Can Sex Education be Practical?

The question is raised of whether sex education can or should be 'practical', in the sense of involving 'hands-on' experience, rather than only the transmission of biological information and moral precepts. We have the opposing intuitions (1) that sexuality is essentially private, so that such experience may be disruptive or invasive or otherwise inappropriate; but also (2) that other aspects of moral education depend greatly on contexts in which adults set good examples and make use of practical experience. These intuitions are explored and sophisticated via an analysis of the concept of sexuality. The conclusion is reached that, whilst individual privacy must be respected, much more should nevertheless be done by way of examples, role-playing, and sexual engagement (appropriately controlled and monitored), without which young people are left to struggle with their own sexuality in isolation.