The Education of Shelby Knox is a remarkable documentary, just as it appears that, Shelby Knox herself is a remarkable woman. The documentary itself focuses on the city of Lubbock, Texas, a high school sophomore named Shelby Knox, and the state of sexual education in Lubbock's public school system. Shelby joins the Lubbock Youth Commission, a group the city formed to give local youths a voice, and in doing so develops her own, which she still uses for feminist activist causes today.
Shelby defines herself as a "good Southern-Baptist girl" and a "Democrat". In Lubbock, those terms should never be in the same sentence, so much of Shelby's journey, while becoming an activist, is about reconciling those ideas within herself. Once she has, it is the rest of the world's job to catch up. She tackles not only the president of the Lubbock Youth Commission to have her voice and ideas understood, but also her parents, peers, pastor, and community. She appears on radio and television shows and even marches around a church to support gay rights, her conservative mother beside her.
This documentary, which is largely observational on the part of the filmmakers, opens up a discourse about sex, politics, societal rights, and social mores, not only for Shelby and her parents, but for all teenagers who want more from their education and thus more for their lives. Thank you, Shelby Knox for wanting more.
Shelby defines herself as a "good Southern-Baptist girl" and a "Democrat". In Lubbock, those terms should never be in the same sentence, so much of Shelby's journey, while becoming an activist, is about reconciling those ideas within herself. Once she has, it is the rest of the world's job to catch up. She tackles not only the president of the Lubbock Youth Commission to have her voice and ideas understood, but also her parents, peers, pastor, and community. She appears on radio and television shows and even marches around a church to support gay rights, her conservative mother beside her.
This documentary, which is largely observational on the part of the filmmakers, opens up a discourse about sex, politics, societal rights, and social mores, not only for Shelby and her parents, but for all teenagers who want more from their education and thus more for their lives. Thank you, Shelby Knox for wanting more.