When we describe these materials as "high quality," we refer to the production value of the era. In 1991, schools frequently utilized educational videos that were a step up from the grainy films of the 1970s. These videos featured:
“These changes mean your body is working correctly. Respect your own body and the bodies of others. Always ask questions—silence leads to fear.” When we describe these materials as "high quality,"
However, as a historical document, it is invaluable. It captures a moment in time when a small group of Belgian filmmakers, fueled by a progressive ideal, attempted to answer the question: "What would an utterly honest puberty education look like?" The answer was a film that is biological, romantic, educational, and deeply problematic all at once. For those who encountered it, the "English.29" version of Puberty: Sexual Education for Boys and Girls was a rite of passage, a flickering window into a world of answers that few others dared to provide. It remains a powerful, complex, and unforgettable artifact of 1991, a year when the conversation about how to teach young people about their bodies changed forever. Respect your own body and the bodies of others
Consent is the foundation of all healthy interpersonal interactions. It must be: For those who encountered it, the "English
Physical Changes in Boys Boys typically start puberty between ages 9 and 14. The first changes are enlargement of the testes and scrotum, followed by growth of the penis. Pubic, underarm, and facial hair appear. Testosterone causes the voice to deepen as the larynx grows and the vocal cords lengthen; boys may experience “voice cracking” during this time. Muscle mass increases and shoulders broaden. Boys also have a growth spurt, usually later than girls, and may begin producing sperm (spermarche), which enables reproduction. Like girls, boys experience increased sweat and oil production and possible acne.
Parents, teachers, school nurses, and counselors are valuable resources.
Developed by a task force of health and education professionals, these guidelines proposed a developmental framework for sex education from kindergarten through 12th grade. They included age-appropriate topics such as: