EACC: Rethink sex ed stance

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007

The previous board supported, in a list of positions supplied to local lawmakers, restricting instructors from discussing sexual lifestyles or conducting demonstration activities with students, such as how to put on a condom. In addition, the board supported sex education programs incorporating abstinence as the primary emphasis.

The school board’s stated position needs to be changed because it ‘‘basically restricts the topics and instructional techniques used by teachers who teach the Family Life and Reproductive Health courses,” Bill Fisher, president of the Education Association of Charles County, wrote in a Jan. 8 letter to then-board chairman Collins A. Bailey. The EACC represents 16,000 educators.

Fisher’s argument stems from the fact that both of the courses are electives, not required classes. For sex education electives, parents are required to sign a consent form for their child’s enrollment and may review the curriculum if they please.

‘‘The elective class should not be confused with classes offered as part of the mandatory health curriculum,” Fisher wrote. ‘‘EACC feels that the addition of the sex education item to the board’s legislative package ... was an attempt by some board members to impose their personal, moral and religious beliefs on the curriculum.”

Even though the former board outlined its position on sex education in the legislative packet, the final decision would rest with the state, said Katie O’Malley-Simpson, spokeswoman for Charles County Public Schools.

The board’s packet is given to the state legislators so that when an issue is brought before them, they will know the local board’s stance.

‘‘This tells them what the school board would like them to consider,” O’Malley-Simpson said.

If the school board would like to see its current position on sex education implemented, it would have to follow a process to appeal to the state legislature.

The school board does not have the authority to pass and apply its position without approval from the state, O’Malley-Simpson explained.

The sex education provision was added to the county school board’s legislative package on Nov. 11, 2005, and Fisher said it is an ‘‘insult to our educator members, because it implies that they won’t use good judgement in answering student questions and won’t direct discussion in an appropriate way.”

The previous board’s position stands, but the November elections transformed the board, with four new members gaining seats while three incumbents returned. The new board will soon decide if it wants to change its stand on sex education.

Retaining their seats were Jennifer S. Abell, Bailey and Donald M. Wade. Joining the board were Charles E. Carrington, Maura H. Cook, Pamela A. Pedersen and Roberta ‘‘Bobbie” Wise.

Wade, chairman for the new board, said he plans to get guidance from the other members and the public before considering a change. Wade said he plans to bring the issue before the board sometime before an April work session.

‘‘We have to handle this very carefully. ... We wouldn’t dare touch that without parental approval,” Wade said, suggesting a survey would be a good method to get the public’s opinion on the issue.

The 2007 legislative packet describes the school board’s positions on several issues, including school construction funding, the terms of the superintendent’s contract, transportation issues and sex education. The packet was distributed to the county commissioners and state delegates at the Nov. 27 annual legislative breakfast.

Bailey said the packet is developed to let government officials know the school board’s opinion on certain issues.

‘‘It gives our Southern Maryland representatives the opportunity to know our position in case one of these issues comes up,” Bailey said, adding that he has not finished reviewing the EACC legislative request and has not yet formed a position on the issue.

Fisher said he hopes the new board will recognize the EACC’s request to delete the sex education item from its legislative package. ‘‘Parents who prefer to have their children learn about sensitive topics in a formal atmosphere with a trained educator should have that opportunity,” he said.

E-mail Jacqueline Rabe at jrabe@somdnews.com.