Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 02/09/1998 All articles from this issue

MVHS peer counselors tackle subject of students' safe sex

printer friendly version

By Linda Taaffe

Town Crier Staff Writer

Students either giggled, whispered, blushed or looked disgusted last week in their health class at Mountain View High School as four of their schoolmates demonstrated on a plastic model how to properly put on a condom. But all of them paid attention.

The demonstration was part of the HIV/AIDS Peer Education Project, a program launched three years ago by the Adult and Child Guidance Center to educate junior high and high school students about sex and healthy life choices through peer educators.

With AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases on the rise among teens, health officials say peer counseling may be a critical part of reducing "risky behavior." Research shows that peer role models maximize student awareness, said Sharon Woods, project coordinator.

"Sex is a hot topic that can be embarrassing. Many adults are very queasy about talking about it with their kids," Woods said. "Kids don't listen to adults, but if peers are correctly trained to get rid of the mythology and give out facts, they can be powerful. When someone like themselves comes in, (students) listen for first time about issues and realize they could be at risk."

Woods said the program's 23 peer educators are recruited from Mountain View and Alta Vista high schools and the Young Parents Program at Adult Education.

Woods said each peer counselor must complete 50 hours of training, which includes visits to various AIDS clinics and learning educational, counseling and presentation skills.

Trained counselors can earn school credit or receive pay for their work. Their job includes making presentations at high schools and junior high schools throughout the county as well as addressing community groups and providing one-on-one counseling.

Tinea Plunkett, a Mountain View High sophomore, joined the peer program as a counselor through the encouragement of her math teacher. Plunkett said didn't know much about AIDS, but she knew adults weren't teaching kids enough.

"Adults don't think kids need to know the details about certain things, but they would be surprised by some of the questions we get from the junior highs," Plunkett said.

Plunkett said she has been approached by sexually active junior high students who are desperate for basic information.

Megan Moran, who is also a peer counselor from Mountain View High, described the program as a "comforting atmosphere for students to ask questions."

Amanda Eastmond agreed. "Students respond to us. They listen," she said. "It's my job to make people understand that sex is never good enough to want to die for."

Woods said studies show that students at Mountain View High are more knowledgeable about AIDS than before the program began three years ago.