A school in Germany had to cancel its sex education classes after students aged 13 and 14 were tasked with designing a “new brothel for everyone”.
An eighth-grade class at a Catholic high school in Keverer, North Rhine-Westphalia, received the unusual assignment to create an inclusive brothel, complete with a floor plan. Local sources reported that news of this curriculum quickly spread across Germany, leading to scrutiny from school leaders and local authorities.
The worksheet titled “A new brothel for everyone!” prompted students to consider important aspects of modern brothel design, asking questions like, “What sexual preferences should we accommodate?” “How can a brothel be welcoming and accessible?” and “What advertising should be used?”
After brainstorming various factors, including the workers and the services offered, students would come together for a group discussion.
The Cardinal von Galen Gymnasium was called to clarify these unconventional lessons. The school’s administration defended the approach, insisting the discussions, while provocative, aimed to foster meaningful dialogue.
The principal explained to local media that the material, titled “Sex Education for Diversity,” was intentionally designed to provoke thought and discussion.
He mentioned that this approach reflects societal changes regarding diverse lifestyles and gender roles and responds to the influence of social media on youth, exposing them to a wide array of sexual orientations.
The school noted that students would be exploring “Lifestyle and Sexual Diversity” differently and expressed regret for any anxiety caused in the community.
The local Alternative for Germany (AfD) party called on Mayor Dominik Pichler, of the Social Democratic Party, for an explanation. The mayor acknowledged the lesson’s provocative nature but saw no scandal in providing sex education to children.
In Germany, prostitution is entirely legal, recognized as a registered profession, with taxes paid on income. However, this liberal stance has been increasingly criticized, especially regarding issues related to human trafficking within the industry.
According to broadcasting sources, concerns were raised not just about the appropriateness of the school’s curriculum but also about the implicit acceptance of prostitution as morally acceptable. Critics argued that this positive framing of “brothels for all” in educational contexts perpetuates a dated notion that prostitution is empowering and anti-patriarchy.
