4049 OWL: What It Means to Me

Moderator: Rev. Patricia Hoertdoerfer, Children, Family, and Intergenerational Program Director, Lifespan Faith Development Group, UUA

Sponsor: Planning Committee Sponsored

Prepared for UUA.org by: Dick Merritt, Reporter; Margy Levine Young, Editor

The Rev. Patricia Hoertdoerfer introduced a panel of "Our Whole Lives" youth participants, teachers, and parents to talk about their experiences of this comprehensive sexuality education program and the family values from it that inspire and empower their lives. Here are a few of the points that were made.

OWL has been an important part of keeping youth in the congregation. Participation in OWL builds intimate connections between the youth, making a tight group. It also fostered parental support and cooperation. "We are friends to this day," said one parent.

The panel was asked "what were the most important things that you learned from OWL?"

• How to be safe and responsible; how to be responsible with one's power as a male.
• Other comprehensive sexuality education programs just talk about the negative aspects of sexuality. OWL gives a balanced view. Sex can be dangerous, but it is wonderful.
• Learned about loving relationships from OWL, but not from her personal life. Learned about respect and safety on an emotional level.
• Not everything in the movies is true. Learned to be stronger and comfortable in herself.
• She did not know about transgender issues before OWL. Allowed more understanding.

The panel was asked whether the slides add enough value to the program to be included. They replied:

• A youth stated that when he was in 7th grade they were shown without adequate explanation. He considered them "gross" at the time.
• Another youth recalled that the students giggled, but were treated with respect and trusted.
• A student who took OWL at 14 learned a lot. His mother was the narrator, which was traumatizing, but worth it.

Several people found great value in learning to analyze power dynamics in relationships. One said "It influenced how I live in the world."

The importance of parent education was emphasized. This is especially true when there are participants who are not from the congregation.

Teachers were asked about how much they revealed about their personal lives in response to students' questions. The uniform answer was that they do not share. OWL is about the students, not the teachers. There is often some other underlying question when a student asks for personal information.

Handouts included "Unitarian Universalist Principles & Sexual Ethics" which can be found at www.uua.org/cde/ethics.

At the end, Rob Keithan, Director, Washington Office for Advocacy, UUA, shared that for the first time his office and the Young Adult and Campus Ministry Office have created a combined advocacy campaign. The issue chosen is comprehensive sexuality education and reproductive choice. Resources are available at www.uua.org/cde/education/safecong.html.

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