Either way, of course, it is a contentious subject, eliciting strong views across the political and moral spectrum. Views that become more complex and pronounced both as a result of the diversity of modern society and because of policy anxiety about teenage pregnancy, the rise of sexually transmitted infections and the threat of HIV.
Underpinning any approach to sex education is the question of values.
Values permeate sex education every step of the way. Schools, the authors argue, are uniquely positioned to contribute to values development, "by providing opportunities for discussion, reflection and increasing understanding".
Their challenge lies in the lack of consensus over values: "All disagreements about practice in sex education can be traced back to incompatible and conflicting values."
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