Puberty is an incredible time of growth, change, and challenges — and helping young people navigate this unfamiliar landscape sets them up to enter adolescence with confidence and knowledge.
Most elementary schools in Maine do not have designated health teachers, so the responsibility of teaching puberty — if it happens at all — often falls on school nurses (along with a variety of other staff, including phys ed teachers). While school nurses may be well versed in the changes of puberty, they don’t always have the time, comfort level, and skills to provide classroom teaching on the subject. That’s why MFP’s Prevention Program revised and distributed the 3-lesson Puberty Happens curriculum in 2018, designed to address the social, emotional, and physical changes of puberty for youth in 4th-6th grades. And that’s why we are committed to providing annual trainings for nurses and other school staff on the ins-and-outs of puberty education. Starting this education and awareness in 4-6th grade lays a foundation for healthy sexual behaviors and consensual, respectful relationships in the future.
In working with this curriculum, we’ve heard concerns that teaching puberty in 4th or 5th grade is “too soon” and takes away from “regular” classroom subjects. These misconceptions fail to take into account the fact that many children are starting to go through puberty as early as 9 years old. Our mantra at MFP has always been that young people are better off when they have information about the changes and challenges coming their way before they happen. Why put them through anxiety, fear, and a barrage of misinformation when they should be busy learning? What we also know is that all children are safer when they’re equipped with medically-accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive information.
This fall, a school nurse asked us to provide information about the puberty education landscape in Maine. We sent out a survey asking educators from around the state to share their experiences. The result was a rich body of information about how educators are tackling this challenge in our state. The overwhelming response from our elementary education professionals is that puberty education brings enormous benefits to their students and community. Take a look at what they had to say!
Kipindi cha kubalehe ni wakati wa kukua, mabadiliko, na changamoto <unk> na kuwasaidia vijana kusafiri katika mazingira haya yasiyojulikana huwaweka tayari kuingia katika ujana na ujasiri na maarifa. Shule za msingi nyingi katika Maine hazina walimu wa afya walioteuliwa, kwa hivyo jukumu la kufundisha kubalehe - ikiwa hutokea kabisa - mara nyingi huanguka kwa wauguzi wa shule (pamoja na wafanyikazi wengine mbalimbali, pamoja na walimu wa elimu ya mwili). Ingawa huenda wauguzi wa shule wakajua vizuri mabadiliko ya kubalehe, si mara zote wanakuwa na wakati, starehe, na ustadi wa kufundisha somo hilo darasani. Kwa hivyo, Programu ya Kuzuia ya MFP ilibadilisha na kusambaza mtaala wa masomo matatu ya Puberty Happen mnamo 2018, iliyoundwa kushughulikia mabadiliko ya kijamii, kihemko, na kimwili ya kubalehe kwa vijana katika madarasa ya nne hadi sita. Na hiyo ndiyo sababu tumejitolea kutoa mafunzo ya kila mwaka kwa wauguzi na wafanyakazi wengine wa shule juu ya ins-na-outs ya elimu ya kubalehe. Kuanza elimu hii na ufahamu katika darasa la nne na la nne huweka msingi wa tabia za ngono zenye afya na mahusiano ya makubaliano na heshima katika siku zijazo. Katika kufanya kazi na mtaala huu, tumesikia wasiwasi kwamba kufundisha kubalehe katika darasa la nne au la tano ni "hapo awali" na inachukua mbali na masomo ya darasa la "kawaida". Kwa sababu ya maoni hayo yasiyo sahihi, ni vigumu kuelewa kwamba watoto wengi huanza kubalehe wakiwa na umri wa miaka tisa. "Mantra yetu katika MFP imekuwa daima kuwa vijana ni bora wakati wana habari kuhusu mabadiliko na changamoto kuja njia yao kabla ya kutokea. """ Kwa nini kuwafanya waendelee kuwa na wasiwasi, hofu, na habari zisizo za kweli wakati ambapo wanapaswa kuwa na shughuli nyingi za kujifunza? Tunachojua pia ni kwamba watoto wote wako salama zaidi wanapokuwa na habari sahihi ya kitiba, inayofaa umri, na inayojumuisha. Katika mwaka huu, msaidizi wa shule alituomba kutoa habari kuhusu mazingira ya elimu ya kubalehe huko Maine. Tumefanya utafiti wa kuvutia wa wanafunzi kutoka kote nchini ili kugawana uzoefu wao. Matokeo yake yalikuwa mwili tajiri wa habari kuhusu jinsi walimu wanavyoshughulikia changamoto hii katika jimbo letu. "Jibu kubwa kutoka kwa wataalamu wetu wa elimu ya msingi ni kwamba elimu ya kubalehe huleta faida kubwa kwa wanafunzi wao na jamii. """ Angalia yale waliyoyasema!