Sex Education. Chapter Seventeen.

Overview & Synopsis

Information and a framework that permits teachers to plan and initiate a successful sex education program for students with mental disabilities is provided. A major aspect of sex education should be its focus on social relationships, emotions, choice-making, and responsibilities to self and others. Sex education should not be viewed as a collection of facts, but as a problem-solving approach to real life situations. Discussed are the purposes of sex education, the qualities of an effective teacher of sex education, resources to help teachers learn about sex education instruction, use of resource persons, preparation of students for sex education, and involvement of students in the instructional process. Suggestions are offered for preventing controversy about the sex education program, primarily by communicating with parents. Five tables offer: (1) a developmental scope and sequence of sex education for mildly mentally disabled students; (2) two approaches to content organization in sex education, developed by W. Kempton and E. A. Polloway; (3) a list of selected commercial materials; (4) a list of topics for resource persons; and (5) sex education goals and objectives used at Ruby Van Meter School, Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools. (JDD)