Sex education is rarely out of the news. Despite this, there exist surprisingly few studies of the principles, policies and practice of sex education. This book provides such an examination, focusing on the values to which children are exposed in sex education.
Sex education inevitably involves the transmission of values, regardless of whether this is intended by teachers. Throughout the book, academic and professional literature on both values and sex education is reviewed and discussed. The authors look at the implicit liberal values, which underpin programmes of sex education, and at the challenges presented by the diversity of values in contemporary society. The book also considers:
* Why values are central to sex education
* Children's voices and children's values
* Religious and family values
* Achievable aims for school sex education
* How to help young people to reflect critically on the influences to which they are exposed and on their own developing sexual values
* How to build values into practical approaches to sex education at both primary and secondary levels.
This timely book will help all those involved in sex education to steer a path between controversial and often opposing views and will be essential reading for students on PGCE and BEd courses. It will also be a valuable resource for teachers and professionals involved in teaching sex education such as teachers of personal and social education, form tutors, heads of year, school nurses, health workers and academics.

About the Author

Mark Halstead is Professor of Moral Education at the University of Plymouth.

Michael Reiss is Professor of Science Education at the Institute of Education, University fo London and is inaugural editor of the journal Sex Education.

Reviews

'The detailed and thoughtful analysis, appropriate and comprehensive annotated reading sections at the end of each chapter and suggestion of exercises and questions all make this book an extremely valuable read. I would recommend it not only to practitioners but to all writers and researchers interested in the meanings of sex and sexuality in the 21st century.' - Gayle Letherby, Gender and Education

'Overall the book is challenging and helpful in allowing practitioners to clarify their own position ... Sex education will remain shrouded in controversy as long as we have a diverse and competing value systems. This book will help us to get to grips with the process of finding where each of us stands.' - Neil Davidson, Working with Young Men

'Halstead and Reiss provide a rich diet of suggestions relating to what a school sex-education programme that has values at its heart might look like...plenty of food for thought in formulating sex-education programmes that get to the heart of things and make a real difference.' - Lynndy Levin, Journal of Philosophy of Education, Vol 39, Nol 1, 2005

'Halstead and Reiss's book is a very good introduction to the problems of sex education...a comprehensive, intelligent and thoughtful analysis of its topic.' - Society for Applied Philosophy, 2004

Book Information
ISBN 9780415232579
Author Mark Halstead
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 440g