Sex Education in Primary Schools in Austria
Created | Updated Oct 4, 2012
„Germany’s youngest mother has just turned 13”. “Alfie Patten becomes a father at 13 after one night of unprotected sex.” “England has some of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Europe and sexually transmitted diseases.”
Every day people can read such headlines in newspapers all over the world. Many people find it shocking to hear that children are having children but nowadays, teenage pregnancies seem to be as common as normal pregnancies. This article will discuss the present situation in Austria and in Britain referring to sex education in primary schools.
In Austria, sex education in primary schools has been existing for many years. It starts in primary school, at the age of 6 and does not really end until pupils graduate from school at the age of 18. It is an effective system because in Austria, the rate of teenage pregnancies is not that high. Of course, there are teenage parents but it is not because of the lack of sex education. Austria is one of the few countries where nursery - school teachers start to prepare children with the topic sexuality and make them familiar with their own body. It is essential to start at an early stage of life because at the age of five, children start playing doctor in order to investigate their best friend’s body and compare it with their own one.
In primary schools, the teachers continue to make the children aware of the fact that there are differences between boys and girls; they tell them that also animals have babies and finally they try to explain why their mother’s stomach gets bigger and bigger and why there is somebody in it. This process of defining and explaining lasts some years. For teachers it is important to bear in mind that they work together with children who just understand what they want to understand.
Sex education is continued in secondary school and grammar schools. This is also a reason why the Austrian system is fairly effective. Children grow older and develop a better understanding for the material Therefore, it is important to introduce sex education in primary school and never leave it until the pupils graduate. Another important aspect is that Austrian teachers also get special classes in how to teach sex education properly.
Compared to Austria, a reason why there are many teenage pregnancies in Britain could be due to the lack of sex education. Today, many teenagers want to be adults before their time but often do not face the consequences of their actions. Therefore, in Britain, sex education is to be made compulsory part of the national curriculum in primary and secondary schools in order to cut teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. (cf. News BBC) It is important to add that not only the sexual aspect is part of this new curriculum; schools also have to teach children more about sex in the context of relationships, including marriage and civil partnerships.
Often children have started developing sexual feelings before the age of 10 or 11. Consequently, it is vital that they learn about the importance of sexuality and relationship before that age. To confront children with these facts of life at the age of 5 or 6 is a debatable argument. According to a research from the FPA (Family Planning Association), sex and relationship education helps people delay the time they first have sex and promotes responsible and healthy choices when they become sexually active. Nevertheless, there are people, often from religious groups, who do not agree with such results. Therefore, it is necessary, to explain that schools are not going to teach children how to perform specific sexual activities; they want them to make more informed decisions about when to have sex and also seriously think about the consequences.
What is taught in Austrian primary schools? From year one to four:
I take Austria as a good example because sex education starts in primary schools and children get used to the (taboo) topic sexuality. They learn how to deal with this topic and learn to think about their decisions in the future.
Generally, there does not exist only one subject responsible for sex education. In primary schools, subjects such as biology, religion, physical education and art can play an important role in teaching sex education. However, for all subjects counts to use appropriate materials such as books and appropriate language to help explaining the issues.
Year one: In the first year, children learn about their body. In the course of this big topic, one can discuss aspects of health education, hygiene or sexual characteristics of boys and girls. Often children have their own name for their private parts. Nevertheless, it is the teacher’s responsibility to broaden the children’s mind with new vocabulary.
Year two: In the second year, teachers have to deal with the topic ‘family’ in more detail. Again, differences between the genders can be discussed and it is recommendable to touch on topics like sexual abuse. Children should learn to say no if somebody touches them and if they feel uncomfortable then.
Year three: This is the time where children begin to become curious about the opposite sex. Now it is crucial for teachers to separate boys from girls. Boys feel more comfortable to talk with a man or with the other boys and girls prefer talking to girls or female persons. Teachers often split the class into two groups and talk to each group individually about love, relationships, body parts and sex. When teachers talk about ‘how to make babies’ it is fundamental to explain that people also have sex because they enjoy it.
Year four: The last year in primary school is more or less a repetition of what has already been learned. Teachers once again discuss the different sexual organs and point out that after primary schools another part in one’s life will start: puberty. The teacher’s role here is to explain and discuss the changes the children will undergo.
How parents should teach their children the facts of life?
The teacher plays an important role in teaching sex education but more important is the parent’s role. Children often do not want to ask something or say something in front of their school mates. Therefore, they want to talk to their parents privately.
When the children learn how to speak and when they get in contact with other children, they can always come and ask embarrassing questions, for example, about how to make babies. Then, in many cases also parents are embarrassed and do not want to talk about sex with their children. Not to talk about sex when your children want to know it, is one of the worst things parents can do.
If your three-year old daughter comes and asks why her friend has something between his legs, it is the responsibility of all parents to answer her question in a way she would understand it. Use simple language and do not go into much detail. In a few years your daughter might ask again and then you as a parent get the chance to tell her everything more explicitly. Parents should not only tell their children what sex is and how it works, it is also important to discuss with them contraception and make them aware that sex can transmit diseases too.
Although many adults nowadays can talk with their children about sex, many people still cannot face talking about this topic. If you as a mother or a father really feel embarrassed, provide materials and let your child look through them alone. Always try to answer your child’s questions because if you do not talk with your son or daughter, they will turn to other sources of information that may not be reliable.
