You’ve heard it from us, and if you work as an educator, you’ll likely hear it again: beware of sharing personal values with your students. As sex educators, it’s something we are mindful of all the time. In many contexts, it’s helpful advice. For example, say a student asks you what the best birth control … Continued
2020 has already been a monumental year for adaptability in education. We’ve seen end of year events canceled, schools shift to virtual classrooms and sex education put on the back burner. While the last few months can feel like a blur and the impending months can feel daunting we at RSEI want to remind everyone … Continued
This year, the entire month of May is dedicated to appreciating nurses through National Nurses Month, but did you know that May is also National Masturbation Month? This lesser-known awareness campaign comes with its own interesting history. It originated in 1994 when former U.S. surgeon general Dr. Jocelyn Elders, speaking to a United Nations conference … Continued
For many the in-person 2019-2020 school year ended much earlier than anticipated and with new and challenging obstacles to combat while grappling with the COVID-19 global pandemic. At RSEI we usually do a lot of programming at the end of the school year. This is a time when educators are trying to hold the attention … Continued
As youth-serving adults, our youth come to us with many different experiences, feelings, thoughts, and values when it comes to sex education. Comprehensive sex education has long been considered a critical piece in sexual violence prevention, but what about youth that already have sexual trauma when they enter the classroom? How can we make sure … Continued
National Native HIV AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD) is a national campaign celebrated every March 20th. It was founded in 2007 by Indigenous relatives from Turtle Island, the Northern territories, and the Hawaiian Islands. The date is usually on or around Spring equinox because of what that sacred transition represents for Indigenous cultures; rebirth and balance. … Continued
This February marks the tenth anniversary of Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAM). In addition to being Black History Month, this month has also served as an opportunity for individuals and organizations to educate youth on the risk factors for dating violence and prevent youth from experiencing relationship abuse. Still, dating abuse among … Continued
As educators, there are dozens of common questions that our students ask about sex, bodies, and relationships. While we hope that youth have access to information that is accurate and comprehensive, we know this isn’t always the case. As young people navigate the tricky waters of adolescence, they begin to ask questions that often come … Continued
When it comes to teaching, we know that the language we use is incredibly important. It shapes how participants understand and internalize our material. This means that it is extra important when it comes to sexuality education. Sex education has a long history of using stigma, shame, and fear to send messages about what is … Continued
Let’s start with an uncomfortable truth: age of consent laws are flawed. Their intention of protecting young people from exploitation and abuse is great, but so often this intention is lost amongst negative side-effects of setting an age where sex between a teenager and someone much older is considered “consensual” in the eyes of the … Continued