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In what has sometimes provoked a "culture war" over America's schools, gays and lesbians have sought an expanded voice in the making of education policy. This paper explores the factors that promote gay representation on school boards, how this variable in turn influences gay representation in both administrative and teaching positions, and how all three forms of gay representation relate to school board policies regarding sexual orientation education. Three of the four models drawn from the social movement literature help to explain gay school board representation. In a manner similar to other minority groups, gay representation on school boards directly or indirectly promotes the appointment of gays to administrative and teaching positions and the adoption of policies that address the problems faced by gay and lesbian students in the public schools.

BACKGROUND: Suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death for adolescents. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that the adolescent suicide rate increased 18% between 2003 and 2004. Sport may represent a promising protective Factor against adolescent suicide. This study examined the relative risk of hopelessness and suicidality associated with physical activity and sport participation. METHODS: Data from the CDC's 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed. Logistic regression modeling was used to compare the odds of hopelessness and suicidality in students who engaged in various levels of physical activity to inactive students. Similar analyses were performed comparing risks of athletes to nonathletes, and the risks of highly involved athletes to nonathletes. RESULTS: Findings showed that frequent, vigorous activity reduced the risk of hopelessness and suicidality among male adolescents. However, low levels of activity actually increased the risk of feeling hopeless among young females. Yet, for both males and Females, sport participation protected against hopelessness and suicidality. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that involvement in sport confers unique psychosocial benefits that protect adolescents against suicidality. Findings suggest that mechanisms other than physical activity contribute to the protective association between sport and reduced suicidality. Social support and integration may account for some of the differences Found in suicidality between athletes and nonathletes. Keywords: injury prevention; child and adolescent health; physical fitness and sport; risk behaviors; mental health., Suicide represents the third leading cause of death for youth 15 to 24 years, accounting for 12.9% of all deaths in this age range. (1) According to the Centers for [...]

Schools are increasingly expected to address the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students. However the controversial nature of sexual orientation programs and policies makes this a politically sensitive undertaking. This empirical study analyzes the extent to which public school districts across the United States have implemented policy recommendations and describes, according to 4 theoretical policy models, factors that influence their ability to do so. The survey found that most districts have not institutionalized recommended policies or programs. Recommendations for school health professionals based an factors found to be significantly associated with the implementation of programs are discussed. (J Sch Health. 2006;76(3):93-97), Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students are more likely than their heterosexual peers to suffer health risks, including substance abuse, depression, and suicide, due to some extent to the [...]

Sexuality education, part of the comprehensive school health education component of a Coordinated School Health Program, interests many health educators as well as special education teachers. In this study, Florida special educators reported their beliefs about teaching sexuality education to educable mentally disabled students, the range of sexuality topics they teach, and their professional preparation in sexuality education. Respondents (n = 494) completed a mailed instrument that included the 36 sexuality content areas identified by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. Respondents believed strongly that many of the sexuality topics and content areas should be taught to educable mentally disabled students. However, most reported delivering only a modest amount of sexuality education, and they rated their professional preparation as inadequate. Regression analyses documented that respondents' belie[s predicted the topics they actually taught within 5 of the 6 key concepts. This study supports collaboration between health educators' and special education teachers to adapt existing sexuality curricula for students with special needs, improve professional preparation of special education teachers to teach sexuality education, and to more effectively implement comprehensive school health education through the Coordinated School Health Program model to special education students., Sexuality, an essential aspect of one's personality and sense of self, offers a gateway to intimacy that includes feelings of comfort, security, support, love, and affection. For people with mental [...]

Until recently, little attention has focused on the sexual harassment that occurs in primary and secondary schools. Several school-related lawsuits and study results heightened awareness of the issue. This study investigated the extent to which Florida's school districts complied with the Florida Department of Education's (FDOE) recommendation and guidelines for addressing sexual harassment in schools. District equity coordinators were surveyed regarding policy development, implementation, promotion, education, and effects. Policies were collected for analysis. Most districts responded to the strong encouragement of the FDOE and approved a sexual harassment policy incorporating many of the suggested components. However, policies included only basic information when compared with suggestions from the literature. Results suggest problems with sexual harassment will continue due to lack of efforts in promoting awareness of the policy and education about the issue, which scholars insist are necessary for effectiveness. (J Sch Health. 1998;68(6):237-242), Sexual harassment 'is a form of sex discrimination, and is illegal as defined by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the [...]

Focus group interviews were used to develop a nutrition education video and a teacher's guide for use in Florida high schools. Authors conducted a pilot and four focus group interviews with ninth grade students in five geographically distinct regions of Florida. Most students agreed that a video with scenarios or success stories would work well. Teens expressed interest in 10 topics: eating disorders; consequences of unhealthy eating; preparing quick, healthy meals; what constitutes a balanced diet; nutrition and fitness; weight control; food and the environment; the food guide pyramid; nutrition facts and fallacies; and food labels. Students suggested no more than three or four topics should be covered in the video, and the video cast should consist mainly of teen-agers with different body sizes, who were average, attractive, and from different ethnic backgrounds. Music was recommended only for transitions between scenes, as background, or during the credits. (J Sch Health. 1997;67(9):376-379), Healthy food habits established early in life persist into adulthood and can help prevent and delay chronic diseases.[1-3] According to the findings of the National Adolescent Student Health Survey,[4] most [...]

