As blogged earlier this week by Culture Campaign, this inside look at public school attitudes regarding the sexualization of students continues to expose more disturbing facts.
Excerpts from 'Article on teen sex fans debate'
February 8, 2007
By CRISTEL MOHRMAN Staff Writer
A high school newspaper story about teen sex habits has sparked discussion within the school and community about the appropriateness of the topic and the accuracy of the story.
"The whole purpose of the article was to show what teenagers are thinking about oral sex," said Karen Barrett, Spokesman adviser and journalism teacher. "I think the story portrays pretty accurately this teenager's experience. Unfortunately, I feel it's more common than people think it is. I was really happy with how it portrayed this girl's story."
Critics, including the Wheeling High School Principal Dorothy "Dottie" Sievert, say the story did not warn students about the risks involving oral sex, particularly sexually transmitted diseases.
Sievert said she thought the story came across as one-sided.
School administrators do not review the student newspaper before it is published, but Sievert said the story resulted in a new policy that requires the postponement of questionable stories if the newspaper adviser is not present at deadline.
Barrett said she guided the article's author, Elizabeth Corey, throughout the writing process. She is typically there to advise students on the newspaper's deadline night, but was out of town due to a death in her family when the Jan. 26 issue was completed. Colleagues at Wheeling High School filled in for her.
Had Barrett been present the night the newspaper was completed, she's not sure how different the final product might have been.
"I think the story definitely would have run. How it would have run, I don't know. Hindsight is always 20-20. Maybe we could have avoided some of the backlash and still told the story responsibly," she said.
Sievert acknowledged that students are talking about oral sex, and national statistics indicate it is happening.
"I don't think Wheeling High School is different than any other high school around, and I don't think a majority of students are engaging in this activity," she said.
Sievert said she's received "minimal reaction" from the Spokesman article.
Barrett said most students did not seem to have a problem with the Spokesman's article.
"The students I've heard from weren't shocked that someone had this experience. They were more shocked that it was published in the newspaper," she said.
