Overview

Sex and the American Teenager provides an expert's assessment of the controversies surrounding the sexual development of adolescents, and their beliefs and problems regarding such matters. Using numerous case studies, Dr. Thomas illustrates specific ways that sexual issues arise in school and the variables that impact each case, while suggesting ways parents and school officials can deal with problematic situations. Though not simply statistics-laden, Dr. Thomas's book is replete with information about teenagers who engage in sexual acts, become pregnant, are sexually abused, and contract sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. Thomas also discusses the coping methods teenagers use, and he describes the types of sex education programs in which students are most likely to participate. Dozens of case studies illustrate how problems of students' sexual behavior can differ from one incident to another depending on the teenagers' ages, family backgrounds, school settings, and the culture of the surrounding communities. Thomas concludes the book by summarizing the recent past and speculating about the likely status of sex in schools in the years ahead.

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9781607090168

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Reviews

Impeccably researched and presents an abundance of essential information, statistics, and analysis of teen sexual behavior. VOYA, April 2009 The book is a useful introductory compendium encompassing the sexual world of the American teenager. Recommended. Choice, February 2010 This book is an overview of issues facing schools related to the sexuality of children...An advantage of this book is that it spends more time analyzing issues than didactically urging particular points of view...A worthwhile contribution to the literature. This is a topic that generates a great deal of emotion on both sides, and so any book that helps us to start a reasonable debate should be welcome. Metapsycholgy Online Reviews Sex and the American Teenager by R. Murray Thomas is a comprehensive look at the questions and problem with which teenagers, parents and school administrators are grappling as they make decisions about sex. Why are these students behaving the way they do? How do they make decisions on whether or not to have sex. Should schools teach sex education? If so what should they teach and does it matter. What are the influencers of these teenagers as they are making these decisions. Thomas's book takes you through the sexual development of children and uses cases examples to look at the various problems that schools and parents are dealing with in relationship to sex. This book would be helpful to school administrators and teachers and parents working to understand how teenagers develop and what influences their sexual behavior and what policies are appropriate to enact. -- Jacquie Slade This book offers unvarnished suggestions for school practice on a variety of topics including developing realistic expectations for behaviours to reduce frustration and improve communication on topics such as banned books, dress codes, speech, and language issues related to sexuality, providing timely information and monitoring students' internet use. What is particularly appealing about the book is that it does not shy away from topics that bring up sensitive and socially delicate reactions. -- Michael McVey

Impeccably researched and presents an abundance of essential information, statistics, and analysis of teen sexual behavior. Voya, April 2009 The book is a useful introductory compendium encompassing the sexual world of the American teenager. Recommended. Choice, February 2010 This book is an overview of issues facing schools related to the sexuality of children...An advantage of this book is that it spends more time analyzing issues than didactically urging particular points of view...A worthwhile contribution to the literature. This is a topic that generates a great deal of emotion on both sides, and so any book that helps us to start a reasonable debate should be welcome. Metapsycholgy Online Reviews Sex and the American Teenager by R. Murray Thomas is a comprehensive look at the questions and problem with which teenagers, parents and school administrators are grappling as they make decisions about sex. Why are these students behaving the way they do? How do they make decisions on whether or not to have sex. Should schools teach sex education? If so what should they teach and does it matter. What are the influencers of these teenagers as they are making these decisions. Thomas's book takes you through the sexual development of children and uses cases examples to look at the various problems that schools and parents are dealing with in relationship to sex. This book would be helpful to school administrators and teachers and parents working to understand how teenagers develop and what influences their sexual behavior and what policies are appropriate to enact. -- Jacquie Slade This book offers unvarnished suggestions for school practice on a variety of topics including developing realistic expectations for behaviours to reduce frustration and improve communication on topics such as banned books, dress codes, speech, and language issues related to sexuality, providing timely information and monitoring students' internet use. What is particularly appealing about the book is that it does not shy away from topics that bring up sensitive and socially delicate reactions. -- Michael McVey

Author Information

R. Murray Thomas is professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of several books, including Violence in America's Schools and God in the Classroom.

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