EDUC 2120 Blog #9

I believe that the greatest risk factor for youth is sexual behavior. Adolescent sexual activities is a growing risk factor for modern students, ages thirteen through eighteen, with surveys in 2009 of high school students indicating that forty-six percent of students have had intercourse, at least once. The risk isn't just of a moral impact, be it sex before marriage or other religions and society “laws”, but also contributes to teen pregnancies and the spread of deadly STDs. Though recent surveys show an increase in sexual activities amongst minorities, considerably African Americans, doesn't mean greater deal of effort should be focused on them. Instead I believe an equal amount of time and effort should be directed towards all youth, whether they be at risk, high risk, or regular adolescents and should be taught alongside substance abuse awareness. Substance abuse is by far one issue that kids must confront today with a greater challenge, than kids of previous generations. Because of the popularity of altered states of consciousness produced by these substances, adolescents tend to fall under one of two categories: the compulsive users and the experimenters. These drug related obstacles lead the child to unhealthy and serious long term issues. My personal goal for my classroom is to create and opening environment for each child so they at least know, and hopefully, feel comfortable enough to come to me and talk to me about these issues and much more. I believe that by the time I become a teacher, there will need to be sexual education classes implemented in the upper level elementary classrooms, like fourth and fifth grade classes, because statistics are showing that puberty is starting earlier which means students will start experimenting with their bodies and engaging in some kind of sexual relationship with another person. I also believe that there should be more emphasis on how harmful drugs are for a person. I think some educators might be too afraid to talk about drugs and alcohol to children because it might peek their interest to try some, but I believe that opposite. I believe that schools and teachers need to be honest and open about the effect of drugs and alcohol on a person and that more than just one or two weeks out of the school year should be dedicated to drug free awareness programs.

Source: Multicultural Education in Pluralistic Society by Donna M. Gollnick and Philip C. Chinn