I think it's important that masturbation be taught as part of the sex-ed program. I think students need to be told it is a normal, healthy part of life. Why is it they can talk about wet dreams (one way males ejaculate), but they won't talk about masturbation (the most common way adolescent males ejaculate)?
- age 14, Iowa
Why not? Most kids are already doing it anyway ... we might as well make them feel comfortable about it.
- age 32, Pennsylvania
Yeah, actually, I think it should. I am very nervous about masturbation, and in fact scared to do it — and if they taught it in school I would probably be less likely to be so scared.
- age 13, Minnesota
No way! Every guy from the beginning of time has been able to figure it out himself. That's part of the fun!
- age 14, Kentucky
Well, taught like techniques — I don't think if that's feasible, as much as I'd like to see it done. Acknowledging that it exists, yes. Our school district won't even do that.
- age 16, Arizona
No — I don't think most kids would take it seriously.
- age 16, Canada
Should it be taught in school and will it be taught in school are two different things. Yes, it should be, but just today we had a student in our TV broadcast class suspended from school just for saying "Wednesday is National Masturbation Day" on the morning announcements. Does that give you any idea of how far we are from offering information on the subject in classes? By the time you're in high school, most kids know what masturbating means and how to please themselves well enough. But if society is really interested in encouraging safe sex, I would like to see girls get instructed, maybe in health class, on how to masturbate guys, and vice versa. Finding my girlfriend's clitoris has been a real challenge for me — and when you do find it, what do you do with it? Every time she tries to masturbate me she always grabs the base of my penis close to the hairs and starts tugging away. That skin doesn't move and also is not the most sensitive part of a guy's penis. We wind up just having intercourse because it feels better for both of us, mostly because we don't know what the hell we're doing. A little school instruction might mean less AIDS and pregnancy in the world.
- age 17, Ohio
Teaching masturbation in school would only discourage it. (Bad idea!) Just think of how teachers have destroyed poetry, literature, and science! Who would do the teaching? Gym coaches? The school nurse? It all sounds like a good comedy skit — but masturbation (like much of one's education) is best learned away from the classroom, with hands-on experience.
- age 47, Texas
The issue should be discussed in as open and free a way as possible, because it is something that affects most of us. Beyond that, however, it is not the school's role. Schools are places that need to balance all sorts of interests and value systems. Bringing up masturbation would divide the average community, not bring it together, which is something we need badly. Therefore, the topic of masturbation belongs at home.
- age 18, Utah
Absolutely — basic questions/proper names for body parts should be introduced in the primary grades. Masturbation and sexual relations should be introduced at grade 4/age 9. Children this age are involved in sexual experimentation. As a former elementary teacher, I know there will be problems: complaints from parents, and possibly the non-support of the school principal. I'm not sure the risk of one's career is worth it. But why should masturbation be limited only to adults?
- age 60, Germany
My personal opinion is yes. However, people who don't want to be involved should have the choice. In school, they could teach it during health class when boys and girls are separated. This could be very helpful, because teaching masturbation could help to reduce the number of teens being sexually active for two reasons: one, teens would know how to masturbate; and two, they would get the message that masturbation is okay.
- age 14, North Carolina
I don't think so. Kids are going to figure out one way or another. But in a sex-ed class, I think kids should be taught to understand masturbation is okay and that there is nothing wrong with it. It should be accepted, because we know our fathers and our fathers' fathers did it too.
- age 19, Texas
I am a strong believer that masturbation should be taught in school. If the schools taught masturbation, the subject wouldn't be as taboo. And they should also teach masturbation because it is the safest sex.
- age 15, Hawaii
Yes, it should be taught. It's part of our sexuality, so why not teach it?
- age 14, Canada
I think it would be sort of strange to learn about masturbation from a teacher. Plus, who really doesn't know how to do it? If you didn't, you could ask a friend or something, since almost ALL guys do it. But, it might make some people a little more comfortable with it, and masturbation would become less of a taboo.
- age 16, Georgia
I think Web pages are fine for this, because if they taught it in school, I think it would be a little embarrassing for either the teacher or the students. So I think it's fine as it is.
- age 16, Peru
I think schools should teach masturbation as an alternative to sex. Schools are already telling kids to practice safe sex and to use condoms, so why not also tell them about other alternatives? I think teachers should also tell kids it is okay to stimulate yourself as a means of relieving stress and making yourself feel good, and that many people do it as an alternative to having sex until the time is right. After all, masturbation is a part of our culture and should be treated as such.
- age 18, California
I think information should be available if the young man wants it. However, I think there would be a problem with some parents if it were openly presented. Since the young men are going to learn by trial or error, a computer set up in a private room with JackinWorld on it would be a wonderful place for finding the "right" ways to masturbate in a healthy way. Isn't it too bad that something so wonderful as masturbation has to be kept a secret?
- age 62, Texas
I don't think it's necessary for specifics to be taught, but they could tell you the basic definition and that it's perfectly okay. In 6th grade during that "special" afternoon in the library, the nurse told us about ejaculation. That would be a good time to bring up masturbation.
- age 18, California
Definitely. All guys are so shy about masturbating — or, I should say, about anyone else knowing about it. If it were taught in school by use of a tasteful instructional video and diagrams of several techniques, I think it would relieve a lot of tension about it. It would also show it is common and that everyone else does it too. It's nothing to be ashamed of.
- age 16, California
Masturbation should not be taught, per se, but it should not be put down and villainized as being wrong and unhealthy. It should presented as a viable option to intercourse.
- age 19, Georgia
I think not; masturbation is something a guy should find out for himself. Also, guys are uncomfortable enough talking about it with friends — it would be wrong to make them learn about it IN school!
- age 14, California
My parents send me to a military school in the summer, where masturbation was actually taught for a few blocks last summer. All classes are co-ed except gym, health, and horsemanship. The guy who taught health was right out of college and just like one of us. In the sex-ed unit, as soon as he hit on the subject of masturbation, the whole class went nuts. At first everyone just asked the teacher joke-type questions, but then they got more serious, and we learned a ton of stuff from him. And he honestly answered anything we asked him. He probably could have gotten fired for giving so much detail on how to masturbate; he showed us some things with the fake penis they use to show how to put on condoms. Some of the things I learned were really helpful. It would be great if regular schools were so liberal. During the regular school year, I attend a Christian school where they teach that masturbation is a sin ("spilling your seed on the ground," the teacher calls it). At least the health teacher at the Academy gave us a real look at our bodies and useful solutions to the real problems we teenagers face.
- age 15, Ohio
I don't believe masturbation should be taught in schools. Though masturbation is a healthy alternative to intercourse, there are too many moral implications to consider, and some people may have serious objections to teaching masturbation. It may be a good idea, but America isn't ready for it yet.
- age 14, Wisconsin
I don't know if it should be taught — but it should not be ignored. When my teachers refer to abstinence, they never say, "Well, you can always masturbate!" I think we could have a little more lesson-planning involving the gift you can give yourself, but that probably won't happen.
- age 15, Connecticut
Yes — it should be an optional course. A teacher should simply tell how to do it and answer questions, or even direct people to this site. And it should be completely optional and private. But we all know this will never happen because of all the religious and "family values" groups involved deeply in schools (when they shouldn't be).
- age 16, Colorado
YES! ABSOLUTELY! I mean, it kind of is anyway, by friends to friends — but not openly. I mean, they tell us how to have sex ... why not tell us how to do it safely?
- age 15, Utah
Yes. It would open up more guys to masturbation and not sex. Some people are nervous about talking about beatin' the bone, but it's okay, and they need to know that. Happy whacking!
- age 16, Arkansas
The topic of masturbation is one of grave concern. Different people have different opinions on it. Public schools cannot, in conscience, support the idea, whether openly or privately. Private schools are a different matter altogether. Religious schools, for example, follow their beliefs; I am a Roman Catholic, attending a parochial school — and as you probably know, Catholics are not too fond of the idea of masturbation. But times are changing. More and more people are doing it and starting at a younger age. I, myself, do not remember where I learned to do it or how, but I did. People must realize masturbation is a natural part of life. You can go to the zoo and see monkeys doing it right there in their cage! People, one way or another, will learn how to do it, whether from a friend or a relative. People should know the right way to do it and the best way to do it, and the information should come from competent, professional educators.
- age 16, Illinois
I definitely think it should — however, I can't imagine my health teacher teaching masturbation to our class. I suppose the best way would be a video or something. I personally would have preferred a video rather than a teacher telling me. I think what is more important is that they tell us it is okay to do it, rather than actually teaching it. Besides, in 7th and 8th grade we all knew how to do it, anyway.
- age 17, California
Yes! Just as there are pictures showing how to put on a condom, there could be pictures in a book/brochure showing a typical Fist position for a guy and the location of the clitoris for the girl. Or, at the very least, a paragraph describing the basic technique. If anything, it would let kids know that what they're doing in private has a name, and that others do it, too. As a kid I thought I had discovered something unique (I started when I was 8, much younger than my friends), because no one talked about it. Dr. Elders was right; too bad she lost her job as Surgeon General for stating the obvious.
- age 49, New York
Hell, yes — there should be an entire class devoted to learning the styles and techniques of the art of masturbation.
- age 15, Missouri
I don't think it should be taught in school. Most parents don't want their kids doing it, anyway. Plus, most guys find out what it is by other means.
- age 17, Florida
I think it would be great if masturbation were taught in school, but I doubt it's a very realistic idea. School-age people generally just aren't mature enough to handle this sort of thing, and (at least in the US) people are way too conservative about such issues at this time. Perhaps one day. (It would also be nice to see more tolerance for nonsexual nudity.) If it is ever taught in school, I would hope it would be stressed that masturbation is normal and healthy.
