Texas Sexuality Education Instruction: Shame and Fear-Based Methodology

State policy and curriculum standards establish general guidelines regarding sexuality education while local school boards decide how teachers provide sexuality education. Local school districts may utilize programs and speakers from outside organizations and locally produced materials for sexuality education. Purpose: This article examines Texas curricular materials that commonly rely on scare and shaming tactics to teach students sexuality education. Methods: Materials provided by 990 Texas school districts were evaluated. The information related to the content of sexuality education was catalogued and entered into an SPSS database. Results: Problems with fear-based instruction about sexuality fell into three broad categories: 1) exaggerating negative consequences of sexual behavior; 2) demonizing sexually active youth; and 3) cultivating shame and guilt to discourage sexual activity. Conclusions: Informing students about realistic consequences of sexual activity is a vital element of sexuality education; however, in their eagerness to scare students away from a behavior (i.e. sexual activity), teachers use exaggerated, misleading, and misinterpreted facts. Recommendations: Young people need scientific, medically accurate information about sexuality to help them make healthy decisions. The use of fear, shame and guilt are not supported educational strategies in sexuality education.