Posts
Because of a state-mandated
requirement that Mississippi public schools teach sex education, more than 100
teachers and administrators from the DeSoto County Schools (DCS) district
gathered recently for a training.
School districts were allowed to
choose between two approaches to sex education: abstinence-only or
abstinence-plus, which additionally teaches safe-sex practices, contraception,
and STD education. More than half the districts, including DCS, chose an
abstinence-only option. Three districts adopted split policies, teaching
abstinence-only to younger students and abstinence-plus to older grades.
Initial instruction on the DCS
abstinence-only curriculum came from Cliff Baskerville, vice president of
Choosing the Best Publishing Southeast Region. “What’s great about this program
is that the scope and sequence builds,” said Keith Williams, an associate
superintendent for DCS.
The topics of condom use and
contraception are not included in the curriculum, which Williams said will be
offered this fall at most campuses. The courses will begin at several others in
spring.
Assistant Principal Allyson Killough
of Olive Branch High School said the school wants students to understand they
can make life-impacting decisions today. The curriculum will be incorporated
into health and family dynamics courses at high schools, and into science and
physical education classes at middle schools, said Patsy Davis, DCS nursing
supervisor.
“I work with teen pregnancies in
high school, and just by talking to those girls, I think they’ll [DCS students]
be very appreciative to have somebody open, honest, and sharing facts with
them,” said Susan Hardy, assistant nursing supervisor.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
