Learning about the Labeled: Teaching a Course on Sexual Offenders while Accounting for Students who may be Abuse Survivors

Abstract

Teaching a course on sexual offenders presents instructors with a variety of challenges, including teaching students who may be sexual assault victims. Faculty must work to overcome preconceived, often erroneous, student beliefs about sex offenders, which have been influenced by the media’s reporting on the subject. This paper is the result of teaching undergraduate and graduate class on sexual offending for thirteen semesters. This article serves as an instructional tool to create a balanced class structure that prepares the instructor on how to remain unbiased and objective in the face of emotional, political, and religious opposition from the students. Specific subject topics, course material, assignments, and in-class activities are examined as a learning platform to disseminate information on sex offending and the sex offender registry.