Something Positive to Say?

"The problem is, Karen, you don't have a product."

This pronouncement came from my brother-in-law. He pointed out that "the other side" sells stuff --- condoms, birth control, abortions, etc. --- while we are promoting a behavior.

It's an obvious but very astute observation. How do you "sell" sexual self-control? Oh sure, we have the DVD "Everyone Lies About Sex" but it's mainly an introduction to the concept.

How DO you sell the behavior of "impulse control?" Seems pretty tricky. But just because something is hard, doesn't mean it can't be done!

So, here's the plan. To help us come up with a product...

Positively Waiting is sponsoring a T-Shirt Design Contest

We're looking for positive, pithy designs we can put on a T-shirt. The kind of design that makes people stop and think.. and hopefully start a discussion.

Maybe something like:

• Resisting temptation today to be faithful tomorrow.
• Hookups are temporary. Friends are forever.
• Smile if you controlled our passion today

Every useable design will win a pass to Skateland or Mountasia The 3 best designs plus the people who referred the most designers will win awards on Saturday, October 3rd. 2009.

Deadline for submissions is Sept. 25th 2009.

Health Innoculation Is Now Stealth Indoctrination

Health and Life Skills classes will no longer be taught as stand-alone subjects at Granada Hills Charter High School. Instead the required "health concepts" (meaning, nutrition, suicide prevention, body systems,and sex education) will be incorporated into Physical Education.

I'm not a parent of a child attending GHCHS so my input is completely irrelevant to the decision makers. And I really hope to establish relationships with the PE teachers who are now going to be saddled with teaching sex ed. But I can't help but wonder...

State Law requires a "comprehensive" sex education program be taught. That means the students have to receive information on reproduction, pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual harassment and safe surrender laws. It's hard to imagine PE teachers choosing to become fully informed about this complex material so they can teach it effectively, when it would be much easier to call the local clinic to schedule a presentation.

If I were a GHCHS PE teacher, that's what I would do. Hand out pills, shots, cream, foam and condoms today... your shoulder pads will be here tomorrow.

Unlike most LAUSD schools in the San Fernando Valley, GHCHS has had very low pregnancy and infection rate. Since 1998 has been the ONLY public school in our community where every student saw a Positively Waiting presentation as a part of their Health class. All four of the Health teachers made sure their students heard as much about Risk-ELIMINATION as Risk-REDUCTION. Years of the PW message on campus has provided positive peer-pressure for students to practice sexual self-control.

Will PE teachers, now required to disseminate mountains of complex, politically-charged material, in addition to their own course requirements, be as concerned about teaching both sides? I honestly don't know. I hope so.

Oh, and in case you're wondering what will take the place of a 20-week class focusing on the importance of making informed health decisions --- and the lifelong consequences of failing to do so --- students will now be encouraged to take a year-long course in Geography as an "enrichment elective."

The year-long class meets a college requirement... and coincidentally, provides 40 weeks of instruction on diversity, class warfare, gender-issues and of course, climate change.

I'm not kidding.