the power of peer education
- Jane Statchen -
High school sex ed can be pretty grim. If you’ve experienced it you can probably recall an embarrassed gym teacher reading from a worn out textbook or putting on a video, last updated in the late 80s, that is as unhelpful as it is awkward. In my sophomore-year health class, sincere questions from curious students were understandably few and far between. The anonymous question box, brought out at the end of the lesson for those students left needing some clarification, was mostly full of blank post-it notes and crude jokes which the teacher refused to read out loud. And who can blame us? This format is hardly one where we can be expected to feel comfortable asking personal questions.
But all of this represents a huge missed opportunity.
Effective sex education is one of the most important things a high schooler can learn. When done correctly it keeps teens healthy by not only providing them with practical knowledge to prevent STIs and unwanted pregnancy, but also by giving them a greater understanding of consent and the confidence to set boundaries.So how do we do better?
Teenagers teaching and supporting teenagers.
Hear me out. I am part of a peer education group at Planned Parenthood called Students Teaching About Responsible Sexuality (STARS). We’re taught about a wide range of topics on sexual health, and are then shown how to use that knowledge to help our peers. We are familiar with all of the services provided by Planned Parenthood, and can set up confidential appointments for students who need them. Sometimes we host workshops or go to conferences where we present to a group of our peers, but the most important part of our job consists of answering questions one-on-one.
At first I was skeptical. I didn’t think enough people would know about our program or feel comfortable talking to me about their personal problems. I also didn’t fully understand just how much need there was for this resource in my community.
By the time I had been in the program long enough to answer questions and connect my peers to services, all my assumptions were proven wrong. I was surprised by how much I was able to contribute. I soon began getting questions from people I never knew before about topics ranging anywhere from relationships, to birth control, to Plan B. The main thing I noticed about these interactions were how natural and easy they seemed compared to many of the discussions about sexuality that kids my age have with teachers and parents.
I remember one of my first experiences helping a peer was a girl in the grade below me who reached out to see if I could get her a Plan B. This is expensive in the pharmacy, but one of the services that students can access for free through STARS, so I went to the clinic to pick one up for her. I was also able to connect her with healthcare providers at Planned Parenthood so that she could get on birth control, preventing any future need for emergency contraception. The interaction allowed her to take responsibility for her own health, using resources she would be unable to get through a teacher or disapproving parent.
As representatives of Planned Parenthood, we’re expected to maintain a degree of professionalism, and all of our conversations remain confidential, but these often feel more like conversations between friends than anything else. It is very empowering to be armed with the knowledge and resources to help your peers, while also being able to speak openly and comfortably with them.
So - no more outdated videos and awkward suggestion boxes. When it comes to some of the most important information you can have -- let a teenager teach you.