The Boston Police Department, along with other civil offices, has created a program to teach high school students about sexual assault. The program incorporates films, skits and music videos that critique of gender portrayals in the media. The police department designed this program to combat the rising number of incidents of sexual assault among 12- to 15-year-olds to prevent these statistics from getting out of control.
The five-part lesson plan also includes media and activities that appeal to teenagers and use the media images that they encounter every day. Since these means also help couch the issue of sexual assault in the context of their own lives, students will find more relevance and meaning in the messages and issues discussed in the class.
This innovative teaching method is a welcome change from the boring sex education classes and videos that many of us had to endure in middle school — the outdated videos with fictional dramatizations of unrealistic situations. It is vital to use images that relate to this young teen audience. Instead of inspiring thought-provoking discussions, those outdated tools would far too often inspire snickers from the back of the classroom.
On the other hand, Boston’s new program will allow students to reflect on important issues about societal attitudes toward sex and derogatory messages in popular music and entertainment. It will also teach children about the many forms of sexual assault. Many high school students are victims of sexual assault and do not even recognize it. A flirtatious supervisor, a touchy-feely coach, or a sexually aggressive peer can send mixed messages to teenaged students about sex and intimacy.
In addition, because city youth departments and law enforcement officials are participating in the program, students also have access to the people who can help them in the event that they become victims of sexual assault. The Boston Police Department’s program will benefit students by providing a forum for them to discuss real-life issues relating to sexual assault and will serve to education students about the resources available to them if they are assaulted.
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