Sexual education is failing future generations, it is lacking in all perspectives. It has been a problem within our school systems for decades, the curriculum does not leave students with enough knowledge to be safe outside of schools. The curriculum has been outrageously cautious, leaving out vital information, which then leads to them having the same amount of information that they went in with.

Although you would never think that suicide is linker with sexual education an article I read states that “suicide continues to be a considerable health risk among adolescents and is the second leading cause of death amongst adolescents between the ages of 10 and 24.”( Gwendolyn Brown et al.) One major stressor seems to be sexual activities and navigating sexual relationships. Sexual education has failed within schools leaving it up to parents to have these conversations at home, but what happens when there is not a reliable source at home, or relationships at home deter from having this conversation? Then we are leaving our youth at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned childbirth, etc..

The American journal of sexuality education speaks to the volumes of educators that are to teach our adolescents. The journal helps provide sex-ed educators with the best education programming, practices and sample lessons. It address a variety of sexual topics as well as audiences presenting up to date theory and practice lessons. Sexual education is constantly changing, this article helps provide a diverse spectrum to help all audiences.

The best thing we can do for our youth would be to integrate sexual education back into our curriculum. Unfortunately our school based curriculum is not that easily changed. we will have to work together to implement a vast change into our curriculum, not only in Canada but in all continents, it will require heavy amounts of change and support. Us as teachers need to understand that the world is changing and the rates of death, sexually transmitted diseases and confusion rates are growing, it is our job as educators to make sure we open schools to be a safe place to speak about sexual education. For so long it has been shoved under a carpet, leaving our youth to rely on what they know and the internet which is not a reliable source.