Condom Teaching Plan for Middle Schoolers?

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Oct 19, 2007

I think you are trying to do way tooo much in your teaching plan. I also wonder how prepared you are to get responses that are vulgar or off base. How will you handle it when someone says on a first date they like the girl to perform oral sex? And you know they aren't going to say it like that--are you prepared to deal with base and explicit language out of the mouths of kids? Are you going to address that or move on? Either way you handle it, if you don't handle it just right, you are going to lose them for the rest of the presentation.
Kids also mess around a lot, it takes them forever to get organized. 10-15minutes to write a short script--they won't even have the names of the characters decided yet.
I really think you need to keep it short and simple.
I have a middle schooler, and here is what I would want her to get out of such a presentation.
Where to buy/obtain condoms.
What do the different types mean.
What condoms protect against.
What they don't protect against.
What happens when someone says the condom is uncomfortable (I think this one is a genuine concern. When my dh and I used condoms, I HATED them. I would mention that they come in different sizes and textures, and that you can add lube -- mention appropriate lubes that won't break down the latex -- to make it more comfortable. Encourage them to find a brand or type that they are comfortable with).
Who should carry the condoms. (Boys and girls--both are responsible for sexual activity)
How to carry condoms (not in the wallet or in the glove box of the car--heat breaks them down over time and makes them less effective).
Why condoms have such a high failure rate--addressing these issues may decrease the failure rate.
How to use them properly (your video might cover this, pun intended)
Why do I need a condom if I am on the pill.
What if I'm allergic to latex.
Remember, your teaching plan is not about birth control, sexual activity, etc. It sounds like your teaching plan is about condom usage. Keep your objectives simple and narrow.
Here is personally how I would go about it. Instead of lecturing, I would create a true/false quiz that would hit most of the points I wanted to address. I'd hand them out, give the kids five minutes to answer, and then go over them. I'd ask for volunteers to answer the questions, but I wouldn't force anyone to answer. Use each question to illustrate a point. Frequently ask "any questions? Any comments?"
You might also give them some statistics. General statistics like chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and HIV infection rates among sexually active teens, and how effective condoms are against those infections. Teen pregnancy rates and how effective condoms are. Compare "ideal use" vs "real use" effectiveness rates of condoms.
After that, I show them several different types of condoms. I'd open them in front of them to show them they weren't used (you know they'll joke about it anyhow). I'd pass around the condoms and the packages so that they know what the packages look like, and what the different kinds look and feel like. Expect lots of giggles and comments at this part. I wouldn't let it get too out of hand, but I wouldn't clamp down on it too hard, either.
If you want to do a script of sorts, how about putting them in small groups and then assigning them different scenarios that they have to role play. Different scenarios can be: how to tell someone to put on a condom (as in, stopping making out long enough to tell them, hey, you have a condom?); how to handle your partner pressuring you to have sex without a condom; how to convince your best friend he needs to use a condom. Depending on the age and maturity level of the students, though, this type of exercise might be pretty uncomfortable for some students.
Another idea, instead of doing the roll playing, would be to have them as a large group brainstorm excuses people might use to not use condoms, and then they can break into small groups for a very specific time period (like, 10 minutes or less) and come up with ideas on things to say or do to counter those excuses.
Finally, I'd end by giving them some written pieces of information. Where to get free condoms. Where to buy condoms and lube, and how much those items might cost. Where to get more information about birth control, including abstinence, hormonal, and barrier methods. Where to get additional information about STDs.
Go to your local health department and ask for broshures/handouts on STDs in teens. You can also ask for written information regarding other forms of contraception. The education nurse there should have some pointers on how to teach this subject to this age group, and if she has time she may be able to help you out a bit.
Give everyone a handout packet--if they don't want it, they can toss it. But maybe some of them will take it home and learn something about avoiding pregnancy and STDs, and how to avoid sexual intercourse when they feel they aren't ready. Every packet should include a number to a local domestic abuse/rape hot line, as well as the contact information for the local health department, and what services they provide (including cost and confidentiality).
I also just wanted to throw out there that you will probably have some gay students in the class, so are you going to address safe sex among lesbians and gays? My middle schooler identifies as lesbian, though she's not out to everyone--how would your presentation look to her? Would it seem like a complete waste of her time, or would you address barrier methods among same sex partners, too?
Anyway, I hope my comments are helpful to you. I think that is a pretty big and serious assignment for a nursing student; I'm a little surprised that the school nurse, the administration, and your instructors think this is a good idea. I'm glad to see this sort of teaching done, though, and I hope you enjoy it!
A couple more thoughts-- you might collaborate with the school nurse, maybe give her a run down of your presentation, to see if she thinks it is appropriate and if she has any suggestions. Also, it sounds like you need to provide all your materials in English and Spanish, if possible.

This is the most sensible advice anyone has given here.

Good job.

cjulian214 · Oct 20, 2007

Thanks for all of the help and information...It was really appreciated! I was actually saved by some legalities. The school nurse was under the impression that because the School-Based Health Center (an actual health clinic located on school grounds) was allowed to hand out condoms and make the kids watch the movie, that she could too. We found out that the school based health center is run completely seperately and so they are allowed to hand out condoms and provide teaching anonymously under confidentiality laws but the school nurse cannot provide that information because she is under the school's rules! This sort of relieved me. I ended up being able to present a teaching plan I had a lot of fun with, the students seemed very interested in and I think I did well on.

We started out with communication and argument issues...like when someone is trying to start a fight with you, it will fizzle out if you don't give them any fire. Then we talked about how this outcome allowed you to stay in control of your own emotions and not let another person decide when you are going to get upset. Next, we talked about how, if we wouldn't want to let someone else decide when we are going to get upset, why would we let someone else decide whether or not we are going to do something that is wrong (drugs, alcohol, sex). We discussed as a group ways to say no or get out of a situation and then role played.

