Primary School Teachers’ Perspective of Sexual Education in Spain. A Qualitative Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Design
2.2. Participants and Setting
2.3. Data Collection
2.4. Data Analysis
2.5. Rigor
2.6. Ethical Issues
3. Results
3.1. In Search of a Comprehensive Approach to Sexual Education
3.1.1. The Predominance of Preventative Sexual and Reproductive Education Aimed at Young People
SE (blushing), well…is information about…that topic [avoiding the term “sex”], right?(E1)
It’s a complicated issue…I’m a bit afraid of addressing it with children.(E11)
(…) At a later age, from 10 to 14, they change dramatically, they start having their first sexual encounters and I think that is when you should start talking to them about sexuality.(E14)
[I talk to them] about sexual relations, how both members must want to take part, but most of all, the importance of being careful, given that they could face problems. They shouldn’t make decisions lightheartedly but rather contemplate their actions carefully.(E3)
Basically, the contents that allow us to drum into them the consequences of not using protection: disease, pregnancy etc.(E2)
I would include sexual organs, safe and consensual sexual practices, prevention of disease and pregnancy…I don’t know, things like that.(E4)
It is already included in the Science curriculum, there is an entire unit dedicated to reproduction and the reproductive system.(E13)
3.1.2. The Blueprint for Affective Sexual Education Based on Rights
That’s it, I’d talk about prevention but also about how to get involved in relationships, about respect…(E15)
I would focus on Sexual Identification, introduce feelings, empathy towards different sexual tendencies (…), something that would help them to learn and respect everyone, however they may be.(E6)
…one must promote respect. They see how women are treated as objects on TV programmes and then they demonstrate these attitudes in class. For us it’s really hard to fight against what they see on TV.(E10)
They copy everything they see…the most dangerous thing is that they are watching pornography on their mobiles at an ever-younger age and they think that relationships are like that.(E12)
3.2. Barriers to Sexual Education in Schools: From the Lack of Training to Fear of the Families
3.2.1. Lack of Training in a Comprehensive Approach to Sexuality
In my degree, they didn’t even tell me that I had to address this topic with the kids in class.(E11)
It’s complicated, we already have a heavy workload to have to then educate children in a topic for which we have not been prepared, to be honest (worried face).(E9)
The thing is that it’s easy to say “look, let’s put this topic into the transversal contents”, but they are contents that cannot be evaluated, unlike Maths. This means that if the matter comes up, we address it but if not, we don’t.(E08)
Ultimately, transversal contents get lost in different subjects and they don’t end up being addressed.(E11)
3.2.2. Avoiding the Topic of Sexuality out of Fear of the Families
You sometimes don’t do anything because the families are on your back observing your every move. On many occasions, a family has come and said, “who are you to say that to my child?” If that happens in subjects like English language, imagine if you start tackling issues related to sexuality.(E7)
I steer clear of those topics. If it comes up in class, I try to change the subject and avoid answering, just because of what they might say at home later.(E9)
This leads us to leave those topics for certain school subjects, (…) we don’t have a lot of time anyway.(E1)
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Interview Code | Age | Gender | Years of Experience |
---|---|---|---|
E1 | 45 | Woman | 18 |
E2 | 60 | Woman | 34 |
E3 | 38 | Man | 10 |
E4 | 40 | Woman | 19 |
E5 | 35 | Woman | 11 |
E6 | 30 | Man | 9 |
E7 | 29 | Man | 4 |
E8 | 43 | Woman | 16 |
E9 | 51 | Woman | 26 |
E10 | 33 | Woman | 21 |
E11 | 48 | Woman | 17 |
E12 | 62 | Man | 40 |
E13 | 25 | Woman | 1 |
E14 | 55 | Man | 20 |
E15 | 57 | Man | 22 |
Stage of the Interview | Subject | Content and Example of Questions |
---|---|---|
Introduction | Our intention | I am a member of a research group about Sexual education in schools. Knowing your perspectives could help and be useful to propose improvements in SE in Spanish schools. |
Information and ethical issues | We need to record the conversation in order for the research team to analyze the data. Only the research team will have access to the recordings. Participation is totally voluntary and you can leave the study at any time you wish. Your identity will be protected, and your name and personal data will not be revealed. | |
Consent | Verbal acceptance of the participants and signing of the corresponding document. | |
Beginning | Introductory question | As a teacher, tell me about the importance of teaching students about sexuality to you. |
Development | Conversation guide | Tell me about the contents that you think sexual education includes. Which content should be included in your opinion? How do you implement sexual education? Tell me about the advantages and disadvantages or obstacles of a subject about sexual education in schools, and as cross-curricular content. |
Closing | Final question | Is there anything else you would like to tell me? |
Appreciation | Thank you for taking part. Your testimony will be used for the research study. We remain at your disposal if you need anything. You will receive the study upon completion. |
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Share and Cite
Plaza-del-Pino, F.J.; Soliani, I.; Fernández-Sola, C.; Molina-García, J.J.; Ventura-Miranda, M.I.; Pomares-Callejón, M.Á.; López-Entrambasaguas, O.M.; Ruiz-Fernández, M.D. Primary School Teachers’ Perspective of Sexual Education in Spain. A Qualitative Study. Healthcare 2021, 9, 287. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030287
Plaza-del-Pino FJ, Soliani I, Fernández-Sola C, Molina-García JJ, Ventura-Miranda MI, Pomares-Callejón MÁ, López-Entrambasaguas OM, Ruiz-Fernández MD. Primary School Teachers’ Perspective of Sexual Education in Spain. A Qualitative Study. Healthcare. 2021; 9(3):287. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030287
Chicago/Turabian StylePlaza-del-Pino, Fernando Jesús, Isabelle Soliani, Cayetano Fernández-Sola, Joaquín Jesús Molina-García, María Isabel Ventura-Miranda, María Ángeles Pomares-Callejón, Olga María López-Entrambasaguas, and María Dolores Ruiz-Fernández. 2021. "Primary School Teachers’ Perspective of Sexual Education in Spain. A Qualitative Study" Healthcare 9, no. 3: 287. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030287
APA StylePlaza-del-Pino, F. J., Soliani, I., Fernández-Sola, C., Molina-García, J. J., Ventura-Miranda, M. I., Pomares-Callejón, M. Á., López-Entrambasaguas, O. M., & Ruiz-Fernández, M. D. (2021). Primary School Teachers’ Perspective of Sexual Education in Spain. A Qualitative Study. Healthcare, 9(3), 287. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030287