THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412080036
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
VIRGINIA GOV. GEORGE F. Allen created a furor last week with his proposal to abolish a state law requiring public schools to teach ``family life'' education. Allen said local districts should decide whether to offer the course. He also said kids shouldn't take the course unless they get parental permission.
If the decision were left up to seven students at Norfolk's Lake Taylor High School, the family-life course would be part of the school curriculum. And on the high school level, the students themselves - not parents - would decide whether they participated.
At a time in society when family values seem to be deteriorating and morals declining, they said, the schools are some students' only source of accurate information about sex and human relation-ships.
``In the past, you didn't have the problems we do now - drugs, teen pregnancy, AIDS,'' junior Kelley Harkins, 16, said.
``The situations are the same - sex and drugs - but the consequences are much more dire,'' senior Aisha Durham, 17, said.
While critics charge that ``family life'' is a euphemism for sex education, students said it's much more: How to resist peer pressure and avoid drugs, for instance, and how to respect yourself and get along with people of different races and religions.
``Most of the stuff I learned at home was reinforced in family life education, like respect for others, the basic things, respecting people of other races and women,'' senior Jon Handy, 17, said. ``It's opening your eyes to different views.''
``Some kids are brought up racist,'' senior Jennifer Ewings, 17, said. ``Their parents are racists or prejudiced and so they pass it on to their children.''
Norfolk schools offer family-life as part of the health and physical education curriculum from kindergarten through 10th grade. Teachers must discuss the value of postponing sexual activity until marriage, types of contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
``I learned a lot of things my mom never told me that she may have felt uncomfortable telling me,'' said junior Nicholas Lassiter, 16.
In this all-pervasive media age, kids are exposed to sex at ever earlier ages. Family-life courses can bring important perspective to what is seen on television or heard on the street, they said.
``When I was a kid I knew nothing about sex,'' Jennifer said. ``Now, my sister is 8 years old and she knows everything.''
Conservative Christian parents, including Allen, don't like the idea of schools teaching their children family life education because it could conflict with values they were taught at home. For that reason, the students said parental permission might be a good idea for more impressionable elementary and middle school students.
At the least, they agreed, parents should be notified about the course content.
``If you hear two different sides that contradict one another, you'll be more confused,'' said junior Louella J. Cabales, 16.
But high schoolers should not have to get parental permission to take the course, the students said.
``They let us choose what math or English courses we take, so why don't they let us choose whether we want to take family life?'' Jennifer said.
Under current state law, students participate in the family life course unless parents request that their child be excused. Last year in Norfolk, 1,164 students - 3.6 percent of those eligible - were ``opted out'' by their parents. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
I think so because not everyone has a family background to rely on
and a parent to be there to guide them.
Nicholas Lassiter, 16, junior
It should be optional. There are some students whose families aren't
really supportive and they need somewhere to learn family values and
ideals.
Jon Handy, 17, senior
The curriculum taught now is too tedious, like how much it costs to
have a baby. It should be based on values.
Kelley Harkins, 16, junior
I think it should be offered, but kids who don't want to take it
should have an alternative class.
Aisha Durham, 17, senior
I think the curriculum should be available for those who want it,
but it shouldn't be forced on anyone.
Louella J. Cabales, 16, junior
It's important to learn family values and morals. I think it should
be offered so students can learn some values if they haven't already
learned them.
Jennifer M. Ewings, 17, senior
I think it should be offered. In addition to children not having
stable backgrounds, they may not feel comfortable talking to their
parents about it.
Felicia Brown, 17, senior
KEYWORDS: SEX EDUCATION by CNB