In a striking incident at East Lansing High School in Michigan, Professor Clara Johnson decided to share her experience live-tweeting her son’s sex education class. Equipped with a Wi-Fi connection in the back of the classroom, Johnson began documenting the session as her frustration grew over the information being presented.
The educators, who were not regular school staff but outside specialists, delivered a barrage of alarming statistics and anecdotes, claiming that condoms are largely ineffective and that premarital pregnancy leads to a life of social isolation and despair. As Johnson’s anger mounted, so did her tweets, filled with her disbelief over the rhetoric being shared.
While the class focused on cautionary tales surrounding premarital sex, Johnson couldn’t help but challenge the narrative. She noted that the instruction leaned heavily towards fear-based stories rather than comprehensive education. The conversation quickly shifted to the ineffectiveness of birth control, prompting her to express her frustration more emphatically in all caps.
The school’s principal later clarified to media outlets that the curriculum is not strictly abstinence-only, but rather “abstinence-based.” However, Johnson’s post-class research revealed that the group responsible for the session was a pro-life Christian organization, suggesting a biased approach to sex education. This aligns with wider studies questioning the efficacy of abstinence-only education, even as funding for such programs continues through Congress until 2017.
As a Clinical Professor in the Medical Humanities and Bioethics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Johnson found the entire experience infuriating. Following her tweets, she faced restrictions at school events and was informed she would be subjected to “special monitoring” due to her outburst after class. Many students had heard her express her frustrations using colorful language, a scenario that could easily mirror a similar situation for many parents.
Despite her concerns, Johnson still believes that her son attends a good school but feels the district may lack awareness regarding the teachings of the external groups they hire. Given the attention her tweets have garnered, it’s likely they are now more informed. For more insights on reproductive health and parenting, check out resources like this excellent guide on infertility.
In summary, Professor Clara Johnson’s live-tweeting of her son’s sex education class highlights significant concerns about the quality and bias of sex education being provided in schools today, raising questions about the effectiveness of abstinence-based programs.