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Volume 14 | Issue 28 | June 06, 2019
Tarana Burke's #MeToo movement has shed new light on the prevalence of gender-based harassment and violence. As national conversations about power, patriarchy, and oppression continue to expand, we have seen acknowledgement on a smaller scale (including through #MeTooK12) that schools and students are not immune to these issues. But conversations about healthy relationships and dating, gender equality, sexism, and harassment are not easy, which has led to a longstanding culture of silence. Only about half of all states have requirements for teaching sex education, leaving the landscape around students' knowledge of these topics uneven.
In this issue, advocates and educators who work for more comprehensive sexuality and consent education share how they've seen students affected by #MeToo and how instruction, curricula, and conversation can pave the way for a healthier climate.
Alicia Johnson
Opportunities abound to teach young children the language to say "yes" or "no" as they learn how to respect personal space.
Kate Stoltzfus
Conversations with K–12 students about sexuality and healthy relationships are still largely taboo. Rose Barcklow, a health specialist for Denver Public Schools, discusses how she worked with students, parents, and teachers to create a comprehensive model for education.
Avni Singh
The normalization of inappropriate behavior makes middle and high school a breeding ground for future harassers and #MeToo victims, says one high school senior. But students have solutions—as long as adults are willing to give them a platform.
Caitlyn Caruso
If trusted adults don't hold meaningful conversations about sexuality with students, how can we expect students to process their experiences—the good, bad, and all that falls in between?
Kristina Herrera
School-age children are developing beliefs, values, and behaviors that drive their response to uncomfortable or threatening situations. Educators can provide social-emotional instructional opportunities that teach students how to conduct themselves respectfully.
Lincoln Mondy
Conversations around consent, puberty, body image, and healthy relationships should start early in a child's life as a critical component of their education, just like math and history.
Laura Varlas
Teaching about consent conveys a fundamental life skill that has relevance for all ages. Here's how some schools are approaching consent education.
Richard Weissbourd
We can't stop sexual harassment in adulthood without addressing its roots in secondary schools.
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