What Do We

Even Know
Anyway?
A Proposal to the
American Sex
Education System

Jordyn Pressley
Problem
● Many students are taught in school that being openly sexual
is immoral, or that being explorative regarding your body
and your sexual interests is wrong. Often, the target of
these false claims are young women, people of color, and
LGBTQ+ youth. If not taught demoralizing bigotry, there is
often a chance that students are barely taught any
information at all.
● In fact, a majority of the states within the U.S. either do not
teach about same sex relationships, or only do so in order to
promote the idea that same sex marriages proliferate the
spread of disease.
● My research question for this issue is “What are the effects
Research
● There are jarring issues within the United States education
system all across the nation. “Fewer than one-fifth of
middle schools — and half of the high schools — are
teaching all of the sex education topics recommended by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (Anderson).
● Teaching students that being homosexual is a problem, or
that exploring sexuality is an issue leads to adults that do
not know how to express themselves or individuals that
portray bigotry within our society.
● Certain states, namely South Carolina, have proposed a ban
on LGBTQ+ sex ed and that the “state singles out LGBTQ+
students for negative treatment within the classroon”
(Associated Press, The Guardian).
Goal
● To host an event, similar to in bloom, where high school
students can come and ask professional sexual health
experts questions that they have regarding the education
and issues that they have experienced. To fill in the pieces
for students that feel as though they haven’t gotten the
proper education or have any remaining questions that the
school is mandated to not answer.
● To host a ted talk event which includes speeches from
adults and other college students who talk about their
experiences without proper education and what the term
“proper sex education” truly means. This type of event will
seek to distinguish the difference between proper and
incomplete sex education, and highlight the importance of
Plan
The Ted Talk
A. Individuals who are trained in sexual
education and human sexual anatomy
on an intersectional level and High
school students
B. It would cost money to both rent out
the space and pay the individual to
come speak. Around $1500 per
individual talk ($1000 per person,
$500 for the space)
C. One room that can seat a large
amount of people.
D. Twice a year, or once every academic
semester.
E. Posters that are placed around the
high school. A segment on their
morning announcements detailing
what, where, and when the event is.
Maybe some tabling at the high
school.
The In Bloom-Esque Sex Ed Event
A. A group of older, possibly college
students, high school students, and 1-4
adult moderators depending on how large
the event is.
B. There may be costs involving the
moderators. Additionally, there may be a
cost required for renting a space to hold
the event (around $1000 in total
minimum- 500/mod, 500 for space). If
swag, food, etc is included, this price may
vary.
C. A presentation prepared by the students
to give, perhaps candy or other swag to
entice students into coming. Again, an
area to host the event.
D. Once an academic year
E. Posters, Tabling to raise money, a
morning news announcement at the
school, classmates recruiting friends and
Citations
Associated Press. (2020, February 27). South Carolina faces lawsuit over LGBTQ sex education

ban. Retrieved March 15, 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-

news/2020/feb/27/south-carolina-lgbtq-sex-education-lawsuit

Anderson, M. (2015, December 10). The CDC Gives U.S. Schools Low Marks In Sex Ed.

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/12/10/457281553/the-cdc-gives-u-s-schools-low-

marks-in-sex-ed

Aguilar, A., Pestana, F., & Rodriguez, M. (2019, November 1). What Students, Parents, and

Teachers Agree on When it Comes to Sex Ed. Retrieved March 9, 2020, from

https://msmagazine.com/2019/11/04/what-students-parents-and-teachers-agree-on-when-

it-comes-to-sex-ed/