Based on the 2015 Youth Risk Behaviour
Surveillance (YRBS) data, 3.9% of students had had
sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13
years. The prevalence of having had sexual
intercourse before age 13 years was higher among
male (5.6%) than female (2.2%) students.
2. Based on the 2015 Youth Risk Behaviour
Surveillance (YRBS) data, 3.9% of students had had
sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13
years. The prevalence of having had sexual
intercourse before age 13 years was higher among
male (5.6%) than female (2.2%) students. Of course,
the statistics shoot up as student age also increase
and this only captures cases of intercourse. Many
students were not captured in the investigation
simply because they lacked the opportunity to have
intercourse despite the intent and some provided
false information. Based on general observation,
sexual misconduct is high among students and
without adequate education and supervision,
students can become sexually active at an early age.
Jones Oluwatosin
3. Minimize internet based research
When you give your students research assignments in
any subject, direct the efforts of your students towards
consulting books around them or those that are
available in a library. As much as the internet is effective
for timely research and accumulation of information,
help your students to use less of it. This will make them
more studious and detailed than simply copying and
pasting facts off the internet. Most importantly, it will
help them to keep away from easily accessible graphic
content on the internet. Even when they don’t have
such intentions, social media posts, news, events and
sponsored adverts can lure them to pornographic sites
or avail them with sex related ideas with just one click.
You can also provide students with eBooks and other
digital materials to aid them with their assignments.
4. Keep your sex life private
As a teacher, it might be considered acceptable to have
an active sex life, especially for married educators but
this doesn’t mean one’s sex life should be put on
display for the students. If your husband calls you at
work and you know the call might involve naughty
words or unprofessional expressions, then it is best you
answer the call privately. Teachers should not have
sexual conversations openly in the public (school
environment) when they know students could be
watching or listening. Teachers are role model to
students and students learn a lot from their teachers –
aside academics. So, if you must flirt with a staff or
prepare for a romantic date after work and the likes,
then you should keep your activities private. – including
your social media posts, especially when you are
connected online to some of your learners.
5. Bond with your students
Get close to your students, know more about them
daily, be a part of their life and support them always as
their teacher. You don’t need to be their friend because
you have your friends and they also have theirs, but you
could be their mentor, their helper, and their counsellor.
Bonding with your students will help you know their
friends – especially the influential ones and also assist
you to notice irregular behavioural patterns early, when
they surface. Students usually have a lot of questions to
ask – most of them end up unanswered and their
curiosity capabilities are surpassing. Building good
relationships with students would not only help them in
class but also when they are long gone from the school
environment, as they will always be your students
forever.
6. Regulate student content
It is important that teachers regulate the materials and
content students have access to, even if the students
feel it is not a teacher’s business. In fact, as soon as
your student step into the classroom, everything should
be a teacher’s business. Including the songs they listen
to, the magazines they read, the videos and movies
they see. Everything that seems inappropriate should
be openly discouraged even if the teacher has no
authority to seize the materials. Each time my students
talk about a movie rated above their age, I ensure they
are aware of my displeasure and I also do my best to
persuade them to view age appropriate movies and I
lead by example. Teachers are always moralists, ethical
policymakers, classroom and general law enforcement
agents. On no account should a teacher support graphic
content or provide students related materials.
7. Reinforce sex education
No child in school is too small to learn about sex, it is all
a matter of matching the child’s age or exposure with
relevant details that are age friendly and informative. As
much as a teacher can, ensure you provide your
students sex education and emphasize the lessons from
it continually. You should also source materials and
support services from organizations and experts in that
subject area to help you pass the information more
effectively. Offer moral support to students dealing with
sex issues and refer them to counsellors or qualified
and more experienced teachers that can provide better
services compared to your delivery.
