Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 1, 1993 TAG: 9304010189
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
EXCERPTS FROM "SEX RESPECT"
Why is it controversial?Roanoke County teachers already use portions of "Sex Respect: The Option of True Sexual Freedom" in family life courses for sixth through 10th graders, though no parts of the book are off limits to them.
Like all textbooks used in county schools, "Sex Respect" is available for public inspection at individual schools.
A Louisiana judge found that the text of "Sex Respect" contained medically inaccurate information and included religious messages that violated state laws. Others have criticized it for perpetuating sexual stereotypes and for using guilt and fear to push a chastity message.
Following are excerpts from pages of the text that are referred to in the county's family life curriculum guide.
"Half of the babies passing through the birth canal of a herpes-infected mother catch the disease." (This was ruled medically inaccurate by the Louisiana judge.)
"Syphilis and gonorrhea usually respond to antibiotics. The new superstrains, however, can't always be cured." (This also was ruled medically inaccurate by the Louisiana judge.)
"If measles or leprosy were being spread at the same epidemic rate as sexually transmitted diseases, what steps do you think would be taken by the Public Health Department?"
"If we practice sex respect, we avoid the danger of ignoring the special bond produced by sexual union. If we try to ignore this bond because we're having sex outside of marriage, we end up becoming calloused to sex. If sex isn't special, and you aren't special, why keep sex for one special person? Then being faithful to your marriage partner becomes more difficult, too."
Here are further excerpts, not specifically cited in the county curriculum but available to teachers, from the text of "Sex Respect":
"Well, no one can deny that nature is making some kind of a comment on sexual behavior through the AIDS and herpes epidemics." (In the student workbook.)
"It's often the girls who are starved for male affection because they didn't have a good relationship with their father who get involved in sex outside of marriage. They are likely to feel an exaggerated need for physical closeness to males." (Student workbook.)
"Why do teen-agers who want to have premarital sex feel unfree, feel guilty?" (Student workbook.)
"There's no way to have premarital sex without hurting someone." (Student workbook.)
Listed among the physical risks of premarital sex: "increased possibility of getting cancer of the cervix." (Student workbook.)
"Abortion is not the best choice. . . . Adoption is a healthy, mature choice." (Teachers' manual.)
"Have a speaker from Birthright or some other pro-life organization come and talk about the risks of abortion and the benefits of adoption." (Teachers' manual.)
"The liberation movement has produced some aggressive girls today, and one of the tough challenges for guys who say no will be the questioning of their manliness." (Student workbook.)
"What does it mean to be mature?" Among the answers: "Spiritually: Accepting things you can't change but willing to work hard to change what you can, putting others first, taking time to consider the deeper meaning of life, setting goals that put faith in a greater power or principle than oneself." (Teachers' manual.)