EDSA Conference: Sexual Health

After today I've decided that it is a real shame that the education program at Uvic does not give pre-service teachers any instructional time devoted to teaching sexual health. After attending Kerri Isham's workshop on teaching sexual health, I believe we are really doing the students in this province a disservice by not focussing more time and attention to this topic. However, it appears that things might not be as bad as they were when we were students. I was please to learn that the schools have done away with CAPP and replaced it with Planning 10. I have heard Planning 10 be referred to since starting the PDP program, but never really knew what it was all about. I found out today that it covers career planning, financial planning and sexual health. It is mandatory for grade 10 students. I also get the impression that most teachers aren't too enthusiastic about having to teach Planning 10.

Isham defended her beliefs (and her professional life's work) by explaining that students need sexual education that is pleasure focussed rather than risk focussed, otherwise they won't pay attention to what you are trying to teach them and they will be less likely to adopt safe sexual practices. When you consider that half of a school's population is sexually active by the age of 17, I'd say that providing them with sexual health information in a way that they will respond to is pretty critical!! Students need to be exposed to both the benefits and the risks of engaging in sexual activity. Since the majority of them are going to do it anyways, we need to stop trying to scare them out of doing it by talking only about STI's and pregnancy.

Isham also spoke about how Planning 10 deals with topics such as sexual orientation and diversities. I think that this class provides a great transition into some of the topics that would be covered in Social Justice 12.

If you are at all interested in Isham's educational philosophies and/or projects surrounding sexual health education, check out her website: www.powerupworkshops.ca

And just a quick aside- I was speaking to an old friend from high school today who has just started her 8 week practicum for the PDP program. Her teachables are English and Social Studies, but she has been given Planning 10 as one of her classes during her practicum. You've been warned!!