Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502070022
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Leave the state's sex education program alone.
Roanoke Superintendent Wayne Harris said the sex education classes are needed more than ever because of the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
``We need to keep it like it is,'' Harris said. ``Some parents don't assume responsibility for their children. It can be a deadly situation.''
Gov. George Allen wants sex education classes to be offered on a local-option basis. Each school division would decide on the content of the sex education materials and monitor the classes.
A House of Delegates committee killed a bill this week that would have allowed school divisions to decide whether to offer sex education courses.
In a short-lived victory for Allen, the Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would have made sex education optional, then reversed its position Wednesday.
Nelson Harris, chairman of the Roanoke School Board, said he was puzzled by Allen's effort to revive an issue that has been dormant for several years.
``I would think that they wouldn't want to bring that up again,'' he said. ``Family life courses are generally accepted by parents and children.''
Allen's proposals on religious activities in schools and sex education courses are seen by some analysts as an effort to show conservatives and the Christian Coalition that he hasn't forgotten their support.
A leader of a protest over sex education classes in the Roanoke Valley during the 1980s supports Allen's proposals.
Ileada Ribble said she believes Allen's proposals are sincere, but the Democrats are trying to use them for political advantage.
Ribble was a founder of Citizens Against Unacceptable Sex Education, a group that protested some materials used in Roanoke County sex education classes.
Ribble said some materials are too graphic, with too many details for youngsters.
But James Gallion, assistant superintendent in Roanoke County, said there have been no complaints about sex education. Gallion said the materials are incorporated into regular classes.
``At certain points in physical education and social studies, for example, the teacher can work in family life issues,'' Gallion said.
In Bedford County, Superintendent John Kent said parents can review the materials and know what their children are being taught: "We've had few complaints.''
Family life programs have been mandated for all Virginia schools since 1987. Some school divisions began such programs several years before they were required.
Allen's proposal also would require students to get written permission from parents before they could enroll. This is called the ``opt in'' provision, because the parents must take an active role to enroll their children.
Under the current sex education program, all students automatically are enrolled in the classes unless they have written parental permission to withdraw. This is called the ``opt out'' system.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB