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Small School District Fights To Keep CSCOPE 6/18/13
Students Teach Students: Real Conservations About HIV/AIDS and Teen Pregnancies 2/15/13
Ashley Melnick
amelnick@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News
Febuary 15, 2013
ODESSA-New Tech Odessa students are trading places with teachers and educating AVID students at Permian High School.
For students at New Tech Odessa, Independent Study facilitator Susan McFarland said, it’s right up their ally.
“We were just really delighted after we heard from UTPB and how they wanted us to be involved in the presentation,” said McFarland.
And students were honored as well.
“They came to us—a college,” said New Tech Odessa junior Manuel Loera, “It’s pretty exciting!”
The Black Leadership Council at UTPB asked New Tech Odessa students to be a part of their leadership conference, by allowing students to teach students about an issue impacting the youth. HIV/AIDS and teen pregnancy.
“I pretty much gave them the information they needed to cover, and then cut them loose,” said McFarland.
It was a unique opportunity for juniors at New Tech to step out from behind the desk and have a real conversation about an issue that impacts younger generations.
President of the Black Leadership Council James Greer said it was important for students to convey this message.
“It’s mainly targeted for the youth because really it’s about them,” said Greer.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 people diagnosed with HIV is between the age of 13 and 24 years old.
Students tackled the challenging issue with some humor, colorful video and at times serious, real-life situations.
“We need this education and awareness so kids can make better choices,” said McFarland. “So many teenagers have this invincibility myth about it.”
And what better way to discuss the taboo topic-- than with students talking to students.