Educating the Educator

This post was written by CHC member Brynn Foss.

Series: Sexual Health

Brynn serves at Erie Family Health Center - Clemente Wildcats Student Health Center as a Health Educator.

As a health educator with Erie Family Health Center, I spend much of my time in and out of various Chicago Public Schools, talking with students about sexual health.  I present on a wide range of topics from anatomy to healthy relationships to sexual identities. These discussions often push students and educators to discuss the weighty topics that might not otherwise pop up in everyday classroom conversation.

While at times we educators may be wary of the onslaught of'What if…" questions that students pose, these inquiries often bring about sensitive issues that are important to discuss.  For example, one student asked me what the legal procedure is if a person with HIV unknowingly or knowingly spreads the virus to his or her partner.  This question brought out a class debate that touched on consent, stigma, and privacy.

Questions such as this demonstrate why it's so important for educators to keep themselves aware of the changing discourse surrounding the topics they are educating others on.  While we may get comfortable in the classroom after teaching the same topic for months at a time, we need to remember to challenge our own level of knowledge on the issues at hand.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend a presentation at Center on Halsted for the Chicago HIV/STI Surveillance Report and Panel Discussion.  Here, not only was I exposed to some of the most up to date statistics on sexual health in the city, but I was also challenged to re-evaluate my wording on the subject.  We so often push community members to get tested in order to prevent the spread of HIV, but one audience member thoughtfully reminded the group not to villainize those who are living with the virus.  He explained that when speaking on prevention, it's easy to frame those who are HIV+ as the'others" who must inherently bear our critique, due to their status.  Comments such as these help me to grow as an educator and brings a more well-rounded perspective to my future presentations.

I encourage all health educators (and the general public!) to not only look for information from experts in the field, but to remain open to what our community members can teach us.  You may be surprised by what you hear.