Union County Updates Sex Ed Materials

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Union County Updates Sex Ed Materials

Special Report - October 16, 2007
According to the Charlotte Observer, the Union County Public School system is currently in the process of updating sex education materials that will be used in the classroom to instruct children in grades 4-12. The school system, like all school systems in North Carolina, is required by statute to teach “that abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard for all school age children” and “that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain means of avoiding out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases when transmitted through sexual contact, including HIV/AIDS, and other associated health and emotional problems.” A special committee selected the district’s new materials, which will be on display until the end of November in school libraries across the county. Parents are invited to review the materials while they are on display, so they can provide input to school board members who will be voting on the proposed curriculum.

Under North Carolina law, any school system can choose to teach comprehensive sex education instead of abstinence if it allows public display of the new materials for 30 days and holds a public hearing. According to Nancy Addison, Union County Public School Secondary Education Director, Union County officials are not seeking to change to comprehensive sex education but instead are merely updating materials so they will be more relevant to teenagers. New materials that Union County will use include materials published by Save Our Students, McGraw-Hill, and Mike Long.

NCFPC Attorney, Tami Fitzgerald said: “Now that schools are in session, many school districts are in the process of reviewing sex ed materials and making changes to their curricula. Parents should be careful to review any new materials to insure they comply with state abstinence laws.”