Lockers: A Teen Relationship Series

Serving up teen guidance lessons within a Degrassi-lite-style drama format, this five-part program produced by the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (located in Kansas City, MO) follows the intertwining stories of about a dozen teens and their families and teachers. “Gender Stereotypes: To Be or Not to Be Me” focuses on a girl who steals money from her parents in order to help glamorize her image and impress a football jock, who himself is getting flack at home for failing to live up to his popular brother's legacy. “Sexual Harassment: Drawing the Line” centers on a boy who is bugged by girls who take—and show others—pictures of him bending over near his locker; “Dating Violence: Holding the Power” looks at a girl who shoves and hits her boyfriend in the face when she's angry; and “Media Safety: Tangled Web” finds that same girlfriend being embarrassed after naked pics she sent her boyfriend resurface publicly. The most disturbing segment is “Sexual Assault: Who's to Blame?” which presents a drunken party game gone terribly wrong and offers options on how to get help. Nicely produced and sure to spur discussion about difficult topics, this is recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (J. Williams-Wood)