ABSTRACT
Teaching children about sex without thinking of the real consequences is like teaching them to shoot firearms and kill. Researchers agree that access to information about sex and sexuality is an important part of healthy sexual development. The classroom can be a key site for learning about sexuality, but many teachers responsible for the delivery of such education have very little formal training in teaching sexuality. Some of the first forms of sexuality education for children and young people were provided by the social and sexual hygiene movement. Currently young people are not being told about pleasure in school-based sexuality education. It is difficult to imagine how schools could ever cover information about pleasure, desire, masturbation and non-coital sex. Traditionally, the media have been seen to have effects on young people's sexual behaviours and attitudes. Comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education is a positive contribution to young people's healthy sexual development.
