‘Kick his groin to avoid sexual assault’

By Lee Hyo-sik

“Kick a man’s groin if he attempts to sexually assault you.’’

This is among the instructions that will be given to elementary and secondary school students here as a way to cope with rapidly increasing sex crimes.

The education ministry said Sunday that it will distribute a new sex education manual to teachers in elementary, middle and high schools across the country Tuesday.

Under the new guidelines, teachers will be encouraged to teach more proactive techniques to help students effectively defend themselves as more minors are the victims of sexually assaults in recent years.

“In the current sex education manual, students are advised only to run away from sex offenders. But in reality, this ‘passive’ approach does not help deter sexual assaults. We think students should learn more aggressive and effective ways to deter an assailant,” a ministry official said.

For instance, the new manual advises students to scream loud so people nearby can come and help them.

They are also encouraged learning how to kick sexual assaulters in the groin and carry self-protection gear. Students are recommended to practice these self-protecting techniques.

“Our new sex education manual will take into consideration rapidly changing realities so that students can learn better ways to protect themselves. It also covers other sex-related subjects that would benefit adolescents,” the ministry official said.

Besides how to protect themselves from sex crimes, the new manual for elementary schools will instruct students about how to interact with friends of the opposite sex and how to prepare themselves for puberty.

The middle school manual will also cover a range of issues, such as pornography, sexual impulses and masturbation.

The new high school manual will extensively deal with prostitution and prevalent views in society dwelling on appearance. Teachers are advised to tell students that appearance is not everything and that there dangers associated with cosmetic surgery. It also suggests that a debate on Michael Jackson and other celebrities who have suffered from an addiction to plastic surgery.

High school students will be taught that prostitution is a crime and not a tool for female students to make quick, easy money. In the new manual, male students will be taught not to consider prostitution as a way to release sexual desire.