Cleveland Public Schools Revising Sex Ed

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I share this mainly because it could potentially be your school system next.


Cleveland schools revising sex ed
Program includes lessons on abstinence, contraception
Friday, October 20, 2006
Regina McEnery
Plain Dealer Reporter

Troubled by the city's high rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, Cleveland is backing both abstinence and contraception in a sweeping sex education curriculum change that appears to be unequaled in the state.

Cleveland schools already offer sex education to many of their middle and high school students. The schools are also required to teach HIV prevention. But the city wants to incorporate a program that will begin in kindergarten with age-appropriate lessons and continue through the high-risk high school years.

The effort, intended to reach all 58,000 students, is being financed by an $800,000 block grant from Cuyahoga County.

The classes, which begin soon, will address self-esteem and peer pressure as well as biology.

Children in grades K-3 will learn about how viruses work and appropriate and inappropriate touching.

Grades 4-6 will start learning about menstruation and other aspects of reproductive health.

In grades 7-12, the discussion shifts to interpersonal relationships, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy and respect for sexual orientation. Condom demonstrations are not planned.

Abortion will be explained and defined but not promoted, said Lita Townsend, responsible sexual behavior coordinator for the district.

Participation is voluntary, although public health and school personnel hope parents support the effort.

"One-third of all the HIV/AIDS cases in Ohio are in Cleveland," said Townsend. "Really, the best weapon we have right now is education."

Continue reading article here: http://www.cleveland.com/education/p...l=2&thispage=1

Is a comprehensive sex education curriculum an answer to higher STD rates and teenage pregnancy? Is kindergarten too young?