With summer coming to an end and fall just around the corner, students and teachers are concentrating on the upcoming school year. As students rush into the back-to-school process, teachers and professors are making lesson plans for the upcoming year…and no doubt thinking about how to discuss the June 2022 Supreme Court overturn of Roe v. Wade ‘s ruling.

Shortly after the Roe v. Wade decision, Elizabeth Pearson, a career manager from California, joined the Women’s March with her two daughters holding Ruth Bader Ginsburg-inspired slogan. While her 7- and 10-year-old daughters are still young, Pearson wants them to feel empowered. She said the march was the perfect opportunity to teach them “how our government works and the importance of voting and [practicing] self-advocacy in elections.”

How will the teacher handle the discussion of Luo?
Pearson expects the ruling to be discussed in classes this fall. She told Yahoo Life: “I would be disturbed if they excluded it from sex education entirely, or taught it only as a women’s issue.

But Pearson has a warning for educators. “I hope teachers don’t put religion in education,” she said. “It’s better to focus on the facts and physiology of the fetus, rather than religion, which gives [the fetus] a spirit at conception,” she said.

However, social and cultural norms are not the only issues teachers have to consider. The Supreme Court decision itself was built more on a rigorous interpretation of the constitution, leaving teachers thinking about how to take on the difficult task of teaching the legal underpinnings of such a document fairly and accurately.

Nelson-Johnson, a lawyer, advises teachers to “give [students] the facts and settle both sides of the argument.” Johnson said that while many saw the ruling as strictly a “pro-life vs. pro-choice question,” the ruling overturning Roe could — and should — be approached from a different angle.

Teachers can get help explaining the decision
Nelson noted that many are still confused … even months after the ruling. “In states where abortion is still legal, kids think they’re prohibited from doing it,” he said. “In contrast, children in states where abortion is now illegal in most cases don’t realize that there are exceptions to this general rule.

Because abortion laws now vary from state to state, Johnson believes school districts should ensure teachers are prepared to teach the legal and political aspects of the ruling as it relates to their specific state. If they are not qualified to teach these materials in class, there are other suitable options. “Schools could contact their local law school and invite a law student to a school assembly to discuss constitutional issues,” he said.

A teacher comments on adding Roe v. Wade to class discussions
Ronnie Gladden, an English professor and author of “The White Girl Inside,” plans to introduce the ruling in his class this year. While teaching young people between the ages of 18 and 30 provides him with more flexibility and freedom than teachers with younger students, Gladden believes he faces other challenges.

“I may soon be more creative in discussing controversial social topics,” he told Yahoo Life, “especially about abortion.”

“I teach in Ohio, which is a fairly conservative state,” he added, explaining that it didn’t shake or intimidate him at all. In his class, Gladden said he would stick to the facts and make sure his “teaching will be inclusive and respect different viewpoints,” which is easy for Gladden, who sees himself as a” Valuing people who think differently from [his] own”.

Pearson agreed, “Our children deserve to know their bodies and not be stigmatized or judged,” she said, “if our educators keep religion and their personal and political views out the door and focus only on facts, science and equal rights can do that.”