TC in our Public Schools

[fuse929]

11 years ago, I never even heard of it. TCRC, Lance, Tom Green ( MTV won't run the series again because Tom is unknown to their audience) brought it to light. It has slacked off some in the last few years, but you will find that many school systems do indeed teach about it.

Tom's special can be downloaded for free from his website (www.tomgreen.com). Anyone who teaches, or knows people who teach, about TC in high school should utilize it. The new MTV generation may not be as familiar with him as someone my age is....but it's only been a few years since he was on so I'm sure people at least have some small idea of who he is.

Bobby

[dannysbrother]

I never a had a 'health class' in school. If this class exists, (and I know it must in places) I don't believe it is a class taught in most public schools around the country. I would definitely support a 'health class' in high schools across the country. Perhaps it would be a mandatory one semester class required during Freshman year. It could be a forum for so many vital topics to be discussed and a way to inform soon to be young adults about much more then just TC cancer. Without federal regulation of these matters there is little consistency.

In terms of what EVERY high school already has, meaning PE, I would suggest the following: First off, the only sex ed that I ever received and that I would venture to guess the great majority of students ever receive comes in 5th or 6th grade. Hence the giggling, snickering and plethora of jokes. Teaching subject matter that involve the genitalia to 9th and 10th graders however, is FAR different then approaching the subject with 5th and 6th graders. While it is necessary to teach sex ed at the early age at which it is taught, the subject of Testicular Cancer should be taught later, in high school, when male students are more mature and more receptive to the subject matter.

Robert, I do hope you are right about so many schools teaching about TC, but it has not been my understanding or experience. My point is: standardized mandatory education at the high school level that leads to a consistent message across the country.

I can understand varying opinions on how, when and where to implement this information. What no one can argue with however is the fact that those fajitas WERE fabulous.

Michael

[Margaret]

Tough to say LB33, although you make some excellent points in your post...I think it is tough for any young boy to sit through watching a TC movie...even in health class... and not take it as a joke. I guess that is the nature of the age and how uncomfortable this topic can be for a lot of people. In the last year I have said the word testicle out loud more than I have in my other 33 years of life.

I think you take any man from this board, young, healthy looking, their life before them and stand them up in front of 100 High School students...and have him tell his story and you will have 100% full attention. A REAL person, telling a REAL story, by a guy who looks like them, with all the same dreams and future plans. They will be rocked by that...and they can ask questions, to a guy they can relate to. To let them know, this is no b*ll Sh*t, this is the real deal. That, in my opinion, is where the men on this forum can really make an impact. I look at the faces of Anthony, Brett, Fed, Joe, and Danny and picture them talking and there is no way to not have it taken seriously.

The second option that I think works is parents talking to their kids about it. Having a one on one conversation about the risks and how important it is to check yourself and come to them if anything that looks odd shows up. But it is a lot tougher to get to all the parents. But you can reach an army of young men and I bet the high schools would be happy to allow you to speak there.

[LB33]

I have mixed opinions on this, but I do think this should be done in Health Class and not in PE.

Kids in PE have a different mindset, than they would in a health class, they go to PE to goof off, joke around, have fun, and not to learn. This isn't a topic where people should goof off, they should pay attention.

We did have this topic covered in my high school during PE. They seperated the girls and boys, girls went to a breast exam class, boys had the TC class.

A brief talk was given by gym teacher, and then we watched a video of a guy giving himself a self-exam. Of course during this video, nobody watched, 100 jokes were made, and 0 people took it seriously. Then they passed around fake testicles (one fine, one with a lump) that we were supposed to feel. Again, only jokes.

I blame this partly on the fact that it took place in a gym, that was a place where you goof off, not a learning environment. I feel if it took place in a health class with the a health teacher, (with questions from the video appearing on an exam?) it would have been taken more seriously.

[Lori]

Michael, if you do write a letter (with everything else on your plate) I would love to have a copy to send to my representatives...if you don't mind the plagiarism. I will also work to craft a letter, but I'm much better at talking!

[dannysbrother]

later this year, Congress will take up the re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), with the effort being spear-headed by one of my elected officials, Senator Ted Kennedy, the chairman of the Senate Committed on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. This would be a great place to incorporate legislation on health education. I have not looked at the renewal bill, and I'm not aware whether that has been released to the public, but I think this is a great chance to bring this issue to light.

That's what I'm talking about! This seems like just the issue to be slipped into that or another bill in congress. A rare piece of 'pork' that will make an incredible impact if enforced and no doubt, save lives. Here's the thing Fed: The 'No Child Left Behind' act has MAJOR problems, mainly due to the fact, in my opinion that it does not address some of the major problems in our public schools and actually creates some new ones. Unless the renewal bill allows for a real overhaul of the program I don't think the bill itself is something that I would want to fight for. However, (and, sorry Scott, I don't what to get too political, but sometimes you can't help it when discussing these matters) with the Democrats in control of Congress right now, I do have hope that the bill will be looked at and reworked in a different way in which it was pushed through under Republican leadership and hopefully greatly improved upon. (that was pretty diplomatic I think) I am going to write a letter to Sen. Kennedy and copy it to my own elected officials from AZ and NY. Maybe some others. Maybe it will strike a chord somewhere.

