Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1984. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The New York Times - June 10, 1984
Joyce Purnick
Most of the new course of study, however, remains as written, they said.
The new curriculum, developed over five years in consultation with civic and religious groups, will be optional in all of the city's 32 school districts and 110 high schools. It deals with many of the profound changes that have taken place since the old curriculum was written in 1967, including the rise of single-parent families and an increase in sexual abuse.
It provides information on such diseases as herpes and AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and no longer regards marriage as an inevitability.
Letter From Members of Clergy
In response to the concerns of the members of the clergy, some language in the curriculum has been changed, and explicit pictures of genitalia, as well as blunt discussion of sexuality, will not be used in kindergarten or the early primary grades.
In addition, junior high school students will be advised that they can resist peer pressure and say no to having sex, and religious viewpoints will be included in discussions of abortion.
In a May 3 letter, 15 members of the clergy complained that the proposed curriculum did not give enough emphasis to marriage and the family. They raised 56 specific objections and asked to meet with parents and representatives of the Board of Education to discuss their criticisms.
Among those who signed the letter were officials of the New York Archdiocese and the Brooklyn Diocese and of major Jewish and Protestant congregations, including the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church and Temple Emanu-El.
One change that was made after the letter was received deals with a reference to the family. The 1967 curriculum read, "A man and woman who love each other marry and form a family." That was going to be changed to: "A man and a woman who love each other often marry and form a family." But the revised language says: "Family members show love for each other in may ways."
'Still Some Objections'
The Rev. Peter G. Finn, director of communications at the New York Archdiocese, said the group of clergymen still had some problems with the curriculum despite the revisions, and wanted to meet with board officials. "My understanding is, there have been some modifications, but there are still some objections to some of the things that remain," he said. He added that he had not reviewed the changes himself, but had spoken to some members of the clergy who had.
Alfred F. Moran, executive director of Planned Parenthood of New York City, which has long championed a modernization of the school system's sex-education courses, said his organization endorsed the new curriculum.
"We believe it is a spectacular curriculum that has been well developed, reviewed intensively by parent groups and professionals," Mr. Moran said.
The new curriculum has been strongly recommended by the board, but its use is not mandatory. Each school district and high school will be free to use or reject it, and parents will have the option of removing their children from the course.
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