Focus groups were used to examine adolescents' participation in school nutrition programs, their opinions about the meals served in these programs, and their suggestions for improving the meals. A pilot and four focus group interviews were conducted with ninth grade students in five geographically distinct regions of Florida. Male students and those from rural areas were more likely to participate in school meal programs than were females and those from suburban and urban areas. Students expressed intense dislike and distrust of school meals. School meals were criticized for taste, appearance, small serving sizes, and cost. Students overwhelmingly favored commercial food vendors serving lunch at school. Suggestions for improving school meals included improving the taste and appearance of food, offering a wider variety of foods, serving more fresh fruit and vegetables, lowering the price, increasing the serving sizes, teaching food service workers how to cook, and offering more condiments. (J Sch Health. 1996;66(4):128-131), The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) contribute significantly to the diets of American children. According to the 1992 School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study (SNDAS), [...]

This study examined both the content of school district programs related to sexual orientation, and the social and political determinants of these school programs. Data were collected from districts within all 126 U.S. communities with legal protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and from a random sample of 129 U.S. jurisdictions without such legislation. Results showed that most school districts are not offering recommended program elements related to sexual orientation issues. Districts within localities with gay rights protection are doing more than those without. Although compositional factors account for some of the differences in educational efforts, a politically engaged constituency also made a major difference in school district efforts. To the extent that gays and lesbians served in local public office and mobilized to influence school elections, they were able to affect school programs and policies (J Sch Health. 1996; 66(1):33-40), Many gay and lesbian youth first become aware of their sexuality during adolescence and engage in sexual experimentation, including homosexual and heterosexual activity.[1] Remafedi et al[2] reported that most students [...]

While quality sexuality education curricula are available, those responsible for selecting a curriculum may not feel confident to choose one to meet the needs of their students and community. This paper presents a method to guide in selecting sexuality education curricula as well as results from an evaluation of 23 school-based sexuality education curricula. School administrators, curriculum specialists, health educators, school nurses, teachers, and parents involved in curriculum adoption or development can use the process described to select or develop a sexuality education curriculum to meet the needs of their school and community. (J Sch Health. 1995;65(5):186-191), During the past two decades, increases in sexuality-related behavior among teen-agers and young adults prompted development of numerous sexuality education curricula. As school administrators, curriculum specialists, health educators, school nurses, [...]

School-based primary health care, supported as an effective means for addressing the health needs of youth, also tends to be perceived as controversial partly due to opposition by national and state level organizations. This investigation used case studies of four selected school-based clinic (SBC) sites, and of one community in which an SBC was disputed, to investigate the existence of organized opposition, how proponents contended with opposition, and effects of organized opposition on SBC approval and implementation. Four sites experienced opposition affiliated with larger conservative organizations. Opponents' strategies and proponents counterstrategies were identified. Effects ranged from limiting SBC services to preventing an SBC's establishment. Proponents, consisting largely of medical and school administrative professionals, overcame opposition through strategies to increase public awareness about youth health issues and to demonstrate public support in the face of expressed opposition. Implications for planning and implementing potentially controversial programs are offered.

School-based health centers (SBHCs) provide access to health services by bringing providers to children (and sometimes parents) and furnishing low cost services in an atmosphere of trust. While the number of SBHCs has continued to grow and some clinics have continued to expand their services, others have barely survived and some have even closed. This study investigated factors, particularly political forces, that affected the success of SBHCs. Using a national survey of clinic directors, this study assessed clinic success in terms both of longevity and service delivery. Findings indicate the factors most consistently and significantly associated with success include not only measures of 'need' (school size and percent African-American enrollment or population) but of 'politics' (citizen political ideology and Southern conservatism). Thus, politics matters more than previous studies suggested. (J Sch Health. 2000;70(8):331-337), Many American children lack access to the regular health care needed to prevent disease, disability, and unnecessary hospitalization as well as to treat acute and chronic conditions. More than 11 [...]

Comprehensive sexuality education programs, advocated as the most effective means of promoting sexual health for youth, include a broad range of sexuality topics taught throughout the school years as a part of comprehensive health education. Programs must include not only the negative consequences of sexual behavior, but content that cultivates a positive view of sexuality as well. This study assessed the scope of sexuality education topics taught, using the SIECUS Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten - 12th Grade, and rated importance of these topics, by public high school teachers within a state that mandates sexuality education. The majority of the 261 teachers responding to the survey reported they taught most of the topics recommended by the Guidelines. They also rated most Guidelines' topics as 'important' to teach. However, numerous teachers omitted topics crucial to comprehensive sexuality education. The relationship between teacher ratings of importance and what was taught, and implications for future research are discussed. (J Sch Health. 2000;70(2):56-60), Comprehensive sexuality education is advocated as the most effective means of promoting sexual health for youth.[1,2] These programs include a broad range of sexuality topics taught throughout the school years [...]

The authors attempt to provide educators with relevant information and classroom activities for addressing mental health needs of school children. Within 10 chapters, the authors address the major topics affecting [...]

Facts, Choices, Prevention: An Educational Package for AIDS. Chicago, National Safety Council. The National Safety Council's educational package about AIDS for students ages 14-18 consists of a dramatic film, a [...]

Facts, Choices, Prevention: An Educational Package for AIDS The national Safety Council's AIDS educational package for students ages 14-18 consists of a dramatic film, a teachers' guide, an administrative guide, [...]