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The
April 2001 edition of ReCAPP focuses on Managing Controversy related
to teen sexuality and preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). This
edition of Topic in Brief includes the following:
Controversy
is often defined as a "clash of opposing views." Most would agree that
there is more than enough controversy in sexuality education. Strong feelings
come from all sides, especially when human sexuality and how it should,
or should not, be taught to young people are involved.
| An Overview
of the Issues |
Many of
the issues probably sound familiar:
- What age is appropriate for sexuality education?
- Does
teaching about contraception imply permission to have sex?
- Is teaching
about contraception and promoting abstinence giving a double
message?
- Does
sexuality education belong at home, in the schools, or both?
- What
should we be telling youth about sex outside of marriage?
- Is taking
an abstinence-only approach realistic?
- Do "virginity
pledges" work?
- What
should we teach youth about abortion?
- Does
informing youth about emergency contraception promote unprotected sex?
- How
should differences in sexual orientation be acknowledged?
- What
rights should adolescents have to confidentiality?
- Is it
possible to teach teens about all possible negative consequences of
sexual intercourse and still encourage an appreciation of their own
natural, healthy sexuality?
Educators
often face controversy from at least two different sources: the concerned
individual and the so-called "organized opposition." The concerned individual
may be a parent, administrator or teacher who has questions about the
information being shared with youth.
On the other
hand, the issues may be very different when dealing with an organized
group defined by its specific values and beliefs, (See A Right Wing
and A Prayer, under Recommended Books in More
Information/Resources.) In many cases, the mission of the "organized
opposition" is to resist or oppose a program seen as representing different
values.
However
the issues arise, there can be value in controversy, especially when we
can prepare for and manage the process constructively. A dialog can be
informative for both sides, and the potential for mutual understanding
is worth the effort.
Most importantly,
educators should be prepared by planning programs carefully. It
may be unrealistic to avoid all controversy, but communities with the
most successful sexuality education programs have prudently planned for
their programs. They have also learned to accept a difference of opinions
within their communities and work within those boundaries.
Some principles
to remember when planning your program:
- Being proactive is better than being reactive. Address potential
issues up front instead of waiting to see if they surface.
- Know
your programs, materials and staff well.
- The
best response to criticism is openness to it. Standing up to criticism
by respectfully laying out facts as you know them is usually the most
credible response. An angry or dismissive response to criticism can
often make matters worse.
- Irrational
arguments always have an underlying reasonable concern. Remember
that concerned individuals often have rational doubts or feelings that
they find difficult to express.
- Never
"argue" with the Bible.
- Opposition's
strength is in raising moral doubts. Be prepared to have your morality
questioned, and don't get caught up in arguments about morality which
can't be resolved.
The following
principles are useful while building and maintaining your program:
- Involve parents and the community.
- Become politically active and build coalitions to support your
programming.
- Understand your opponents' views and know how to respond to their
arguments.
- Know the current literature and statistics on adolescent health.
- Allow for adequate program planning time:
- Use small community committees.
- Establish realistic goals and objectives.
- Assess community readiness for your program, (e.g. survey the community).
- Obtain endorsements from key public figures.
- Adopt written policies.
- Include abstinence in programming.
- Provide adequate, ongoing staff training.
- Adopt policies for handling complaints and giving support to staff.
Adapted
from The Front Lines of Sexuality Education (ETR Associates,
1984)
top
| More Information/Resources |
National
organizations with additional information on managing controversy include:
- Sexuality Information and Education Council of U.S. (SIECUS)
130 W.
42nd Street, Suite
350
New York,
NY 10036-7802
(212) 819-9770
(New York office)
(202) 265-2405
(Washington, DC office)
www.siecus.org
- Alan
Guttmacher Institute (AGI)
120 Wall
Street
New York,
NY 10005
(212) 248-1111
www.agi-usa.org
- Mothers'
Voices
165 W.
46th Street, Suite
701
New York,
NY 10036
1-888-MVOICES
www.mvoices.org
- American
School Health Association (ASHA)
7263 State
Route 43
P.O. Box 708
Kent, Ohio
44240
(330) 678-1601
www.ashaweb.org
- Kaiser
Family Foundation
2400 Sand
Hill Road
Menlo Park,
CA 94025
(650) 854-9400
www.kff.org/docs/sections/repro/eirh.html
- Planned
Parenthood Federation of America
810 Seventh
Ave.
New York, NY 10019
(212) 541-7800
www.plannedparenthood.org
A few recommended
books:
- A Right Wing and A Prayer
People
for the American Way, 1997
Web site:
http://pfaw.org
- Taking
Sides .. Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Sexuality Education
(5th Ed), 1996
By Robert
T. Francoeur,
Dushkin
Publishing, Guilford, CT
- Safer
Sex .. The New Morality
2000
By Evelyn
Lerman
Buena Park,
CA
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