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Hernando Teens Told Abstinence Is Only Way

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By LINNEA BROWN

Hernando Today

Published: September 14, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - It's as if contraceptives don't exist.

In Hernando County schools, students learn about their bodies and the basics of reproduction in science class.

In middle and high school, they follow mandatory, age-appropriate state standards in health class that include learning about sexually transmitted diseases, making healthy decisions and pregnancy.

But they are taught that there is only one method of prevention: abstinence.

With the recent national spotlight on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's pregnant teenage daughter, residents have been asking what local teens are learning about sex in school.

A policy decision by the Hernando County School Board since the early '90s, local health teachers are told not to deviate from an abstinence-based curriculum.

"Our position is to make sure we address the Sunshine State standards, but be respectful of the different feelings, concerns and issues regarding sex education," said curriculum specialist Jeff Yungmann.

While students always have the option of providing parental documentation to "opt out" of discussions involving sex, middle and high school administrators also sometimes invite guest speakers to speak to students about abstinence.

If students have additional questions, they are directed to the Hernando County Health Department, Yungmann said.

But that could change, with most Hernando County school board members strongly supportive of primarily teaching abstinence, yet not opposed to revisiting the policy.

"Research has demonstrated that abstinence-based sex education does not work," said longtime school board member and Vice-Chairman Jim Malcolm.

Because he is retiring in November, Malcolm said he would leave any future decisions about district policy to his colleagues — but said that if the issue is readdressed, board members would need to take into account the effectiveness of abstinence-based sex education.

"Teaching abstinence alone doesn't work," he said. "It certainly didn't work for Palin's daughter. In my opinion, I think we should make abstinence the (main point) of the program, but not shy away from talking about other forms of birth control."

While countywide numbers were not yet available for 2007, Hernando County reported 167 births to teenagers in 2006, 174 in 2005 and 156 in 2004, according to the Hernando County Health Department.

Malcolm said he would "draw the line" at distributing condoms in high school, but suggested making literature available with additional information.

School board Chairwoman Sandra Nicholson — who was also on the board when the measure passed in 1994 — said she was unsure if the district's abstinence-only approach is still effective and would want to review the current curriculum.

"In an ideal world? Yes," she said. "Is it facing reality? Obviously not, but there's no real right or wrong answer to that."

Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association union president Joe Vitalo, a former health teacher, said that with the predominance of sex in modern media, most teens don't buy into abstinence as being the "only" choice.

"As educators, we want to teach without having blinders on," Vitalo said. "There is more than one option, and each person has to find what works for them and their family."

While Florida districts are required to follow state health standards for sex education, individual school boards decided which methods of prevention are appropriate for their district. Some teach about contraceptives such as condom use, while others stick to abstinence, or refraining from sex.

In May, local parents expressed outrage after several members of Hernando High School's class of 2008 played a senior prank by mailing condoms and fake letters about sex education to parents of students in the school's sophomore class.

"It's always a sensitive topic," Vitalo said. "Many people feel it's the responsibility of the parents, but in reality, it's a team effort to help students understand the impact of their choices. We would love to think students are little kids for life, but we have to prepare our kids for everything — they're our future."

For local students who become pregnant, the district offers a state-mandated teen parenting program with onsite childcare and parenting classes. Currently, there are 46 students in the program and 28 babies.

Board member John Sweeney said he would consider adding information about additional options to older teens.

"I strongly prefer an abstinence-based approach, but if we added (anything), it would have to be age appropriate. I'm not in favor of teaching sex to kindergarteners," he said.

Board member Pat Fagan expressed similar sentiments, but said he would want parental consent to be obtained before teaching anything besides abstinence.

"Abstinence should always be first, but (anything else) we can do to protect our children and get them (more) information is a good thing," he said.

Board member Dianne Bonfield was the only board member who spoke against changing the current curriculum.

"Abstinence is the safest method to make certain that our children don't be come pregnant or get communicable diseases," she said. "But certainly at home, parents should take an active role in what they want their children to learn. They can go further if they feel abstinence is not sufficient enough for their student."

However, the issue has not been particularly controversial with local parents, board members said.

"I don't think people are looking for us to teach anything else," Bonfield said.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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