Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Examiner - April 14, 2006
Matthew Santoni, msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com
The 4-1 vote gave teachers and administrators this option.
Students at that level should be mature enough for coed discussions, said Linda Kephart, county supervisor of health and elementary physical education.
This proposal was voted down 3-2 last month when it was combined with a change that would teach eighth-graders about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The board decided against that version because it wanted more evidence that the subject would be age-appropriate and confirmation of claims that middle school students are at risk of STDs.
"It's not scientific. It's an opinion about what I believe is age-appropriate," said Board President Thomas Hiltz.
"Other than the broad statements, I see no compelling reason to change."
Kephart said anecdotal evidence suggests sexual activity was increasing among middle school students, and AIDS cases were growing rapidly among patients younger than 24.
More than 100 cases of chlamydia were reported in Carroll County in 2004, and 77 percent of the reported cases were among 15- to 24-year-olds, making it the most-reported sexually transmitted disease in the county, she said.
As part of the county's abstinence-based sex education curriculum, the unit would discuss different methods of contraception and how effective - or ineffective - they were at preventing diseases.
Even on the committee of health teachers and parents that made the recommendation, there were concerns that the material should wait until ninth grade, Kephart said.
Meeting scheduled
The Carroll County Board of Education will begin at 2 p.m. April 22 at Room 007 of the Board of Education offices, 125 N. Court St.
060414
SE060402
Copyright © 2006 - San Francisco Examiner. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the San Francisco Examiner, Permissions Desk, 110 Fifth Street, P.O. Box 7260, San Franciso, CA 94120.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .