Teaching Kids About AIDS

Abstract:
This 27-minute video emphasizes the importance of comprehensive HIV/AIDS education. Viewers can see what is meant by "age-appropriate" education as they watch a first-grade class in San Francisco learn about not touching needles and about how you can't get HIV by being someone's friend. The video notes that a comprehensive K-12 curriculum helps in accountability to parents, who can find out exactly what information their child will learn in a particular grade. The video also highlights a school district in rural New Hampshire, an area which has conflicting misconceptions that HIV/AIDS "can't happen here" and beliefs about transmission of HIV through casual contact. In this section of the video, a group of seventh and eighth graders prepare for and perform in a peer education theater production. The video discusses community support, how this school district wasn't sure at first that the community was ready for this type of peer education program. Congresswoman Pat Schroeder acknowledges that school boards may "figure that they have enough controversy" but underscores the importance of developmentally appropriate comprehensive HIV prevention programs. It highlights the National School Boards Association's HIV/AIDS Education and School Health Programs as one helpful resource. Overall, this video will be useful in helping school board members, parents, and other educators to gain a more complete understanding of comprehensive HIV prevention education.

Publication: The Doctor Is In (public television series)


Date Published: 1/1/1993

Comments:
Video Tape

Location Code: 80