report, it was observed that effective sex education in countries across the world make young students implement good decisions in their future life and discover other useful skills that will enable them to make informed decisions in life. Another reason that can make one say that sex education should be made compulsory in the public schools is that the course will ensure that sexual risks among the children are reduced. Evidently, in the year 2000-2004, the Australian youth birth rate dropped from 62% to 40%, as a result of effective sex education in the learning institutions. (www.advocatesforyouth.org 2015) Stated that more than 850,000 young people undergoes pregnancies in different countries across the world with about 9 million youths experiencing sexually transmitted infections. More so, the research conducted by stated that many young students who are already active in sex, at about 66% in Australia and the US claimed that the youths wished they rather waited for a while before engaging in sex (guttmacher.org, 2015). This happens at the age of 10 years onwards. For such cases to be avoided, it can be essential for the government of Australia to make the sex education compulsory. More so, the sex programs from the kindergarten schools can help the young people to avoid experiencing unwanted pregnancy and as well as STI diseases. Moreover, making sex education compulsory in the public school can make students less embarrassed when they parents talks about sex with them. The classes reflecting sex course are gender exclusive, thus making young people to become comfortable with themselves and as well as with their parents in the case whereby they share information regarding the subject. In an intensive research that was done by (youniversityv.com, 2015), it showed that 93% of parents were in support of sex course in school in across the Europe. More so, the survey showed that only 15% of the parents who were involved in the study were against the implementation of sex education in the public schools. In addition, sex education enhances personal safety for the young people. Therefore, it will necessary for the Australian government to make the course of sex compulsory in the public learning system. As such, children from the age of 3-4 are required to learn important skills and information that will make them become protected in future. This can be carried out by teaching the young children on the topic related to sex and their sexuality. For instance, children can be taught about their sex organs, their body among others. Evidently, in Australia, the Victorian Department of Education Policy Guidelines indicates that sex course in public schools is compulsory for students from kindergarten to 10 years. The body claims that the purpose of sex education is to enhance the personal protection of the children. Also, in as AusVDE has made sex learning compulsory, schools in Australia are required to cover the matter for children aged 5/6 years and teach them the appropriate topics related to sex. More so, in some public schools, sex education is provided to students aged 3 and 4 with the topics covered mostly to promote students safety. Also, comprehensive sex education will ensure the creation of a respectful relationship between the students. Therefore, this can be seen a key reason that can make the Australian government make sex education compulsory. The relationship of children starts from the age of 9 to 8, for children to be non-violence and respective the sex education is necessary. Statistically, in the year 2006-2008, young students received sex programs in Australia. Consequentially, students have become respective among themselves, and the schools has experienced minimal violence regarding the sex issues. More so, the research conducted by (youniversityv.com, 2015) stated that many young students who are already active in sex, at about 66% in Australia and the US claimed that the youths wished they rather waited for a while before engaging into sex. Reason why sex education should not be made compulsory in public school from kindergarten and onwards in Australia. First, focusing on the reasons that can make sex education inappropriate in the public schools in Australia, it is essential to consider the parents take on the matter of sex education in schools. Therefore, the one of the reason that can make one become against sex education in the public schools is that, it is the parent’s responsibility and choice to create awareness regarding sex education to their children. Although, in some research done it is clearly that sex education is important and necessary, it at a time be more or less advantageous. Taking the case of a survey conducted by (youniversityv.com, 2015) in Europe 59% of the parent does not support the sex education in the learning institution. The parents feel that it is their responsibility to teach their young ones regarding sex. Also, making sex education compulsory in the Australian public schools can be seen as a move that is against the religious beliefs of many people (Sexeducationaustralia.com.au, 2015). Basically, in the schools the sex issue has emerged as a major subject whereby teachers does not only teach about abstinence but also, how to engage into the act safely. This is a different case from the religious beliefs, whereby some of the religious family advocate for intercourse after marriage. For instance, in the year 2004, the number of youth getting pregnant dropped at a rate of 62% to 41% across the world. In this context, it was not as a result of abstinence but it was due to the use of contraceptive. This shows that the schools are teaching how to engage into the act rather than reducing the act. On the other hand, the Australian government should not make the sex education compulsory because, educators teaching the course are not trained to tackle such courses (Sexeducationaustralia.com.au, 2015). For a teacher to deliver quality services, he/she should be sufficiently be trained to teach the sex matter. More so, sex education can make the teachers interrupt their principles regarding the matter. To a better understanding, sex education requires to be implemented by trained teachers and the teachers should use the right teaching techniques. However, as the course is viewed as a complex one, a survey on the 2010 shows that public schools in Australia need at about 61% course material so as to enhance the teaching staff in implementing the task. More so, the study showed that almost a third of the total number of the sex training teachers requires work-related training in the sex subject. Additionally, sex education should not be made compulsory in the Australian public learning institution because, most of the issues related to sex course are taught as a short-lived interlude in either health or physical classes (Rajabnejad, 2012). This explains that the course is not given adequate time. Moreover, this show that the course is not effectively passed to the children thus many children will not take the teaching seriously. Frequently, sex education is regarded as a recreational subject and not a thoughtful one. Therefore, in the teaching system the course is not given the required time and teachers does not teach the subject in a deeper manner. In fact, in learning sex education there are no grades or marks provided as a result of studying the course. In one school in the Australia whereby students were told to a test, the grades were not pleasing thus presenting that the students do not take the course seriously. Conclusion In conclusion, therefore, it is an essential task for the government to act on the course of sex education. As many parents avoid the topic of sex, it can be a duty for the government to ensure that the students both young and grown up are aware of this matter. In a better a way to explain this, it is clear that sex education can start at any time either at schools or home. In most schools in different countries in the world sex education is described as a leisure course, but it is evident that the course is important to the students, teachers, parents and as well as the government. Mostly, the students will be the key beneficial from the course as there will be minimal case relating to pregnancy and sexual diseases. As such, the solution to this matter of sex education should contribute to all the stake members. As for the government, it should invest the adequate amount of money that is enough to support the course. Secondly, so as to enhance effective sex education, the teachers should acquire the required training and as well as the learning materials. Lastly, in this course, the students or rather the young people, should be honest, be ready to learn effective sex course without being embarrassed and above all abstain from sexual activities. Bibliography Alldred, P. (2010). Obstacles to good sex education: international angles. Sex Education, 10(3), pp.331-331. Granger, C. (2007). On (not) representing sex in preschool and kindergarten: a psychoanalytic reflection on orders and hints. Sex Education, 7(1), pp.1-15. Greslé-Favier, C. (2013). The sex education debates. Sex Education, 13(5), pp.611-613. guttmacher.org, (2015). Facts on American Teens’ Sources of Information About Sex, [online]. Available at: http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-teen-sex-ed.html [Accessed 8 Oct. 2015]. Lesko, N. (2010). Feeling abstinent? Feeling comprehensive? Touching the affects of sexuality curricula. Sex Education, 10(3), pp.281-297. Lenderyou, G. (2008). The Primary School Sex Education Pack:981Julian Cohen. The Primary School Sex Education Pack: A Whole School Approach to Sex Education . Liverpool: Healthwise (plus p&p) £50. Health Education, 98(1), pp.33-34. Rajabnejad, M. (2012). Lifestyle and the Necessity of Lifestyle Education. Islamic Lifestyle Center Health, 1(2), pp.2-4. Sexeducationaustralia.com.au, (2015). 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