(Thumbnail image from ABC News)

“It’s known as the world’s oldest profession and since the beginning of time the perception of prostitution has been one sided - get the sex trade workers off the street and the problem’s solved. But a controversial north Californian program focuses on educating the johns instead of arresting the prostitutes.” (KCAL)

They’re called John School’s and as this graphic from CNN shows they’re popping up all across America. Men caught soliciting prostitutes can go to a one-day “John School” to clean their record as long as they’re first time offenders, over 18 and remorseful.

We’re looking at media perspectives on the proposition fuelling these “John schools” – that women won’t stop selling sex until men stop paying for it.

We’ve got insight from Jezebel.com, Walnet, ABC’s 20/20, PBS and FORA.TV.

Jezebel.com says “John Schools” started because the thinking went...

“...wouldn't it be more effective to speak directly to the men perpetuating the system than prostitutes frequently impelled to the streets by addiction, desperation or pimps?

Sounds rational enough, but Walnet.org says that stereotype of prostitutes isn’t true – adding no program or person will ever stop demand for the world’s oldest profession.

“John 'schools' fail to recognize the diversity of sex workers and clients alike. Sex workers are categorically portrayed as victims of exploitation, while clients are categorically treated as psychopathic manipulators out to satisfy their sexual addictions.”

For a different viewpoint, Diane Sawyer of 20/20 interviews New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. Kristof believes men must be held accountable. He explains that most prostitutes are sexually abused as children and hence “johns” are really exploiting vulnerable women.

“Overwhelming the victims are poor, young and troubled.” - Kristof

“To the people watching who say to decide to sell your body for sex is inherently is a choice deserving of contempt or scorn.” - Sawyer

“I’d like the viewer to conceive of themselves as a 13 year old girl who’s been abused by her stepdad say her mother doesn’t want to hear about it. I don’t think one can describe that as a reasoned choice in anyway.” - Kristof

PBS interviews a woman who fits Kristof’s description. Kasey McClure says when men offer big money it’s a definite lure for abused women.

“My father was not in my life. He sexually abused me, and my sister and my brother and so by the time I was 15 I started rebelling.”

“As soon as I walked in they didn’t even check my ID or anything. I walked in and they said you’re hired. I said I’m not here, I’m not here to dance and they said you don’t want to make $1000 a night?”

But Dr. Louise Shelley on FORA.tv has the perspective that it’s a high supply of prostitutes that’s escalating the problem – not the demand and money from men.

“While there’s an enormous inflation in other products, there is not an enormous inflation and this is another way to look at this from a market point of view, in the charges for sexual services. And that’s because there is such an enormous increase in supply of women but then as the British police who were looking at this explained to me it becomes then more accessible to a range of people. When it becomes a lower price compared to other things on which you can spend your income.”

So do you think “John schools” are a good idea? What can put a stop to prostiution?