June 1996, Vol. 33, No. 10

Tonks, Douglas.  Teaching AIDS

This is an excellent "how-to" book with many realistic recommendations for teaching AIDS awareness to adolescents and all levels of children. Methods for setting up support groups for the person with AIDS and their caretakers are spelled out. A variety of strategies to facilitate changes in attitudes and risky behavior among children are explained, and rationales for the various topics to include in an AIDS education program are discussed in detail. Citations from many researchers are provided, and their findings are integrated into the various topics. Tonks does an excellent job articulating the ways to overcome barriers to teaching about AIDS. He explains how, why, what, and when to introduce the various topics that experts believe should be incorporated.  Chapters 7 and 8 are unique and especially helpful to the new AIDS instructor; they explain role-playing, peer education, and scenarios as methods to best teach this difficult subject. These methods are crucial in gaining adolescents' interest, since they include the learner in the education. An excellent example of how to get young people to think critically about issues and make some positive decisions about their health. General; undergraduates through professionals.

-- S. C. Grossman, Fairfield University