The steamy ethical questions and intricate legalities swirling around President Clinton have posed delicate problems for some local teachers, but others say kids just aren't talking about the controversy.
Allegations of marital infidelity, lurid descriptions of sexual behavior, possible crimes in high office and claims of conspiracies have produced a dicey combination of topics that sometimes arise in classrooms.Many educators have seized the opportunity to guide class discussions away from prurient matters and toward a look at the Constitution, the court system, the role of the media and other more substantial topics suitable for the classroom.
"I think, in a lot of ways, the kids are being more balanced about how they approach this than some of the adults I've talked to," said Peter Van Orden, who teaches political science and history at Judge Memorial High School.
Students in his classes have debated such things as personal ethics and the role of political leaders, with students voicing differing opinions.
"We've had that kind of discussion back and forth. If he (Clinton) is doing certain things we disapprove of that reflect on his integrity, do those affect his role as a policy leader? Some students say yes; others say let private lives be private lives," Van Orden said.
"I think the kids have been quite thoughtful and balanced in their views," Van Orden said.
Many students are unhappy about what they see as media overkill. Questions often give Van Orden "teaching moments" to explore matters related to the curriculum. One question about whether President Richard Nixon was impeached produced "a mini-lessons within a lesson" that included history, the role of Congress and the Constitution.
However, not all young people are asking their teachers about it.
"Not one teacher has said one word to me that this has come as a conversation point at all," said Rosemary Baron, principal of Northwest Middle School in Salt Lake City School District.
George Henry, who teaches U.S. history and advanced placement history classes at Highland High School, said he brought up the controversy for discussion but found "it was kind of a non-issue," with students not really all that caught up in the situation. Those who did discuss it voiced varying opinions.
During one class, one student said it didn't matter what Clinton did as long as he did a good job. Another said the president has an obligation to be a moral leader. Yet another said the Constitution doesn't require a president to exercise moral leadership.
Karen Soerensen, who teaches eighth grade U.S. history at Centennial Middle School in Provo, said she tries to direct classroom discussions.
"When students have asked me what all the hoopla has been about, I try to steer them away from all the sexual allegations and focus on the real problem. The real question is, did he really ask somebody to say something they shouldn't?" she said.
Soerensen also has talked about due process, people being innocent until proven guilty and other aspects of the court system.
Jan Van Arsdell, who teaches advanced placement history and American literature to 11th graders at Waterford School in Sandy, said students have occasionally voiced interest in the matter.
"It's not like it has been a constant discussion, but there have been several days when we've taken some time on it. One way we've talked about it was the sex scandal in the context of America's Puritan heritage. Why are we so squeamish as a people about this as opposed to Europeans? We talked about the Watergate scandal in history and tried to compare the two. Are there constitutional issues similar to those brought up in Watergate to this?"
Van Arsdell also has raised the issue of what has happened to society's respect for the office of the presidency and the role of the media.
For example, he has noted that many Americans didn't realize Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in a wheelchair because there was a gentlemen's agreement among the media not to discuss or show it. But today the presidency is fodder for the entertainment industry.
It isn't easy always keeping things on track.
"They tend to focus on the luridness of it, which is typical for that age. What I try to do is get them to dig a little deeper and think about it on a little deeper level. What I personally worry about is it being yet another example for young people - if it turns out that Clinton is lying - that dishonesty and untruthfulness are endemic in society.
"That's sad if that's the case. You detect a cynicism in this generation and, unfortunately, this kind of feeds it," Van Arsdell said.