Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
School board supports frank AIDS instruction
Miami Herald - Thursday, November 8, 1990 Charisse L. Grant, Herald Staff Writer
The Dade School Board approved measures Wednesday to improve AIDS education, particularly in elementary schools, where a recent report found many teachers aren't complying with requirements for AIDS instruction. The School Board also told its staff to speed up revision of the AIDS curriculum to deal more openly with students, particularly about the use of condoms. Dade Schools requires students in fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th grades to receive AIDS education. Last school year, administrators surveyed 1,121 fifth and sixth grade teachers. Of the 523 who returned the survey, only 75 percent indicated they were providing AIDS education to their students. "I assume the people who answered the survey are the ones mostly likely to be providing the education," said board chairwoman Janet McAliley. "We have to have a concerted effort here because we're losing our children." Since 1988, the district has been working to ensure students not only get basic information about the HIV virus and how it is transmitted, but also learn behavior and decision-making skills to keep them from becoming infected. Primary emphasis is on sexual abstinence, said Nadine Gay, the district's AIDS education coordinator. The board asked its staff to examine why elementary teachers aren't providing the required AIDS instruction. "I do know teachers do not always feel comfortable approaching the subject," said Genevieve Yarnold, first vice president of the teachers' union. "Many aren't health educators." Under another measure, administrators will send letters to principals to restate the district's policies on AIDS education. The survey showed Dade Schools has had more success making sure students in upper grades get AIDS instruction, and in training "resource people" at each school. Those people become in-school consultants and conduits for updated information. A network of 74 consultants last year made presentations that reached an estimated 20,700 people, the report said. The School Board also said it is concerned about revision of the curriculum guidelines, which is two years behind schedule. Gay was hesitant about discussing the reason for the revision delays. Before the School Board talked about the report, she said the outside local and national agencies reviewing the curriculum rejected it because of insufficient statistics about AIDS. But during the board discussion, McAliley said the outside agencies were critical of the district's skittishness about dealing with the topic of teens' sexual behavior. "I think we have to get used to the idea of talking to children about condoms and how to use them," she said. Only then did Gay acknowledge the problem has in large part been the district's hesitancy to deal with teaching fifth- and sixth-grade students about using condoms. Gay said the sentiments McAliley expressed will encourage administrators to take a bolder approach to dealing with the sensitive subject of teen sexual behavior. "We need all the support possible," Gay said.
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Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1990. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
