NCJ Number
124847
Editor(s)
M C McClellan
Date Published
1990
Length
242 pages
Annotation
The appearance and spread of AIDS have transformed attitudes toward sex education in public schools, and most schools now offer some form of education about sexual behavior.
Abstract
Educators face two major problems in responding appropriately to the AIDS crisis. The first is delivering information to students in a way that will encourage them to make careful decisions about their sexual behavior. The second is related to formulating policies that deal with AIDS victims who desire to enter or remain in school. To facilitate AIDS education, information is presented on what is known about AIDS, including statistics on infection rates and projections of the rate of spread among the population. Basic questions and answers are outlined that should be useful to teachers, school administrators, and adults in general. Ethical and legal implications of AIDS are discussed, with consideration given to victim rights and ways to develop plans and policies when schools have an AIDS victim in the student population. Adolescents should be the main target of educational efforts because of their emerging sexuality and experimentation with illegal drugs. Behaviors that put them at risk of pregnancy and drug-related disorders likewise put them at risk for contracting AIDS. An overview of what U.S. schools are doing to provide information to students about AIDS is included, along with guidelines for curriculum selection, development, and evaluation. References, tables, figures.