To sum up, this article deals with the differences of sex education in primary schools within Europe. The example of Austria should work as a good model to other countries in order to improve school systems related to sex education. The last section should work as a short guide for parents because not only teachers are responsible for the children’s sex education but also their parents.
Every day people can read such headlines in newspapers all over the world. Many people find it shocking to hear that children are having children but nowadays, teenage pregnancies seem to be as common as normal pregnancies. This article will discuss the present situation in Austria and in Britain referring to sex education in primary schools.
In Austria, sex education in primary schools has been existing for many years. It starts in primary school, at the age of 6 and does not really end until pupils graduate from school at the age of 18. It is an effective system because in Austria, the rate of teenage pregnancies is not that high. Of course, there are teenage parents but it is not because of the lack of sex education. Austria is one of the few countries where nursery - school teachers start to prepare children with the topic sexuality and make them familiar with their own body. It is essential to start at an early stage of life because at the age of five, children start playing doctor in order to investigate their best friend’s body and compare it with their own one.
In primary schools, the teachers continue to make the children aware of the fact that there are differences between boys and girls; they tell them that also animals have babies and finally they try to explain why their mother’s stomach gets bigger and bigger and why there is somebody in it. This process of defining and explaining lasts some years. For teachers it is important to bear in mind that they work together with children who just understand what they want to understand.
Sex education is continued in secondary school and grammar schools. This is also a reason why the Austrian system is fairly effective. Children grow older and develop a better understanding for the material Therefore, it is important to introduce sex education in primary school and never leave it until the pupils graduate. Another important aspect is that Austrian teachers also get special classes in how to teach sex education properly.
Compared to Austria, a reason why there are many teenage pregnancies in Britain could be due to the lack of sex education. Today, many teenagers want to be adults before their time but often do not face the consequences of their actions. Therefore, in Britain, sex education is to be made compulsory part of the national curriculum in primary and secondary schools in order to cut teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. (cf. News BBC) It is important to add that not only the sexual aspect is part of this new curriculum; schools also have to teach children more about sex in the context of relationships, including marriage and civil partnerships.
Often children have started developing sexual feelings before the age of 10 or 11. Consequently, it is vital that they learn about the importance of sexuality and relationship before that age. To confront children with these facts of life at the age of 5 or 6 is a debatable argument. According to a research from the FPA (Family Planning Association), sex and relationship education helps people delay the time they first have sex and promotes responsible and healthy choices when they become sexually active. Nevertheless, there are people, often from religious groups, who do not agree with such results. Therefore, it is necessary, to explain that schools are not going to teach children how to perform specific sexual activities; they want them to make more informed decisions about when to have sex and also seriously think about the consequences.
What is taught in Austrian primary schools? From year one to four:
I take Austria as a good example because sex education starts in primary schools and children get used to the (taboo) topic sexuality. They learn how to deal with this topic and learn to think about their decisions in the future.
Generally, there does not exist only one subject responsible for sex education. In primary schools, subjects such as biology, religion, physical education and art can play an important role in teaching sex education. However, for all subjects counts to use appropriate materials such as books and appropriate language to help explaining the issues.
Year one: In the first year, children learn about their body. In the course of this big topic, one can discuss aspects of health education, hygiene or sexual characteristics of boys and girls. Often children have their own name for their private parts. Nevertheless, it is the teacher’s responsibility to broaden the children’s mind with new vocabulary.
Year two: In the second year, teachers have to deal with the topic ‘family’ in more detail. Again, differences between the genders can be discussed and it is recommendable to touch on topics like sexual abuse. Children should learn to say no if somebody touches them and if they feel uncomfortable then.
Year three: This is the time where children begin to become curious about the opposite sex. Now it is crucial for teachers to separate boys from girls. Boys feel more comfortable to talk with a man or with the other boys and girls prefer talking to girls or female persons. Teachers often split the class into two groups and talk to each group individually about love, relationships, body parts and sex. When teachers talk about ‘how to make babies’ it is fundamental to explain that people also have sex because they enjoy it.
Year four: The last year in primary school is more or less a repetition of what has already been learned. Teachers once again discuss the different sexual organs and point out that after primary schools another part in one’s life will start: puberty. The teacher’s role here is to explain and discuss the changes the children will undergo.
How parents should teach their children the facts of life?
The teacher plays an important role in teaching sex education but more important is the parent’s role. Children often do not want to ask something or say something in front of their school mates. Therefore, they want to talk to their parents privately.
When the children learn how to speak and when they get in contact with other children, they can always come and ask embarrassing questions, for example, about how to make babies. Then, in many cases also parents are embarrassed and do not want to talk about sex with their children. Not to talk about sex when your children want to know it, is one of the worst things parents can do.
If your three-year old daughter comes and asks why her friend has something between his legs, it is the responsibility of all parents to answer her question in a way she would understand it. Use simple language and do not go into much detail. In a few years your daughter might ask again and then you as a parent get the chance to tell her everything more explicitly. Parents should not only tell their children what sex is and how it works, it is also important to discuss with them contraception and make them aware that sex can transmit diseases too.
Although many adults nowadays can talk with their children about sex, many people still cannot face talking about this topic. If you as a mother or a father really feel embarrassed, provide materials and let your child look through them alone. Always try to answer your child’s questions because if you do not talk with your son or daughter, they will turn to other sources of information that may not be reliable.
To sum up, this article deals with the differences of sex education in primary schools within Europe. The example of Austria should work as a good model to other countries in order to improve school systems related to sex education. The last section should work as a short guide for parents because not only teachers are responsible for the children’s sex education but also their parents.
