Sex Education: Standards, Topics,
Obstacles, and Ways of Overcoming
Them
Mollie V. Blackburn, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University
blackburn.99@osu.edu
The National Sexuality Education Standards
(Future of Sex Education (FOSE), 2011) include
eight standards across seven broad topics to be
addressed in distinctively age appropriate ways in
kindergarten through twelfth grade (with grades
clustered like this: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12). The
standards are, essentially, about
(1) core concepts,
(2) analyzing influences,
(3) accessing information,
(4) interpersonal communication,
(5) decision-making,
(6) goal-setting,
(7) self-management, and
(8) advocacy.
All of the standards articulate enhancing health
and avoiding or reducing health risks as their
goals. The topics through which to achieve these
standards are those typically included in sex edu-
cation curricula, like anatomy and physiology, pu-
berty and adolescent development, pregnancy
and reproduction, and sexually transmitted dis-
eases (STDs), including human immunodefi-
ciency virus (HIV). Less common topics, like iden-
tity, healthy relationships, and personal safety are
also included. as well as those less often included
like identity, healthy relationships, and personal
safety. Importantly, these standards and related
topics are inclusive of diverse sexualities and
gender identities. These are, I think, comprehen-
sive and defensible standards and topics. But
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