ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book offers a brief overview of the political context of sex education in the United States, including its conservative historical roots and the emergence of the New Right during the last twenty years. It discusses the sexual values and gender relations of the classroom community and school, and describes the district and school health education program of which the classroom is a part. The book also focuses on Mrs. Warren, the classroom teacher. It documents her working conditions, including school organization and labor intensification. It also discusses her accommodation and resistance to feminine ideology and demands of the workplace. The book also introduces the students in Mrs. Warren's second period health class and describes their social groupings and overall classroom dynamics. It also analyzes points of view about sexuality and gender relations with which students were invited to identify.
