Texas: Sex Education Program Becomes Tongue-Tied

Teachers in Texas' Leander Independent School District want to be able to answer students' questions about the risks of oral and anal sex but they dare not speak the words in the classroom because of parental objections. Educators became concerned after students submitted anonymous questions to their health teachers asking if oral and anal intercourse is considered sex, and if there are health risks from AIDS and STDs. The sex education curriculum does not allow teachers to answer such questions. "We certainly need to address these things in our curriculum because they are health issues," said school district spokesperson Bill Britcher. LISD is considering adding discussion of oral and anal sex to the curriculum starting in the eighth grade, but the proposal faces opposition since some members of the curriculum advisory panel objected to the use of the words "oral" and "anal." The panel and school administrators have asked teachers to come up with a way to answer the questions without using the words in question. Britcher noted that neighboring districts in the Austin area allow teachers to use the words oral and anal, but they cannot specifically describe either act.

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