Monroe County school officials postponed plans to conduct a voluntary, confidential survey concerning students' sexual behavior after parents criticized it as too explicit.

Jennifer Staab, health programs coordinator for the 10,700-student district, said administrators will revise the survey over the summer break based on feedback from parents and community groups. "Parents should know what we're doing and feel comfortable," she told the Indiana Daily Student newspaper.

Officials planned the survey last year after parents expressed concern over reports that some middle-school students were engaging in oral sex as a substitute for intercourse to avoid becoming pregnant and in the mistaken belief that such activity cannot spread STDs. "We feel like we have to [do] a better job with our health curriculum -- the misperception that oral sex is not sex," said Staab.

The survey -- which would have been conducted last week -- included 51 questions for sixth- through 12th-grade students on topics like intercourse, oral sex, abstinence, AIDS and sex education. Parents would have been able to opt their children out of the survey.

Parents and schools are seeking "real data" about the prevalence of misinformation concerning sexual attitudes and behaviors among teens so that the community can "redefine" the district's health curriculum, said Staab.

Back to other news for May 27, 2005

Search the Newsroom archive