We are in a day and age that requires more legal intervention to deal with the complex health issues that arise. At one time, not too long ago, we did not have to deal with diseases such as AIDS. Now this deadly virus is constantly on the rise. It has caused a great amount of fear, anxiety, and pain to our present day society.
“Early in the AIDS epidemic in 1985! there was enormous anxiety about the risks such children could pose for their classmates. America witnesses some truly execrable displays of panic and exclusionary behavior.” (Mason 157) Many children found themselves being ostracized from their community for a disease they did not ask for nor understand. Children, such as Ryan White, tried to help people understand AIDS to minimize the negative treatment incurred by society.
Lesson l:
-
Students will read article written by Ryan White entitled, “My Own Story”. They will have a chance to see what it was like for an AIDS victim to be discriminated against due to an illness that he had no control over. Much of this discrimination was due to ignorance. Students will engage in a creative writing activity. They will pretend that they are Ryan White writing a letter. They may pick a purpose of their choice in writing the letter.
-
1) Pretend you are Ryan White writing a letter to another child who has AIDS and may face the same discrimination as Ryan faced.
-
2) Pretend you are Ryan White writing a letter to those whoare closed-minded and have discriminated against him.
-
3) Pretend you are Ryan White writing a letter to those who have been supportive to you (such as family and friends). Tell why it was so important to have this support.
-
4) Pretend you are Ryan White (knowing you are facing an inevitable death). Write about how you are feeling inside. If possible, also write about how your loss may benefit others.
Lesson 2:
Students will watch a movie entitled “An Enemy Among Us”. It is a made for television special that shows a boy who faces a similar situation as Ryan White. Members of his community turn on him due to his contraction of the AIDS virus.
Students will have the opportunity to discuss the movie along with the article of Ryan White in a group context.
Lesson 3:
Students will be given an informational pamphlet entitled “Teens and AIDS”. Teacher will discuss with class. Each student will be required to create, design, and illustrate their own community pamphlet that contains the same information but presented in their own creative way.