Throughout all of this, we played the STD game where I handed out 4 cards to each student with a picture and number on it. Every 3-5 min, I would stop the teaching plan and call out SWTICH and my assistant and I would go around pressuring everyone to switch cards with everyone else. At the end of the switch period, everyone wrote down the numbers of the cards in their hands. At the end of teaching plan, there had been about 4 or 5 switches. Certain cards actually represented STDs and so it showed the kids that although only 2 cards represented HIV, 18 kids out of the 27 had held HIV in their hands at one point, meaning they had been exposed to it also (this went along with very brief explanation of HIV/AIDs, and chlamydia, HPV, herpes, and genital warts were included).

At the end, just briefly, we talked about how the only way to prevent STDs is to not have sex or wear condoms. They filled out little eval sheets and that was the end! It was a lot of fun. OH YEAH- And I had my student helper (who I was doing my case study on) give a little talk about her previous experiences with doing bad things, what she had learned, and how she turned her life around..

Sorry this is so long!

cjulian214 · Oct 20, 2007

Oh yeah- While I was trying to prepare the presentation over the weekend when I thought I still had to do it on condoms, I called my good friend who is a lesbian and asked her what safe sex practices she used. She said she has NEVER had safe sex and the last girl she dated said she always used female condoms and gloves and my friend thought she was strange. Are female condoms the only option for lesbians? Just curious...I probably need to look at some other threads!

justme1972 · Oct 20, 2007

Oh that is messed up. If someone was trying to teach my 11 year old how to put a condom on a member I'd be flipping! WTF?
My daughter doesn't even wear a bra yet and the schools are teaching about putting condoms on? Where do you live? Remind to never move there, I would not want my kids in a messed up school district that teaches this to 6th graders. Thats screwed up.:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire

I second this. To me, middle-schoolers aren't going to be anywhere without adult supervision.

I don't advocate keeping kids in the dark about sex but to teach something like that at that age, no way, no how.

DaFreak71 · Oct 20, 2007

Wow, lot of great ideas on this thread! (well, aside from the ones who advocate burying their heads in the sand).

Peers have more influence on your children than you (the parent) does. This is an established fact. If you think your kid is going to come to you and say "mom/dad...I'm wanting to have sex, could you put me on the pill or buy me condoms"? I'd say the chances of that are like 1:100.

Some areas of the country are still pretty backward even while their teen pregnancy rates are skyrocketing. At my community college where my nursing program is, they won't talk about sex education or hand out condoms (AT A COLLEGE). Gee, guess what part of the country I live in? These young adults have to drive off campus and go to the health department where MAYBE they will get condoms/pills if they are in a good mood or depending on who the nurse is there that day. And yeah, this is the same part of the country that believes that abstinence teaching is the only sort of sexual education that should be provided.

It's worked real well for us down here. :uhoh3:

Mexarican · Oct 20, 2007

Lostdruid...

I'm going to take a guess and say your in Texas. It's not a coincidence that Texas also has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the nation...last time i checked. It either Texas or Florida...can't remember. It just goes to show...you teach ignorance to your children and don't be surprised if you get ignorant children...whata concept!

Mex

DaFreak71 · Oct 20, 2007

Lostdruid...
I'm going to take a guess and say your in Texas. It's not a coincidence that Texas also has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the nation...last time i checked. It either Texas or Florida...can't remember. It just goes to show...you teach ignorance to your children and don't be surprised if you get ignorant children...whata concept!
Mex

Oh how I wish I lived in Texas, at least they have IKEA stores, lol. Sadly, I live in Mississippi--the buckle of the Bible belt. I just don't think that even the most well intentioned parents realized that their children's peers have a much heavier influence on sexual issues than their parents. It is a controversial issue, but I have a feeling that someday most of us are going to look back and say "I can't believe this was even an issue in 2007". As in, I can't believe that people wouldn't advocate for reproductive options when kids are at their most vulnerable stage in their lives. As far as abstinence goes, that's just so much "pie in the sky" thinking. I've read several articles that state that teens that dedicate themselves to abstinence have a higher STD rate. I guess their thinking is that as long as penetration doesn't take place, you can't get an STD. This is a failing in the school system. :trout:

Down here, what is interesting is that the schools have no problem with teaching Christian ideology, including creationism as an alternative to evolution, and yet they don't want the schools to teach them about sexual health. So it's ok that their kids are being taught "moral values", but sex issues are taboo. I am originally from the Northwest where this is virtually a non-issue. Sex and education go hand in hand. Oh well, what can ya do?

Mexarican · Oct 21, 2007

I'm also from the NW...Portland to be exact. I lived there for twelve years until 2005. I miss it terribly but i'm here in Georgia to stay for a while.

Mex

DaFreak71 · Oct 22, 2007

I'm also from the NW...Portland to be exact. I lived there for twelve years until 2005. I miss it terribly but i'm here in Georgia to stay for a while.
Mex

LOL, I was born in Seattle, but raised in Portland! I miss it too, I miss the rain, the mountains, the Pacific ocean, the coffee shops, Powell's bookstore, and the overall vibe. I plan to return some day soon, I hope. I have one year left in nursing school and my husband is going to go to CRNA school, so it might be awhile before I get back home. BTW, I lived in NW Portland on 23rd ave. Very cool place to live. Also lived in Beaverton for a short while and then up by St. Vincent's hospital. Ahh...the memories! What a coincidence that we are from the same place!