Dive Brief:
- New York University professor Jonathan Zimmerman's new book, "Too Hot to Handle: A Global History of Sex Education," traces the history of sex ed in U.S. schools, claiming that today's students need more than just classroom learning about sex.
- Further, District Administration reports, Zimmerman makes the argument that sex ed in schools doesn't affect teen behavior, nor has it impacted the teen pregnancy rate.
- Overall, schools are caught in a tough spot, since teaching sex ed is generally controversial, but modern dilemmas like widespread sexting scandals typically result in angry parents demanding more school involvement in mitigating the issue.
Dive Insight:
As a solution, Zimmerman recommends encouraging students to use "screens," meaning their phones or laptops, to solicit advice from organizations like Planned Parenthood. "There are also some state education and health organizations that have created these text-messaging services, such as in North Carolina and Texas," he told District Administration, noting that such services are entirely voluntary and under the control of individual students.
Texting directly with reputable organizations is logical, but it's also worthwhile for district leaders to remember to try and manage community expectations around sex ed in the classroom. Principals and parents need to share their visions for student learning on the matter with each other to avoid problematic assumptions within their communities.