- March 28, 2024
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School’s sex curriculum could make a move from “abstinence only” to “abstinence plus,” pending survey results.
Sixth graders will be among the students soon to be asked questions such as, “Are you sexually active?” and “Would you take a condom from the clinic at your school if it were offered to you?”
Parents can have their children opt out by signing a form.
According to School Board Policy 204, in compliance with state statute, all Flagler County schools are presently required to adhere to an “abstinence only” sexual-education curriculum. The policy directs: “Teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age children while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage ... ”
But that could be about to change.
After being presented the district’s teen-sex and sexually transmitted disease statistics, which School Board member Colleen Conklin called “staggering,” the School Board is considering expanding the policy to “abstinence plus.”
“I think that in our current situation, with some of the data we’re looking at,” School Board member Andy Dance said, “I think it’s somewhere where we (might) need to go. (But) I think some details of that curriculum need to be worked out.”
An “abstinence plus” policy could include education on birth control and more extensive education on sexually transmitted diseases. The distribution of contraceptives on school grounds, according to School Board members, is an entirely separate issue, and not necessarily part of the proposed curriculum change.
The board is currently conducting an optional, multiple-choice survey of parents, students (sixth grade and up) and community members to collect data as it prepare to vote on whether the education standard should be amended.
Board member John Fischer, who supports the current abstinence-only approach, likes the idea of the survey, believing it may serve as a “wake-up call” to parents to speak with their kids about sex and its consequences.
“I think it’s a good idea to make them aware, absolutely,” Fischer said. “I should hope the parents respond and come back to us with their feelings so we can hopefully get (the issue) under control.”
A public forum will be held for students, parents and community members 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, April 7, to discuss the survey results and offer opinions.
“There has to be a lot of questions answered before we go forward,” Fischer said.
Dance agrees. “There has to be a lot more talking. This is not definitive as far as what is going to be happening with the curriculum.”