City of Vienna examines

Sex education in elementary school disturbed children

A boy was so disturbed that his parents took him out of school

(Bild: ©lordn - stock.adobe.com)

Sex education lessons in a Viennese elementary school have seriously disturbed children. The teacher used a female doll to explain very explicitly to the six to ten-year-olds what could be done. One boy was so upset that his parents took him out of school. The city is now looking into the matter.

A teacher used strong words in sex education lessons at a multi-grade elementary school in May to "enlighten" her six to ten-year-old pupils. The teacher used a female doll to explain sexual intercourse. Girls could also use their fingers, she said. Some of the children were disturbed and embarrassed afterwards. One boy told the teacher that he didn't want to listen to that. She replied that he had to. The parents took the boy out of school after the scandal.

"They want our son to change schools"
"We've never seen our son like this before, he was completely out of his depth," the shocked parents told "Krone". "He should change schools instead. Because we can already see the consequences: a few days after this disturbing lesson, a classmate came to play with us. The boy also played with our ten-year-old daughter, as he had done many times before. This time he suddenly wanted to pull her pants down."

The teacher explained to them that you can use condoms if you don't want to make babies.

Eltern zur „Krone"

Another pair of parents also reported being affected: "The teacher explained to them that you can use condoms if you don't want to make babies. The children can't do anything with this information, they are still far too young!" the father is annoyed.

Expert: "Natural shame threshold violated"
Peter Stippl, President of the Association for Psychotherapy, speaks of completely misguided teaching: "It scares the children! They are given the wrong approach to the subject and their natural shame threshold is violated. Sex education must always be age- and development-appropriate. Many children are not interested in sexual intercourse at the age of six, seven or eight - or even older."

Sex education must always be age and developmentally appropriate. Many children are not interested in sexual intercourse at the age of six, seven or eight - or even older.

Peter Stippl, Präsident des Verbands für Psychotherapie

The psychologist hopes that parents will be involved in the design of the lessons and urges vigilance. Education councillor Christoph Wiederkehr's office says that such a thing is of course not in his interest. They are now getting to the bottom of the scandal.

Silvia Jelincic, Kronen Zeitung