For a quicky education of the NCLB Act, for those of you who'd like to know a little more, I recommend taking a look at TIME's cover story from several months ago. It is actually a pretty fair and balanced look at the programs' successes and failures thus far and gives a few ways in which it can be fixed.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1625192-1,00.html

Scott, I've browsed the Sean Kimerling site before but never noticed the 'Program in a Box' until today. I'm sure it does the job brilliantly. It sounds simple, inexpensive, easy and accessible. Every school in the country should have such a 'box.' With Federal mandate and funding I see that becoming a reality.

As for the failure of public schools in the area of Sex-Ed, I have to say, I'm 24 years old and I still don't know where babies come from! Can anyone help me??? (preferably the ladies on the board who aren't married and are looking to teach a youngster a few things.)

If only I'd been taught the right way... *sigh*



Michael

[Fed]

In my town and I assume in NJ, the puberty talks start earlier...good thing because at 6-7-8 grades girls have already started menstruating.

As it should be... remember that my experience is from Mexico, where people are considerably more conservative and sheltered. Sex ed is, for the most part, taboo over there. I was even surprised it was discussed at all.

[TCLEFT]

I just called my Son to see if he could tell me what were the topics of his health and PE classes. As expected, TC was never covered and he's not so sure the girls had any education on breast exams either. I think he'll give one of his female buddies a call to find out more. Time to educate our educators!

[Lori]

Great topic and discussion. This is on my to do list to discuss with our school district in August. I know TC isn't talked about here, and would love to get it on the cirriculum. Thanks Scott for the link to Sean Kimmerling foundation.

If anyone has luck, information, or ideas on how to get this on the school cirriculum, I would love to hear about it.

Lori

[Karen]

In my town and I assume in NJ, the puberty talks start earlier...good thing because at 6-7-8 grades girls have already started menstruating.

In 4th grade the boys and girls are separated and each learn about their own changes. In 5th grade they separate again and learn about puberty for the opposite sex.

[Fed]

Entering a PE class loaded with teenagers and asking a bunch of teenage boys to feel their nuggets while a bunch of teenage girls are in the room is a recipe for real discomfort.

Back when I was in junior high in Mexico, there was a day in which all of the girls in grades 6, 7, and 8 were excused from class to go to assembly. About an hour later, they all came back giggling. It turns out they took them out to discuss puberty and all that's associated with it. There was never such talk for the boys. I can see why there would be discomfort, but that's why PE would be a good setting so long as boys and girls are segregated for the purposes of this discussion.

[boyce]

Trying to fina an "in" myself

I was thinking about the same topic and especially about the age group that needs the education.

My plan is to talk to school athletic directors and administrators. Entering a PE class loaded with teenagers and asking a bunch of teenage boys to feel their nuggets while a bunch of teenage girls are in the room is a recipe for real discomfort. Maybe I can hook up with the sports coaches for boys teams abd get a few minutes before or after a practice.

[Scott]

Just my two cents,
Michael

I'll see your two cents and raise you a dollar.

When we unite behind a cause, we can move mountains.

[Karen]

Stephen Carey (sean Kimmerling Foundation) is a great guy and VERY easy to talk to. He expressed a desire for all the TC groups to become more united in the cause and this is a fabulous way to start. If each of us took the program in a box to out school district to get this into the middle and high schools it would be amazing.

[Fed]

Michael,
This is exactly the type of attitude we need to combat cancer before it strikes. Education is an integral part of prevention, and I do know for a fact that Scott, myself, and the other delegates for LIVESTRONG Day brought this to the attention of our respective elected officials on the Hill. A statistic quoted multiple times by the LAF is that with the knowledge available right now, you could easily prevent 1/3 of all cancer deaths. That's about 160,000 people a year. Clearly people need to be informed; after all, knowledge is power. Education of this sort needs to start when kids are young, and what Nancy has been doing is a prime example of how this should be done.
I have been thinking about this issue especially because later this year, Congress will take up the re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), with the effort being spear-headed by one of my elected officials, Senator Ted Kennedy, the chairman of the Senate Committed on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. This would be a great place to incorporate legislation on health education. I have not looked at the renewal bill, and I'm not aware whether that has been released to the public, but I think this is a great chance to bring this issue to light. When I went to DC, I met with one of Senator Kennedy's aides from his committee. I'll write him to find out when this legislation is coming up for review.
Michael, if you wish, we can speak more about this offline. Science, health, and education advocacy are my "moonlighting" profession .