Although there was little opposition during a public hearing Friday morning about a proposed sex-education guide for teachers, the state Board of Education put the proposal on hold.
Board members said they want to see the companion parents' guide before they act and want to gather more public comments before deciding if the teachers' guide will be used in the schools.At a board meeting, citizens wanted to talk about the new teacher's manual, but board members did not take comments. Instead, they directed staff members to listen to their comments in another room.
At the separate meeting, there was little opposition from citizens regarding the manual which would guide high school health teachers through human sexuality discussions.
Candace Gunnell, a member of the teenage pregnancy task force in Davis County, said, "I see nothing wrong with this material."
Carlene Jensen, Duchesne County, a registered nurse with six teenagers, added, "I think this is way too late . . . I'm all for knowledge. I can't teach everything to my children."
Utah PTA President Joyce Muhlestein, said teens need information to make wise choices. She said her concern is parents won't give adequate information about the content of the human sexuality curriculum, so the program will end up being swarted.
Mary Carlson of Planned Parenthood of Utah, who offered strong support for the program, said that the family planning information in the teacher's manual, "doesn't go far enough."
But Gayle Ruzicka of Utah Eagle Forum, a mother of 12 children, objected to the teacher's guide. She said she is worried that it will turn into a training manual that will stimulate students' questions and interest so that teachers can answer items normally prohibited by state law.
The teacher's manual drew criticism earlier in the week from board member Frances Hatch Merrill, who questioned sections dealing with abortion and homosexuality and said that the teacher's guide went too far.
But State Office of Education staff members who helped prepare the guide for health teachers, believe it is a straight forward, middle-of-the-road approach that leaves the most sensitive discussions of human sexuality to the parents.
The teacher's guide was developed around nine objectives approved last year by the Utah Board of Education (see box). Deputy Superintendent Bruce Griffin, said it basically does not contain much new material, but is part of a curriculum that has been in use in various stages since 1986.
A panel of medical experts plus counselors, social workers and parents, developed the high school teacher's manual after studying 80-90 similar guides from across the country.
"We didn't have any one that did all we wanted, so we tailor-made ours," Scott Hess, state healthy lifestyles specialist, told the Deseret News in an interview.
The teacher's guide and accompanying parents' guide are just the beginning of the state's first comprehensive K-12 human sexuality curriculum. A teacher's guide and parents' supplement will soon be finished for junior high schools.
Eventually, perhaps within the next two years, the state will have a complete human sexuality curriculum for K-12.
Hess said the program will strive for three components: early education, guide for parents, and factual, truthful information.
In the lower grades, he said, the curriculum will stress self-esteem and responsible decisionmaking. In the secondary grades, those subjects are also taught, but the students also learn more about anatomy and the social issues surrounding sexuality.
In the high school teacher's manual, homosexuality is defined but not promoted. The pro-choice and anti-abortion positions are explained, but no stand is taken. "We don't take any point of view," Hess said.
Contraception is mentioned vaguely. The teacher's manual mentions that there are two types - prescription and non-prescription - but tells the teachers to leave the discussion to the parents.
By state law, prior parental consent is required before any aspect of contraception can be discussed in the schools.
The teacher's manual recommends that parents review human sexuality standards and objectives before they are used by the district.
(Additional information)
Sexuality curriculum rules and goals
The State Board of Education says the following may NOT be taught in the schools:
1. Intricacies of intercourse, sexual stimulation or erotic behavior.
2. Acceptance of, or advocacy of, homosexuality as a desirable or acceptable sexual adjustment or lifestyle.
3. Advocacy or encouragement of contraceptive methods or devices by unmarried minors.
4. Acceptance of, or advocacy of, "free sex," promiscuity or the so-called "new morality."
The nine objectives of human sexuality contained in the draft of a teacher's resource guide that is being considered for use in Utah high schools:
1. Discussion of dating, family, marriage, love and infatuation.
2. Explanation of anatomy and physiology of the male and female reproductive systems.
3. Discussion of maturation and the stages of sexual development.
4. Discussion of responsible sexual behavior, stressing the benefits of strong families, abstinence and fidelity.
5. Development of skills that promote responsible decisionmaking.
6. Recognition of the impact of sexual behavior on one's life goals.
7. Discussion of pregnancy and birth.
8. Recognition of the impact of teen pregnancy and quality of life.
9. Discussion of the legal, social and emotional implications of pornography, prostitution, sexual abuse, incest and rape.