The Practice of Implementing Lessons on the Topic "Human Reproduction" by Biology Teachers

Currently, sexual education is not a separate subject in Russian schools. However, issues related to health, gender, sex, and sexuality can be addressed within the "Human Reproduction" topic taught by biology teachers. This study addresses the problem of how, in the absence of regulatory standards for sexual education in schools, biology teachers incorporate social and psychological aspects into the "Human Reproduction" topic or whether they limit themselves to medical and physiological aspects only. The aim of this work is to identify and analyze the various practices and approaches used by biology teachers in teaching aspects of sexual education. The research tasks include developing a conceptual framework, analyzing the Federal State Educational Standards (FSES), textbooks, and international practices, conducting in-depth interviews with teachers, and analyzing the identified practices. The work consists of two chapters. The first chapter is devoted to the theoretical foundations of sexual education research in Russia and abroad, defining key concepts and distinguishing between the terms "sexual education," "sexual enlightenment," and "sex education." The second chapter examines the practices of biology teachers, reflecting their approaches to discussing sexual education within the "Human Reproduction" topic. The results of the study show that, despite the lack of regulatory standards, teachers address both medical-physiological and socio-psychological aspects when teaching the "Human Reproduction" topic. Teachers, though not systematically and outside of the formal curriculum, still implement the process of sexual education, fostering a conscious attitude and behavior in students regarding the studied subject matter.