State board revises sex-ed form
The changes are meant to clarify issues to educators and parents alike regarding instruction on human sexuality. Some words have been added, along with shading, bolding and larger type for emphasis.
The form, offered in seven languages, states public schools will teach abstinence before marriage and fidelity after marriage; require prior parental consent before teaching any aspect of contraception and/or condoms; and deliver information about communicable diseases, including those transmitted sexually, such as HIV and AIDS. This is according to Utah state law and Utah State Board of Education rule.
According to the form, teachers may respond to spontaneous student questions for "the purposes of providing accurate data or correcting inaccurate or misleading information."
"Our teachers are not sex therapists. They are teachers who are trying to give an objective picture of human sexuality for our students," said Frank Wojtech, state health and physical education specialist.
Some teachers have the students write down questions and hand them in so there are no surprises, he added.
The form states what is not approved by the state board and can't be taught: intricacies of intercourse, sexual stimulation or erotic behavior; advocacy of homosexuality; advocacy or encouragement of the use of contraceptive methods or devices; and advocacy for sexual activity outside of marriage.
The form states "demonstrations on how to use condoms or any contraceptive means, methods, or devices are prohibited and are not authorized."
Wojtech said, "We don't do that in the state of Utah."
The form allows parents to choose whether their child will receive all information, including reproductive anatomy and health; human reproduction; self exams; contraception; and sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, HIV and AIDS. Newly added is that "modes of transmission" will be discussed or described. Other added words include: "terms of sensitive/explicit nature may be defined."
Wojtech says parents in Cache School District during the past year raised some concerns that initiated the changes in the forms.
State board member Teresa Theurer, Logan, said the concerned parents contacted her as a state board representative.
Regarding the freshly added words, Wojtech said, "For many parents, these may be trigger phrases or trigger terms. It may cause them to call the teacher and say, 'What specifically will you be teaching my child?' And that's what we really want."
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