Children in a sex education class in Germany were instructed to design a brothel “for everyone” as part of their course, sparking backlash from parents and even other students at the school.
The children, aged between 13 and 15, received the assignment at the Cardinal von Galen Gymnasium in Kevelaer, a small town in North-Rhine Westphalia close to the Dutch border with a population of just 28,000. The community is most known for being a religious pilgrimage site for Roman Catholics, who descend upon the town once per year to honor the Virgin Mary.
The exercise was part of a larger syllabus entitled “Sexual Education of Diversity: Practical Methods on Identities, Relationships, Bodies, and Prevention for Schools and Youth Work.”
This is not the first time prostitution has intersected with youth education in Germany.
In 2023, the city of Berlin has prompted outrage from locals after offering a graphic picture book on prostitution to children via its official website. The book, titled Rosie Needs Money (Rosi sucht Geld), was advertised as a resource for youth aged 6 to 12 years old, and was illustrated using drawings sourced from children in the community.