Final Proposal

I am very passionate about improving the drug and sex education in our public school systems because I feel that the system we have in place now is failing and has failed me.  I was exposed to these topics from my peers far early than I was in an educational environment. Then when I did take health class the small amount of information I received was vague and inaccessible. Reflecting back, I don’t remember thinking that it was even applicable to me. I didn't have enough sense of consequence to find a path between my actions and this new information that reached me in a much weaker form than the bombarding impulses and peer pressures of adolescence. The computer generation receives data in a full sensory manner and health education needs to reflect that in order to be successful.

I have many questions about how the system we have in place now was created and how effective it is. Who makes the decision as to what information and type of education is available to which students? How open is the public school system to inviting other social programs to conduct seminars? What teaching methods are being used by the public school system? Outside social programs? How effective are these teaching methods? Is there sufficient funding for these programs? What are the trends of students who are sexually active? What are the trends of students who use illicit drugs? Are students provided with education on the danger of over the counter drugs? How aware are parents of the status of their child's current sexual activity and drug use? Are parents taking responsibility in participating in their children's education of safer sex practices and the dangers of drug use?

Besides the information presented in my initial proposal, the vast majority of my research will be from personal accounts. I recently interviewed a group of teens ages 13-16 that spoke of very regular marijuana use at school, regular sexual intercourse, and being at parties where others are inhaling lines of cocaine in the "smash room" (a room designated for open sex). Although these responses are very disturbing to me, this is the reality that needs to be exposed to the school system. They have been turning a blind eye to the poor decisions of our generation and continue their failed practices even though this situation is no completely out of their control. No one wants to admit it but as I get older I see younger and younger children being forced into these difficult decisions through peer pressure and an attitude of widely received acceptance among friends. The media gives mixed messages of anti-drug campaigns played during the “Jersey Shore” and kids have grown to ignore the former and glamorize the later. I've witnessed the underground club scene booming with children as young as thirteen on class A illicit drugs and that shockingly young population seems to grow every year. Parents are so desperate to keep their kids off the streets they are paying for their drug habits instead of finding a way to treat what is just a symptom of a much deeper issue. These tragic stories have been swept under the rug long enough. This is not a problem of an unfortunate few, this is the face of our generation and it needs to change now. 

I have decided to narrow my research field to the city of Seattle, WA but I may need to reevaluate my goals even more once I begin the research process. Including drug and sex education will be a big endeavor but I'm very passionate about counting both. I don't think it would be responsible to throw together a piece that isn't fully researched, so my goal for this class will be to complete a thorough study of all of my questions and create a template for an educational performance piece and symposium.