It’s wonderful to hear about an educator talking about values. We don’t talk or ask about values and just assume we know our own and that others share the same ones. I spent a year interrogating my own values after my parents both died. It continues to bring me joy and authenticity in my life.
Anne--thank you for sharing these thoughts about reforming sex ed. I'd also like to point you and your readers towards the free, open-to-all sexuality curriculum jointly developed by the United Church and the Unitarian Universalist Assn. OWL (Our Whole Lives) is a sex positive, inclusive (race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, etc.) age-appropriate sex ed curriculum that starts in kindergarten and goes through adulthood. The facilitators are thoroughly trained and the curriculum is regularly updated. If the UU church in your area offers OWL, your kids can attend and (in my experience and expectation) there is NO cost and no expectation that the family be members or adherents. Parents are involved at various stages of the program, so they know generally what's coming up for their kids, but it isn't intensive for the adults.
Our family joined a UU church 15 years ago because OWL blew our minds. The curriculum saves lives.
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I had never heard of OWL before writing these posts and I'm glad that so many have benefitted from it. This is definitely somewhere I'll be pointing folks in the future :)
The adults I know who teach OWL are amazing people who want the next generation to understand bodies, sex, and social interaction. It is a shame-free, open-hearted place for kids to have reliable, vetted grownups who aren't their parents share essential info about sexuality.
I really loved this. In particular the emphasis on media literacy! I feel that more educators need to figure out ways to center media literacy in their instruction (obviously particularly relevant in this instance!!).
It’s wonderful to hear about an educator talking about values. We don’t talk or ask about values and just assume we know our own and that others share the same ones. I spent a year interrogating my own values after my parents both died. It continues to bring me joy and authenticity in my life.
Anne--thank you for sharing these thoughts about reforming sex ed. I'd also like to point you and your readers towards the free, open-to-all sexuality curriculum jointly developed by the United Church and the Unitarian Universalist Assn. OWL (Our Whole Lives) is a sex positive, inclusive (race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, etc.) age-appropriate sex ed curriculum that starts in kindergarten and goes through adulthood. The facilitators are thoroughly trained and the curriculum is regularly updated. If the UU church in your area offers OWL, your kids can attend and (in my experience and expectation) there is NO cost and no expectation that the family be members or adherents. Parents are involved at various stages of the program, so they know generally what's coming up for their kids, but it isn't intensive for the adults.
Our family joined a UU church 15 years ago because OWL blew our minds. The curriculum saves lives.
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I had never heard of OWL before writing these posts and I'm glad that so many have benefitted from it. This is definitely somewhere I'll be pointing folks in the future :)
The adults I know who teach OWL are amazing people who want the next generation to understand bodies, sex, and social interaction. It is a shame-free, open-hearted place for kids to have reliable, vetted grownups who aren't their parents share essential info about sexuality.
I really loved this. In particular the emphasis on media literacy! I feel that more educators need to figure out ways to center media literacy in their instruction (obviously particularly relevant in this instance!!).