Florida: Condom-Use Video Approved With Little Discussion

On Tuesday, the St. Lucie County School Board approved a video about condom use, the final piece of its sex education curriculum intended for eighth-grade and high school students. The 3-2 vote attracted less heated public discussion than debate over the full curriculum, "Get Real About AIDS," which the board approved in December. Two people rose to speak for or against the video.

Board member Troy Ingersoll, who voted against the video, had also not supported approving "Get Real About AIDS." The curriculum was presented to the board by Superintendent Michael Lannon on the recommendation of local business leaders. The 27-member St. Lucie County Executive Roundtable recommended the curriculum after undertaking a one-year review of curricula in the hope of choosing one to address the county’s HIV/AIDS rate among black residents, which is the state’s highest.

Board member John Carvelli also dissented, though he had supported the rest of the curriculum. "I felt we needed a curriculum change, but I was not comfortable with a condom-demonstration video for eighth-graders," he said.

The five-minute video features male and female doctors who talk about abstinence; demonstrate the proper way to use a condom; and discuss how condoms are not a guarantee against pregnancy or STDs.

Parents can request to watch the video at schools or see it online at www.stlucie.k12.fl.us, under the left side of the home page under Health Curriculum. Any parent can opt that their child not participate in the instruction.

Back to other news for May 2008