I could still remember those old school days when unsually everybody in the class become engulfed with grave silence, not because the class was to face any form of punishment nor is the class engaged in any tasking mathematical or physics calculations.
It's that sort of silence that one observes when he wants to be taught something of so much interest to him by an expert...... Yes I mean that sort of silence that engulfes a class (though excited about what is to come) when the Biology teacher is standing before them after introducing the topic of the day as:
"Reproduction in Humans"
Source {(https://www.tes.com/lessons/OJW6tS93JbHiLg/human-reproduction )}
The seriousness with which we listened to the illustration and explanation of the teacher is what amazes me till today.... Students were eager to hear and learn what they have been impatiently waiting for since they climaxed their adolescent age.
Source {(http://www.medicalexhibits.com/medical_exhibits_image.php?exhibit=13093_02X)}
And I could vividly remember every hand up wanting to ask questions at the end of our teacher's careful illustration..some stupid and some reasonable questions....
And Peter (a somewhat notorious classmate of mine then) once asked with all seriousness....
..."can a man
put on two condoms at the same time during coition??
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Source {(http://www.medicalexhibits.com/medical_exhibits_image.php?exhibit=13093_02X )}
Though as stupid as it may sound, it was considered a good question from a boy at his age.... But u know what? The question just like every other similar questions steared uncontrollable laughter and uproar in the class.
And been a teacher today in the midst of seemingly exposed students in their penultimate year of secondary education, there seems a bit difficulty in teaching the topic of reproduction without the use of vulgar raw words that parents and school management will not frown at and especially as students now are just clicks away from any information they so desire. And here are the little pros I ve faced over my few years of experience:
. Searching for appropriate video aid (instructional media/video aid) to illustrate key facts in human reproduction such as birth control measures.
. Answering some curious but sensitive questions pertaining to sexual acts without the use of vulgar or corrupting terms/language.
. Students obvious lack of interest in other topics especially after discussing human reproduction ( at this point it rather seemed as though they ve exhausted all their attention in the previous topic)
And they will ever wish that the discussion will last forever just as they continue to flood u questions on human sexuality.
On the part of some Biology teachers, they have shyed away from teaching such topic, they will simply jump the topic and when their attention is drawn to it by the students, he will promise to discuss that as the last topic of the term.... (that's just a trick of avoiding it as they will never come back to it again). It's merely take an experienced teacher to handle such topic.
On the part of parents, most really don't care about teaching their children sexual education as they exercise that fear of exposing their children to seemingly currupt knowledge (as perceived by these parents)
Hence in summary I will say this to all science teachers especially Biology teachers and parents that we should not shy away from teaching our wards/students reproductive education....
If we do for fear of the unknown, they will surely get the knowledge but by then or before then, they must have suffered some consequences of lack of appropriate informations. ....some of these consequences may not be reversible!
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You are very much on point with this post @ugwudenis.
Sex education has always been "a shy away topic" for parents and teachers.
Either way, students still get educated about it.
Some after making several mistakes due to peer influence.
Thanks for reminding parents and teachers not shy away from this interesting topic. I must say it's the most interesting topic in the secondary school.
Truly it's the most interesting topic... Even when the topic is been taught, teachers come around to pay keen attention!
This is a very interesting and educative topic that every teenager aught to be thought by firstly, their parents and secondly, their teachers. Unfortunately most parents shy away from this.