- age 15, California
I think it should be taught as part of a general sex-ed unit on non-coital forms of safe sex. The emphasis should be on teaching kids to abstain from intercourse (for health and emotional reasons), but to enjoy their sexuality and to satisfy their normal urges in other ways. This is a more realistic and practical (not to mention enjoyable) approach to preventing AIDS and unwanted pregnancy than the purely moralistic "abstinence-based" curriculum. Of course, they should be taught about contraception and condoms so those who make an informed decision to have intercourse can do it safely and responsibly. I do think a frank discussion of alternatives to intercourse would probably result in less intercourse — and more pleasure! As far as the details go, I think it would suffice to describe what masturbation is, explain that it's normal (but should be done only in private — I'm a little squeamish about mentioning that it's common for boys to do it together), but leave it up to individuals to discover the appropriate techniques for themselves. I don't think it's really necessary or appropriate for schools to teach students how to masturbate; if they simply explain it in a neutral fashion, it should be sufficient to encourage kids' natural inclinations. Besides, it's more fun to explore it and figure it out for yourself!
- age 36, California
I'd be all for it, although it would be very embarrassing to sit in such a class. Class participation and student input would be almost nil. My report card would be a grade of 'F' for participation. The tests would be interesting, though!
- age 17, Nevada
No! Give me a break! It would cause too many problems. Anyway, who would decide the best way to teach it?
- age 14, Ohio
Yes! It would be nice if some of the masturbation rumors were stopped early on in puberty. Why not take the guilt out of doing something so great?
- age 19, Washington
I think it would be kind of funny. But, no — the kids wouldn't take it seriously. Besides, what would they have for a final exam?
- age 13, Indiana
Well, even though I masturbate frequently, I would have to say masturbation could be brought up in school for a discussion or two, but I don't think it should be taught. Masturbation really is a private issue. It may not only offend many students but might even be confronted by the law. As the topic of evolution was in the past, masturbation might bring up a worldwide controversy of whether it's right or wrong!
- age 15, Ohio
I think it often is, now — in sex-ed classes they at least define the term, acknowledge that a lot of boys do it (girls, too? oh my!), and try to debunk some of the "blindness" and "insanity" myths. I'm SURE they would never go into technique, but then by the time they teach it, most kids already know about it anyway — right? Actually, in today's super-charged, hysterical, anti-sex culture, I doubt seriously that any school would venture any further than the scratch-the-surface acknowledgment I described above. Should schools teach masturbation? Sure — but as part of teaching kids how to love without sensationalizing lust. Now, is it possible to teach a 13-year-old who's high on testosterone *anything* about love? Hmmmm.
- age 56, New Jersey
Yes, I think we must talk about masturbation in school. I am a biology teacher, and I talk about sexuality to my pupils. Most times, when boys speak about sexuality, for them, it's sexual intercourse with a woman. We must explain that sexuality is a lot of things: babies have a sexuality, young children too — but it's different by the ages. So in school, when I have 13-year-old boys and girls, I talk to them about masturbation because it's normal for their ages. Frequently they ask me how to masturbate or how to have sperm, especially when they are young (11-13); I say just "you know, when you are in the shower and when you wash your penis, you agree it's good, isn't it?"
- age 27, France
Hell no! Let it be discovered by the youth. It should provide an escape from school and its problems.
- age 17, Pennsylvania
Yes! It should be taught the way JackinWorld is set up. I think this is much better than leaving us to figure it out ourselves.
- age 12, Oregon
Absolutely. When I was around 12, all of the guys in my class were fascinated with masturbation. You'd hear people joking about it in the locker room or rubbing their jeans because it felt good. Kids aren't stupid and will figure it out when they rub their penises — so why not explain to them what they're doing and explain to them it's not some incredible sin, and that a great majority of other guys do it? It's not like it would be done in front of kindergartners, or the teacher would demonstrate in front of class ... simple, basic information like techniques, why it feels good, and that it's normal — I think that would be a great benefit for kids. In short: guys do it, so why not explain it to them?
- age 16, Ohio
Honestly, yes. The first time I masturbated, it scared me to death. I ran to the bathroom fearing I was going to urinate all over. After that, I still wasn't sure it was safe. Education is great, and if masturbation can be taught as self-pleasure, as natural, and as something most boys and men do, perhaps there wouldn't be such a thing about it. I masturbate 2-3 times a day, and it helps me to concentrate. It also helps me when I'm upset. Sure, it feels good, but it also helps one to regain lost concentration. IT'S NATURAL. IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE SAID SO.
- age 16, Missouri
Do you find yourself masturbating more often during some seasons than others? Why?
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SHOULD MASTURBATION BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL?
[Notes: As with the case of the "firing" of Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, many people misinterpreted the word "taught" in this context. I personally believe the topic of masturbation should be taught; teaching technique, other than at the most basic, superficial level, is probably not feasible for several reasons. But during sex education, a good 10 to 15 minutes should be devoted to discussing the topic: What is it? Is it okay to do? How many people masturbate, and how often? What are the benefits, and are there any possible downsides? And how can it be used as a safe alternative to intercourse between potential sex partners? In a biology class at my all-male private high school, the topic once came up; one of my classmates admitted, "I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't shoot my wad every day!" — and that simple statement was incredibly reassuring and liberating to hear. I agree with the many readers who wrote that even a brief mention in a sex-ed class would help to demystify masturbation and make it less of a taboo topic. -M.J.]