Without proper education, many college students know little about sexually transmitted infections and other sex-related issues. An overreliance on technology instead of traditional teaching methods may lead to even more confusion, Boston University officials said.
“[Sex education] should be taught by a health educator in the schools,” said professor Sarah Sparrow, program coordinator for BU’s Physical and Health Education program. “Really, the most important thing is that it has to be some one who is trained and qualified.”
Online and texting programs providing sex education are on the rise since budget cuts have limited programs in public high schools, according to a New York Times article published in December. The Times reported that students remain confused about how sexually transmitted diseases are passed, among other issues.
Sparrow, who lectures on sex education at the BU School of Education, said her students are often surprised by what they learn in her class. She remembered once lecturing fellow teachers and some of her colleagues were equally ill informed.
“I would say that most people think they are educated about sex when they reach college,” Sparrow said. “I don’t know how much you learn you might be learning by experience, which is not the best thing.”
A number of colleges have also launched online sex-education resources, including Columbia University and Rutgers University. The sites include question-and-answer articles and forums for teenagers.
BU has no online sex-education site similar to Columbia’s question-and-answer forum for its students or the community, said Michelle George, the wellness coordinator in Student Health Services.
However, Jen Slonaker, the vice president of education and training at Planned Parenthood said the Internet is becoming a trend in sex education throughout Boston.
“Digital modes are becoming more and more the norm for a number of young people because it is a mode of information that they are very comfortable with,” Slonaker said.
“In terms of classroom education a third of girls and half a boys receive information about birth control,” she said. “There is a gap there and if online information can fill that gap, that is great.”
Many organizations, such as sexED in Boston, are funded by the Boston Public Health Commission to prevent the spread of STIs.
This increase could be attributed to the growing openness about sex in general, George said.
“I think that sex education has changed in that discussions around sex are more open and honest,” she said. “I feel that talking about things like masturbation, anal sex and same-sex partnerships is on the table whereas in years past it may not have been.”
Luke Jones, a sophomore in BU’s College of Communication, felt prepared to handle sex-related issues when he entered college thanks to education he received in high school. Much more prepared, he said, than those getting their information online.
“The Internet isn’t that much of a reliable source for anything,” Jones said. “You can get a lot of misinformation from the Internet.”
Alyssa Murphy, a sophomore in SED, said she was dissatisfied with her high school sex education, but has also found no sex education outlets while at college.
“I think a classroom approach to sex education is the most effective versus online sources,” Murphy said. “Grade students are more likely to trust the information provided by a teacher, while you never know what you will find online.”
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