School leaders prepare for more sex-ed debates

By Cecelia Haack

The South County Spotlight, Dec 3, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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Scappoose School District and several parents are embroiled in a heady debate about what is appropriate, reasonable and comprehensive sex education for sixth-grade students.

The Scappoose School Board will discuss the issue a second time at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, in the board room at the district office. Oral comments will be taken from the public at this meeting. Written comments can be dropped off or mailed to the district office, 33589 S.E. High School Way.

At issue is a current health curriculum that does not meet Oregon state standards for comprehensive sex education.

Last month, at a school board meeting to address the issue, parents had many questions, including: What is appropriate and reasonable for sixth-graders? And what does the state really require of the curricula?

Here’s a look at what Oregon law requires. According to state law, human sexuality education courses must:

• Be comprehensive — that means they must be abstinence-based programs that emphasize that abstinence is the 100 percent effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Medically accurate information about condom use and other forms of contraception is included in these programs.

• Be an integral part of the health education curriculum.

• Promote abstinence, but not to the exclusion of information on contraceptives and disease prevention.

• Discuss the possible emotional, physical and psychological consequences of adolescent sexual intercourse and teen pregnancy.

• Advise students of the law pertaining to financial responsibility for their children.

• Advise students of the law pertaining to persons 18 years of age or older having sexual relations with persons under the age of 18.

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