Dec 13 2007
For my final project for my New Media class, I surveyed and interviewed members of the sex education community to learn more about them, including where they get information about this topic and how they communicate with others with similar interests. I hope you will read my sex education community report and let me know what you think.
Dec 09 2007
Usually I’m posting news items to help you - the reader - learn more about sex education news…But now I’m hoping for your help. For a project for my New Media journalism class, I am interviewing people who are interested in sex education…The goal is to learn more about how members communicate with others interested in sex education issues, where they turn to for news about this topic and how the media can better cover sex education issues. I am hoping that you will be willing to help me out by completing the following short survey:
Results will be anonymous and aggregated. Next Thursday, Dec. 13, I’ll post a full report with general themes and trends that emerge.
Thanks!
~Joyce
Dec 03 2007
Switching gears, I’m posting a video that demonstrates how to install themes in WordPress. Although this isn’t really related to my blog topic, one of the first things I did when I started blogging was to pick a theme that might fit in well with the tone and subject matter of my blog. I hope this helps if you decide to maintain your own blog someday, or even if you’re already blogging.
Nov 04 2007
Several groups released statements regarding Democrats’ approval of a $28 million increase requested by President Bush for abstinence-only-until-marriage-programs. The Senate passed the bill after removing amendments relating to abstinence education and stem cell research, according to a Kaiser Network post. Read my related post for background.
Here are various organizations’ and bloggers’ reactions to the funding:
Oct 07 2007
Oct 07 2007
Oct 07 2007
1) Should sex education be taught in schools? Or should it be up to children’s parents about how and whether to teach their kids about sex?
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_fIpk2Cftto93qi9yaTmcJzi0jQ
“Republican Mitt Romney criticized his Democratic rivals Thursday for not rejecting the inclusion of gay-related issues in sex education for second-graders.
‘This is a subject that should be left to parents, not public school teachers,’ he said.”
2) Should sex education taught in schools advocate abstinence only until marriage or comprehensive discussion of sex, including discussion of contraceptives?
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS01/709180352/1006
“Teachers were split Monday over the scope of the school district’s new lessons on condoms as they met for training on the revised sex education curriculum. For the first time, Brevard Public Schools teachers are required to deliver 12 standardized sex education lessons to high school students that include information on the effectiveness of contraceptives.”
3) Should sex education be federally funded and what should the content of the programs include?
Under Title V, the Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families program distributes federal funds for sex education programs that agree to bar
discussion of contraception and to promote abstinence until marriage. Eleven states have rejected this funding, which was set to expire on September 30, 2007. Congress recently authorized another three-month extension to fund abstinence-only programs until at least the end of 2007.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/nyregion/21schools.html?em&ex=1190606400&en=d263281a0c9cdcb1&ei=5087%0A
“New York is rejecting millions of dollars in federal grants for abstinence-only sex education, the state health commissioner, Dr. Richard F. Daines, announced yesterday. The decision puts New York in line with at least 10 other states that have decided to forgo the federal money in recent years.”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070930/NATION/109300045/-1/RSS_NATION_POLITICS
“Congress again has extended funding for a core abstinence-education program, sparking protests from sex-education advocates who want Democrats to pull the plug on such programs.”
4) How do religious faith and other morals affect beliefs about sex outside of marriage and sex education?
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070923/NEWS01/709230328
“Most conservative church leaders expect their youth to be sexually abstinent until marriage. Studies have shown most people are not, including those who have made pledges to stay virgins until marriage. Those who are sexually active often keep it hidden out of fear or embarrassment.”
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=666103
“When it comes to teaching sex education in middle school, oral sex and its dangers seem to be taboo topics as educators delicately balance student health and safety with community mores.”
5) Does comprehensive sex education encourage teen pregnancy? Does it promote sex before marriage?
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/teen-pregnancy-sex-education/teenage-pregnancy-6240.htm
“The most effective programs in the U.S. combine abstinence education with medically accurate information on a variety of sexuality-related issues, including contraception, safer sex, and the risks of unprotected intercourse and how to avoid them, as well as the development of communication, negotiation, and refusal skills.”