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School Board asked to review sex education curriculum
Carroll County -
The Carroll County School Health Council has asked the school board to review its sex education curriculum to determine if middle-schoolers should learn about condoms and other contraceptive methods, rather than only the abstinence option currently taught. “The board contends that it’s not an issue in the eighth grade, but students need the information sooner,” said Linda Kephart, supervisor of health and elementary physical education. “What they hear at the back of the school bus is not accurate. We’re not promoting the behavior; we just want them to have accurate information.” The health council, comprised of a parent and school, health and government officials, sent a letter to the school board at the end of June asking the board to make sure schools provide “appropriate education for the many students who do choose to be sexually active” as part of the schools’ abstinence-based education. The letter cited a recent countywide study in which 78 percent of respondents said they would support comprehensive sexuality education for all teens ages 11 to 17. School board President Thomas Hiltz said he expects the board to respond formally today with a letter to the county health council. “Our curriculum meets Maryland standards and we follow them closely,” he said, adding that county health council members can join the Family Life and Human Sexuality Committee, a group of teachers, parents and students that offer recommendations about curriculum to the school board. The board voted down a recommendation made by the Family Life committee in March that called for barrier and chemical contraception instruction for eighth-graders, Kephart said. “A board member said it is the parents’ responsibility, but parents aren’t talking about it as much as they should,” she said. Reporter Doug Denison contributed to this story. Carroll County Teens’ Sexuality » 20-32 percent had spoken to their parents about teen sexual behavior. » 21-34 percent had talked about contraception. » 17-27 percent had talked about teen pregnancy. Source: 2005 Carroll County Teen Sexuality Survey kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com |
