2008 Woodie Awards
How 'Sex' came to Solano
Class faced skepticism in the 70s
Robert DaPrato
Issue date: 9/27/06 Section: Opinion
In February of 1975, I read an article by James McCary (University of Houston) regarding some of the problems he had experienced in developing a sexuality course in 1965! Little did I know that I would follow that script at Solano College, almost to the letter!
During my six years at Solano (Class of 1971 hired) I had worked closely with our Learning Resources Center and Don Kirkorian when he asked me to be a teacher of record for a television course in Human Sexuality, I eagerly accepted the opportunity. The course was to run 15 weeks and have two half- hour lessons each week. "All I had to do was to hold office hours, give exams, and conduct on-campus events related to the class and other administrative duties as assigned!"
The College's Committee on Instruction was hesitant to offer "such a course." But when we explained that NOT offering such a course was a huge loss of revenue, the course was passed as a Psych 99 class- known as experimental and offered only once. The Committee passed the course and enrolled over 375 students with students from all walks of life, including 25 people with B.A. degrees!
The majority of the students who filled out the LRC evaluation form at the beginning of the class said they had enrolled in the course because they needed to know MORE about sexuality, and that the course was not offered in the regular curriculum.
It was now apparent that SCC needed a course in human sexuality in the regular schedule. But who was to teach it? I did not feel comfortable enough (at the time) teaching an interdisciplinary course. A colleague in the Biological Sciences (Jim Mills) helped with some of the aspects of the T.V. course and volunteered to work with me on the formation of a Biology/Psychology of Sex Class! After one year of work on all the aspects of articulation needed for a new course, we approached the Committee of Instruction for final approval! The real problems now began!
Submit Questions to Tempest@Solano.edu for Sexual Myths and Urban Legends!
During my six years at Solano (Class of 1971 hired) I had worked closely with our Learning Resources Center and Don Kirkorian when he asked me to be a teacher of record for a television course in Human Sexuality, I eagerly accepted the opportunity. The course was to run 15 weeks and have two half- hour lessons each week. "All I had to do was to hold office hours, give exams, and conduct on-campus events related to the class and other administrative duties as assigned!"
The College's Committee on Instruction was hesitant to offer "such a course." But when we explained that NOT offering such a course was a huge loss of revenue, the course was passed as a Psych 99 class- known as experimental and offered only once. The Committee passed the course and enrolled over 375 students with students from all walks of life, including 25 people with B.A. degrees!
The majority of the students who filled out the LRC evaluation form at the beginning of the class said they had enrolled in the course because they needed to know MORE about sexuality, and that the course was not offered in the regular curriculum.
It was now apparent that SCC needed a course in human sexuality in the regular schedule. But who was to teach it? I did not feel comfortable enough (at the time) teaching an interdisciplinary course. A colleague in the Biological Sciences (Jim Mills) helped with some of the aspects of the T.V. course and volunteered to work with me on the formation of a Biology/Psychology of Sex Class! After one year of work on all the aspects of articulation needed for a new course, we approached the Committee of Instruction for final approval! The real problems now began!
Submit Questions to Tempest@Solano.edu for Sexual Myths and Urban Legends!
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