National Coalition of Advocates for Students: Guidelines for Selecting Teaching Materials (From AIDS Challenge: Prevention Education for Young People, P 447-461, 1988, Marcia Quackenbush, et al, eds. -See NCJ-117621)

• NCJ Number: 117639
• Author(s): D Davidson
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Network Publications
• Publication Type: Guideline
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

These guidelines were developed by a group of experienced sex educators and child development specialists to help parents, advocates, and school personnel evaluate educational materials on AIDS.

Abstract

The guidelines emphasize that teaching about AIDS should take place within the context of a comprehensive health education or family life education course that presents the positive aspects of sexuality as well as its dangers. An AIDS curriculum must also be appropriate to the chronological and developmental age of the student and should be taught in small groups of 20 or fewer students. The curriculum should provide clear and direct information, emphasize high-risk behaviors rather than high-risk groups, be presented over several class periods, and affirm that people have natural sexual feelings. The program should provide for adequate staff training, help staff examine their own attitudes about sexuality and AIDS, and facilitate an ongoing dialogue with parents. Teachers should individualize their teaching where appropriate, while recognizing the developmental characteristics of students at different grade levels. Lists of information that should be provided to each age group, guidelines for staff training, and discussion of parental and community involvement are included.