Walter Johnson (WJ) freshman Maeve Sanford-Kelly has stood up for what she believes in and has made tangible choices in her community. Because of her strong efforts and support of legislation, middle school and high school students are required to learn about sexual consent in their health classes. She has always been an activist and will continue to take action and make change in Montgomery County.
Her mom, Ariana Kelly, is a former executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland and now represents District 16 in the Maryland House of Delegates. Because she was exposed to the politics and the beauty of activism at a young age, taking action to promote this sexual consent bill, which requires middle and school students to learn about consent in school, was like second nature to her.
“It really came about naturally. The bill originated in late 2016 after the whole Brock Turner sentencing and the President getting elected after all he had said and done in regards to assault and harassment,” Sanford-Kelly said. “Teaching kids consent seemed as though it was the best way for us to be able to end this cycle, and I knew student voices would be incredibly useful in that.”
Brock Turner, a former Stanford University swimmer, was sentenced to six months in jail in 2016 for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. A California appeals court upheld this sentencing in August 2018, which brought the scandal back into the spotlight. Also, President Donald Trump was surrounded by accusations of sexual assault throughout his campaign. Both of these events, along with many others, inspired Sanford-Kelly to take action.
Her passion and perseverance paid off when in 2017, Montgomery County Public Schools and Baltimore City Public Schools voluntarily implemented the bill’s requirements. Additionally, Sanford Kelly and other students lobbied again for passage of the legislation, which the General Assembly approved in 2018. Governor Larry Hogan signed this bill into law in May 2018. Maryland is now one of ten states, plus D.C., that requires public schools to incorporate sexual consent in the health class curriculum.
She achieved a large feat by broadening this legislation to include all of Maryland. In her initial proposal, she only focused only on changing the curriculum in Montgomery County. However, after strong support from student advocates, she adjusted it to include all school districts in the state.
“I truly hope this will have people start thinking about consent from a younger age and have it ingrained in our brains so that as we carry on through life Marylanders will treat people with respect,” Sanford-Kelly said.
WJ senior Evelyn Hoon believes that sexual consent is the most important concept students can learn in sexual education, even though in the past, it was not been given the focus it deserves. She acknowledges that this addition to students’ education can positively change the culture in our society.
“Consent is is key to any healthy romantic or sexual relationship, and I believe that that the fact that it hasn’t been included in our education system plays into our culture,” Hoon said. “We live in a society plagued by sexual harassment, catcalling, and objectification of women, and the lack of proper education about consent fuels it.”
The addition of this material to middle school classrooms, and not just high school health classes, is especially important for change in our society. Hoon emphasizes that many adults do not fully understand what consent is, which leads to some people being taken advantage of, and now this lack of education is about to change.
“I think if we are able to include consent more in our curriculum and educate kids about it before they become sexually active, I’m confident it’ll help decrease the number of instances of unwanted and non-consensual sexual interactions and mend our culture’s fragmented attitudes towards sexuality,” Hoon said.
After leaving her mark on students statewide, Sanford-Kelly now wants other students to get involved in their communities too, and she believes anyone can be an activist. In fact, since the passage of this legislation, many students have been fighting to build momentum off of her efforts.
“The best thing any student can do is just start talking. A lot of times activism seems crazy and overwhelming but it all comes from the people, so by just being willing to have a conversation with those in your community, posting on social media, or showing up to events, you are doing your part to make a difference,” Sanford Kelly said.
Article written by MoCo Student Staff writer Courtney Cohn of Walter Johnson High School.