Tough New Issues Refocus Health Education

N

4

Comprehensive School Health Education; Dating (Social); Social Networks; Technological Advancement; Violence; Internet; Bullying; Computers; Sex Education; Sexuality; Obesity

1537-5749

From dating violence to sexting and social networking, districts are struggling to address a number of sensitive and relatively new health education issues that are aggravated by students' increasing access to computers, cell phones and other digital devices. Through new or revised curricula, administrators are attempting to deal with these and other issues. Their efforts sometimes become contentious when parents object to language or materials used in a curriculum and even threaten lawsuits to force changes. A revised health education curriculum that the Helena (Montana) Public Schools adopted in October 2010 requires instruction in all grades to underscore district policy against any form of bullying or other harassment or intimidation of students. Superintendent Bruce K. Messinger said that he and his co-administrators inserted the policy right into the curriculum. But when parents objected to some language proposed in the curriculum--at least one parent threatened to sue the district--the language was changed. Messinger added that it is difficult to create a curriculum that appeases everyone, but they are trying to be sensitive to these issues.

ERIC

2011

EJ912677