Local schools, state step up sex education efforts

Local schools, state step up sex education efforts

By Larrisa Theodore, Times Staff

Freedom Area High School always took a conservative approach to teaching students about sexuality. Health teachers preached abstinence while broaching topics of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

But after seeing a rise in teen pregnancies, within the district and countywide, J.C. Summers, a health and physical education teacher at Freedom, said teachers decided to move to a more intense curriculum next school year.

“We want to talk about it,” Summers said. “We’re not passing out condoms and birth controlVoluntary limitation or control of the number of children conceived, especially by planned use of contraceptive techniques., but they need to be aware of what’s going on.”

No standards exist for comprehensive sex education in Pennsylvania public schools. And while the state school board sets academic standards for health, safety and physical education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education doesn’t regulate what schools must teach when it comes to sex ed, said Michael Race, education department spokesman.

Some schools prefer an abstinence-based program, while others, such as Ambridge Area High School, have long taught “comprehensive” sex education, a program that discusses abstinence but also delves into protection, prevention and other details.

TWO BILLS

Two Pennsylvania legislators are hoping to unify the way public schools teach sex education. Two House bills introduced in April, the Healthy Youth Act and the Notice Home Act,, aim to change health curriculums in public schools by offering guidelines on what schools should teach. Parents also would have to be notified about the instruction.

The Healthy Youth Act, introduced by state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-22, Pittsburgh, would amend the Pennsylvania school code to require schools to teach age-appropriate, medically accurate and nondiscriminatory information.

The Notice Home Act, introduced by state Rep. Eddie Pashinski, D-122, Wilkes-Barre, would increase parental involvement by requiring that a parental notice be sent home before children take part in sex education programs.

As of now, schools don’t have to notify parents when students take part in abstinence-only programs, said Rebecca Cavanaugh, vice president of public affairs with Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania.

Cavanaugh said the “notice home” bill would allow parents to opt out if they choose or continue the class discussion at home.

“It raises awareness with the parents that this is what your children are talking about. It’s a great tool for parents,” Cavanaugh said.

Keri Muir, executive director of Choices Pregnancy Center in Moon Township, hadn’t heard about the bills, but said she believes parents should have the opportunity to look at the curriculum and have input in their children’s education.

“When it comes to issues about sex and relationships, parents are always the first we would encourage children to talk to,” Muir said.

TWO DISTRICTS

Ambridge Area students have already been learning that the safest way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and disease is to abstain from sex until marriage. However, Denise Folino, chairwoman of the district’s health and physical education department, said students also learn about disease, birth control, decision-making and parental involvement.

Folino said one student was pulled from class this year by her mother, but that’s rare.

“Quite honestly, in the 35 years I’ve been teaching, I only had two parents question the curriculum. The rest were so glad they didn’t have to tell their kids what I was teaching,” Folino said.

Summers said Freedom Area began introducing its new “comprehensive” sex education curriculum at the end of this school year. Next year, he said they’ll “really kick in and attack.”

“I do think it needs to be addressed,” Summers said. “We’re just starting to get in full throttle. We talked about STDs and STIs, but never got into the juicy details. But we’re seeing a need for it with teen pregnancies. Overall in the county, I think it’s on the rise.”

THE FUTURE

Pashinski, who was a teacher prior to becoming a legislator, said more responsibility has been placed on schools to prepare students for life’s challenges. Although he agrees that abstinence is the safest, surest way to prevent unwanted pregnancy, he said he also realizes the natural desire for companionship is strong in young people’s lives.

“I think the least that we can do as adults is to provide them with accurate and honest information that will hopefully prevent unwanted pregnancies and prevent any kind of disease,” Pashinski said.

Both bills are currently in the House Education Committee. Pashinski said Wagner is due to deliver a baby any day now, and with legislators currently working on the state budget, he predicted the bills wouldn’t reach the floor until at least fall.

If passed, the bills would take effect beginning with the next full school year after the passage date.

Larissa Theodore can be reached online at ltheodore@timesonline.com.

THE HEALTHY YOUTH ACT

    * H.B. 1163, introduced by state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-22, Pittsburgh, would amend the Pennsylvania school code to require schools to teach age-appropriate, medically accurate and nondiscriminatory information.
    * Schools would have to teach that not engaging in sexual intercourse is the only certain way to prevent pregnancy and reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases.
    * Schools would have to provide information about the health benefits of condoms and other methods that reduce the risk of STDS, including HIV.
    * Young people would be encouraged to communicate with family and trusted adults about sexuality.

THE NOTICE HOME ACT

    * H.B. 1162, introduced by state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-122, Wilkes-Barre, aims to increase parental involvement and would require that a notice be sent home informing parents if their child is to take part in a sex education program at school.
    * Schools that receive federal funding to teach abstinence-until-marriage education would have to let parents know what their children are being taught.