This Week's Editorial – By Lucas Knowles
Knowledge is power
A story written this week brought me back to one of the most controversial issues I have covered during my time at the Leader.
In the summer and early fall of 2005, a review of the health curriculum at Scarborough High School was prompted by a group of parents and community members who took issue with the sex education program, specifically class periods with eighth graders where contraceptive methods were discussed. Some questioned whether discussion and any demonstration of contraceptive methods were appropriate for a co-ed class of eighth graders and whether it gave students mixed messages in an abstinence-based program. Some of those who raised questions said they would like to see Heritage of Maine, a federally funded, abstinence-based organization, be involved with the middle school health curriculum. Community members were told that they could voluntarily use the services of Heritage of Maine and could opt children out of the classes where contraceptives are discussed.
Maine Character Resource, part of Heritage of Maine, is now presenting a three-session program to seventh and eighth grade students at the high school. The program was brought to Scarborough by parents and community members.
While it is important to teach middle school students about character and self-esteem in health education, it is also important to provide a comprehensive program. While the middle school health education program does promote abstinence as the only 100 percent effective contraceptive method, it is wrong to completely ignore talk about contraceptive methods such as condoms. So, for a class period or two, students are exposed to those methods as part of the middle school’s comprehensive health education program.
Knowledge is power and exposing students to contraceptive methods like condoms does not promote promiscuous behavior – it provides knowledge.
While parents have every right to have their children use the services of Heritage of Maine and add on to their education from the middle school, it should be noted that the middle school’s program is not deficient in any way.
A story written this week brought me back to one of the most controversial issues I have covered during my time at the Leader.
In the summer and early fall of 2005, a review of the health curriculum at Scarborough High School was prompted by a group of parents and community members who took issue with the sex education program, specifically class periods with eighth graders where contraceptive methods were discussed. Some questioned whether discussion and any demonstration of contraceptive methods were appropriate for a co-ed class of eighth graders and whether it gave students mixed messages in an abstinence-based program. Some of those who raised questions said they would like to see Heritage of Maine, a federally funded, abstinence-based organization, be involved with the middle school health curriculum. Community members were told that they could voluntarily use the services of Heritage of Maine and could opt children out of the classes where contraceptives are discussed.
Maine Character Resource, part of Heritage of Maine, is now presenting a three-session program to seventh and eighth grade students at the high school. The program was brought to Scarborough by parents and community members.
While it is important to teach middle school students about character and self-esteem in health education, it is also important to provide a comprehensive program. While the middle school health education program does promote abstinence as the only 100 percent effective contraceptive method, it is wrong to completely ignore talk about contraceptive methods such as condoms. So, for a class period or two, students are exposed to those methods as part of the middle school’s comprehensive health education program.
Knowledge is power and exposing students to contraceptive methods like condoms does not promote promiscuous behavior – it provides knowledge.
While parents have every right to have their children use the services of Heritage of Maine and add on to their education from the middle school, it should be noted that the middle school’s program is not deficient in any way.
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