New York City Launching New Sex Ed Program in Some Schools

For the first time in 20 years, some New York City schools are about to introduce a new sex-education curriculum. The new lessons will teach high schoolers the difference between harassment and flirting and how to set sexual limits. Middle school kids will learn reproductive basics and the benefits of abstinence; however, they will not be taught about birth control and will only discuss sexual orientation in the context of AIDS.

The city's last attempt to revamp the lessons came 13 years ago, when the Rainbow Curriculum foundered amid criticism of its efforts to distribute condoms and promote tolerance of homosexuality. The current effort to update the curriculum began more than a year ago in response to complaints that the sex and AIDS lessons were outdated and were taught infrequently.

The new program, Health Teacher, will be introduced in certain areas of south Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island chosen for their ethnic and economic diversity. Teacher and student experiences with the lessons will be tracked and evaluated. Some teachers began using Health Teacher in summer school. Since last September, 451 teachers have been trained in the program, according to the Department of Education.

For 14 years, the city has allowed condom demonstrations in school resource rooms, even though they were not permitted in classrooms. While early editions of Health Teacher offered tips for condom demonstrations, revised editions include stickers reading, "Notice: New York City Department of Education Policy prohibits condom demonstrations in classrooms."

A task force comprising members from more than 35 local groups raised questions about problems, including factual errors, with some of the material. Roger Platt of the Office of School Health responded on June 2, offering clear reassurances about only some of the issues raised. The factual errors had already been corrected, he said, and the materials were being revised to make them more reflective of cultural diversity in the city, where 85 percent of public school students are not white. However, advocates continue to lobby for condom demonstrations and discussions of homosexuality and birth control in middle school.

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