With the backing of a strong California student free press law, the administration of the Mt. View-Los Altos high school district is supporting student journalists over their recent issue on responsible sex that discusses orgasms and ways to obtain birth control. Some parents felt that implications in the articles undermined their attempts to guide their teenagers on sexual matters. (Student Press Law Center, March 7, 2013, by Kaitlin Tipsword)
Some parents felt that the articles condoned pre-marital sex and were worried that younger students would see the issue. (Los Altos Town Crier, February 27, 2013, by Traci Newell)
Rather than focusing on the advisability of publishing frank discussions of sexual content, parents should seize on a rare opportunity to discuss these delicate issues with their young people. With the newspaper articles as the initial issue, parents could easily pose questions about their students’ attitudes and practices with the chance of a frank exchange and an opportunity for wise counsel. (First Amendment Coalition, March 12. 2013, by Donal Brown)