Salt Lake City (ABC 4 News) - In an attempt to protect young children from questionable material - a Utah legislative committee will consider a bill that would change the state's health and sex education laws.
Representative Bill Wright, sponsored the bill. He says that he and others want to simplify the requirements for health instruction. They say they want to make it optional for school districts to teach. And Wright tells ABC 4 News if a district does want to continue teaching it - the bill, if it passes, would make it an abstinence only curriculum and end discussions about contraception, pre-marital sex and homosexuality.
The current health education law in Utah requires school districts to teach sex ed. However, Wright says some of the classroom discussions have crossed the line. "Some material was brought to me that legislative leaders and others looked at it and said it was inappropriate - so they asked me to change it." Wright gave me an example of some materials that went to parents of elementary students that provided "links to websites about oral sex and variety of other things" which he called "pretty much inappropriate."
His plan - HB 363 - aims to make two major changes. First, it would remove the state requirement for districts to even teach sex ed. Some, like Jan Marriott, like that idea. "I think it should be taught in the home." Others, like Emily Blodgett, don't think that is the right way to go. "I think they should teach sex education in school. I think its important for them to understand." Blodgett went on to say reality is the best instructor. "If someone came in and explained what pregnancy is really like - explaining everything - a girl would stop and say, you know maybe what I am doing isn't such a good idea."
The second part of the bill would change what is being taught today.The current curriculum allows for the discussion of "abstinence over other methods in preventing sexually transmitted diseases." And it allows discussions about "contraception and condom use." The proposed law actually prohibits discussions about the intricacies of intercourse, homosexuality, contraceptive methods or devices. And instead would focus on an abstinence based curriculum. Wright says, "Abstinence is a word that everyone understands and we thought that was the best place to draw the line." Again, a plan that has some opposition and some support.
Another part of the new bill actually prevents teachers from responding to "spontaneous questions raised by students" - if it is outside of the approved curriculum.
Wright says he pushing this plan to protect the children of Utah and keep "outside businesses" from "marketing" and "promoting" certain activities within the school. He says, "I think we need to be very responsible to protect the innocence of our children."
To read more go to:
http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/hbillint/hb0363.htmThe bill will go before a committee Thursday, February 9th at 4PM at the capitol.
