- Sue Johanson. Promotional photo.
- Sue Johanson. Promotional photo.
- Sue Johanson on the Tonight Show
August 2018
The controversy over the revocation of the 2015 sex ed curriculum has made me think back to my own sex education. I’m a member of Generation X, so I went through my teen years in the 1980s.
I honestly don’t remember much of the sex education I received in school beyond the Phys Ed teacher telling us this is what it looks like inside the male and female reproductive systems. What I do remember very vividly is going to bed early on a Sunday night, putting my Walkman headphones on and listening to “The Sunday Night Sex Show with Sue” on Q107, hosted by the unflappable Sue Johanson.
Sue was a Registered Nurse who was not embarrassed to talk about anything, and I do mean ANYTHING, related to sex and sexuality. I’d always hoped that one day I’d get at chance to meet Sue in person and tell her she got me through those awkward and often difficult teen years.
The curriculum is only one aspect of sex education. The caliber of the teachers/educators is probably the most important aspect. Not disparage any of the educators currently out there, but we need Sue, or at least someone of Sue’s caliber, back on the radio, TV or internet, in addition to any education provided in schools.
By the way, for those who don’t know, Sue Johanson was invested into the Order of Canada back in 2001, something that is truly deserved.