I did not come to know her until my boys had classes with her. Both of
my children have found that she is an easy person to discuss issues
that teens negotiate in their adolescence. I like and appreciate that
she is there at the school and accessible.
And so, I have a concern, who will take Ms. Huss-Steils' place? Who
will talk to the students about their bodies and the changes they are
going through; about making healthy sexual and relationship choices?
Who will present the students with information about STDs, bullying,
and cyber-bullying? Who will explore peer and societal pressures that
teens face, supporting them as they learn how to cope with stress and
accept themselves as they are? When suicide prevention is mandated to
be included in the high school curriculum in July 2010, will there be a
trained health educator sensitive to students' needs teaching this? And
when sexual violence prevention is mandated the following year (legal
response to Brooke Bennett) who takes that on?
Talking about these topics during an ongoing class presents students
with a different opportunity than when a parent talks to their child.
Ellen Gonnet
Fayston
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