Schools ‘should teach pupils about pornography’

INCORPORATING debates surrounding pornography into lessons may be beneficial to children, teachers have been told.

Sex education classes should incorporate issues surrounding pornography into lessons, a publication has said. Picture: PA

School sex education lessons should inform pupils of how pornography influences issues such as gender, body image, sexual behaviour, media literacy and representation, a publication has advised.

The Sex Educational supplement, aimed at teachers, also says that the phenomenon of ‘sexting’ - where sexual texts, images and videos are sent via mobile phones - should be discussed with pupils as young as 11.

The publication also suggests children as young as five should be taught how airbrushing in newspapers and magazines can create unrealistic expectations about body image.

Teacher Boo Spurgeon, of Forge Valley Community School in Sheffield, told the Sex Educational Supplement: “We know from the facts and figures the average age of starting to watch pornography is about 11.

“So we need to start mentioning it then in a very normal way, so it’s not shock horror.”

She added: “When we do something about self-esteem we will mention again the impact of the way pornography makes people feel about themselves.

“It’s about dropping it in here, dropping it in there, making sure that the students know that we are happy to talk about everything to do with relationships and sex, including the impact of pornography.

“We can’t get away from it because it’s everywhere in society. It’s not just what they find in the internet. It’s in the newspapers; Page Three, for example.”

Campaigner Lucy Holmes, of No More Page Three, welcomed the idea.

“The more open and honest dialogue we have with young people about sex and porn, the better,” said Ms Holmes.

But Norman Wells, of the Family Education Trust, warned against the move, saying: “The intention appears to be to steer children and young people away from a belief in moral absolutes and to encourage them to think that there are no rights and wrongs when it comes to sexual expression.

“To take a no-holds-barred approach to sex education has the potential to break down pupils’ natural sense of reserve and to encourage casual attitudes towards sex. If we want children to view sexual intimacy as something valuable, special and worthy of respect, it needs to be addressed with modesty and restraint.

“To give lessons on pornography is to play with fire,” he added.