LAURA NASH’S12 QUESTIONS

Framework to Decision Making

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Choices:

A- Community Problem--- community advocates

“abstinence only” despite the increasing percentage of

pregnant teenagers

B- Insubordination Problem--- teacher gives

contradictory advice to the county policy

C- Policy Problem--- school board policy does not

address the current needs of the community and student

sexual education

WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM?

Choices:

A- Parents found the book and information about the clinic

B- School policy makes employees unable to give any

advice beyond the abstinence only education.

C- Student who asked the teacher to help provide

information outside of the mandated sexual health

curriculum

TO WHOM DO YOU GIVE YOUR LOYALTIES?

Choices:

A- Ms. Reynolds, Teacher

B- School Board

C- Students

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CARRIES THE GREATEST VALUE

IN MAKING THIS DECISION?

Choices:

A- Academic Achievement

B- Student Safety

C- Student Health and Well-

being

HOW WOULD YOU RESOLVE THIS S ITUATION?

Choices:

A- Propose a revision to the “abstinence

policy” to the school board

B- Discipline the teacher who provided

information outside of the abstinence only

policy

C- Meet with the parents and try to

diffuse the situation

WHAT ARE LIKELY RESULTS?

Discussion:

WHAT ARE LIKELY RESULTS?

Discussion:

1. Turmoil in the community among those who support

“abstinence only”

2. Possible increased support from parents of

students who are against the “abstinence only” policy

3. School board eliminates principal’s job for the

upcoming school year

HOW WOULD EACH OF THE FOLLOWING BE NEGATIVELY

IMPACTED BY YOUR DECISION?

Discussion:

1. Students

2. Principal

3. Guidance Counselor

4. Community at large

W H I C H A F F E C T E D PA RT I E S W O U L D Y O U E N G A G E I N D I S C U SS I O N B E F O R E TA K I N G

A C T I O N ?

Choices:

A. Ms. Reynolds, Teacher

B. Mrs. Lewis, School Counselor

C. Mr. and Mrs. Dimmick, Parents

D.Superintendent

E. All of the Above

WHAT IS THE SYMBOLIC POTENTIAL OF YOUR ACTION?

Discussion:

1. Misunderstood

2. Understood

WHAT IS THE SYMBOLIC POTENTIAL OF YOUR ACTION?

Discussion:

1. Misunderstood~ Seen as potentially promoting promiscuity ~ Supporting a teacher who went against school board policy

2. Understood-

~ Community acknowledges the teenage

pregnancy problem

~ School Board adopts our proposed sexual

education curriculum

UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS WOULD WE ALLOW

EXEMPTIONS?

Our policy could allow for parents to

“opt” their children out of sex

education curriculum

REFERENCES

Wingo, P.A., Smith,R.A., Tevendale, H.D & FerrÊ, C. “Recent changes in the trends of teen

 

birth rates, 1981–2006.” Journal of Adolescent Health 48 (2011):281–288. Print.

 

Santelli, J.S., Abma, J., Ventura, S., Lindberg, L., Morrow, B., Anderson, J.E., Lyss, S. &

 

Hamilton, B.E. “Can changes in sexual behaviors among high school students explain the

 

decline in teen pregnancy rates in the 1990s?” Journal of Adolescent Health 48 (2004):35:80–

 

90. Print.