WCPSS - abstinence only? (public school, college, vs.)

[OmegaBaby]

Originally Posted by lamishra

Well, I don't see why it even needs to be a debate. Parents can teach thier kids what they want and parents can opt out of abstinence only in Wake County if they choose. They're not being forced into it.

Agreed....why not offer both, and let the parents decide which one their children should attend?

[bluedevilz]

Originally Posted by raccemup

They are. Which is why it's ridiculous that abstinence is being taught instead of actual safe sex methods. Teenagers who are going to have premarital sex are going to have it regardless of whether they are "taught" that absitence is best. It's safer for them be armed with knowledge of STD's and how to use a condom to prevent them and unwanted pregnancies. My DH just wrote a paper for his MSW about how areas with abstinence policies actually have a higher teen pregnancy rate. Sorry, i don't have the stats on that, he just told me that when he was researching his paper.

How about everyone take a step back and look at the original post and the "context" of abstinence....as a POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAIT

NOT necessarily as a form of birth control ( although it is the only 100% effective method)

[muse1110]

Originally Posted by lamishra

Yes, you can opt out.

Thanks! Good to hear.

[tigerlily]

Contraception should be taught along with abstinence. Condoms prevent std's, but there are other forms of sexual behavior that abstinence only pledge takers engage in that also cause STD's. This is the same kind of misinformation the administration had posted on CDC's website abortions causing breast cancer and have since been forced to removed after it was debunked.

[urbywan]

Originally Posted by bluedevilz

How about everyone take a step back and look at the original post and the "context" of abstinence....as a POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAIT

NOT necessarily as a form of birth control ( although it is the only 100% effective method)

Positive Character trait? Being Abstinent?

Please, just because you are 17 a senior in HS and are having sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend has nothing to do with their character.

The religious types who want this abstinence teaching are fooling themselves.

[lamishra]

Here is the actual policy from WCPSS:

5120 HEALTHFUL LIVING EDUCATION: ENCOURAGING HEALTHY CHOICES
5120

All students must take Healthful Living Education in grades kindergarten through eight and at least once in high school. When offering sex education instruction in grades K-12, the Wake County Public School System staff (employees, agents, contractors, and guest speakers) shall be limited to teaching the State Board of Education Healthful Living Curriculum K-12, following the requirements of G.S. 115C-81 (e1), which teaches that abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard for all school-age children and that a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.



5120.1
All curriculum documents and materials used at a school to teach healthful living education must be available for review. Requests for review will be made through the school’s principal.



5120.2
A parent/legal guardian may request that his/her child be excluded from certain healthful living topics due to religious/personal beliefs by contacting the school principal in writing. These students will be given an alternative healthful living assignment.



5120.3
A Wake County Public School System Health Advisory Council, comprised of representatives in the areas of education, health, medicine, law, religion, media, and business, as well as parents and the community at large, is appointed by the superintendent, and reports to the Wake County Public School System Board of Education. The council prepares and submits recommendations to the board regarding healthful living education policies, general program directions, organization of the health education curriculum, and services.



5120.4
No Wake County Public School System employee shall provide information to any student about where to obtain contraceptives and/or abortion referral services.

5120.5
All WCPSS staff are expected to promote the message that abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard for all school-age children.

While I have no problem encouraging abstinence in school aged children (grade 7 and up here) I don't agree with their stance on pushing "heterosexual monogamous marriage". It's simply a moral judgment.
We'll be opting out as well.

[Bull City Rising]

Thanks for the post and the clarification of Wake public schools' policy, Lamishra and others.

I'd note that the original poster's question, which was Wake County-specific, has been answered. Should folks want to debate the merits of abstinence-only education vs. a sex education that includes info on contraceptive methods in a universal, non-Triangle way -- please use the Off Topic or Politics forums here at City-Data. This helps keep our Triangle forum on topic.

Thanks!

[MrsSteel]

Looks like the standards for sex ed in North Carolina may be changing.

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Con...d=oid%3A115199

[lamishra]

VERY interesting article. Thank you for posting that.

[ADVentive]

Great article! Thanks!