The New Sex Ed

This Thursday, World AIDS Day, sex education in New York's public schools will receive a politically charged facelift, the first major change to the curriculum in thirteen years. The major additions? Redesigned AIDS/HIV language and a better, more in-depth, discussion of the female condom. Fourth graders will now be told "HIV can be transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person. When you are older you will learn more," replacing the previous lesson which explained, much to the dismay of many parents, that condoms are used to "prevent transmission of semen, blood or vaginal fluids." Meanwhile abstinence is "strongly encouraged" in all grades.

Which is all nice and good in a press release, but the likelihood of many of these changes making it into the schools for quite some time seems minimal. Especially the female condom aspect. "Schools have no plans to make the female condoms available in high school, like they do the male one" Education Department spokeswoman Kelly Devers told the News.

Photograph from the Cervical Barrier Advancement Society.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Garth Johnston in News on November 27, 2005 1:37 PM

Comments [rss]

amr

sex

Toby

The only thing I could find on Julio and Marisol's recent goings on were some old press releases from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene talking about the series staring back up in 2001.

davin

seriously, does anybody know what happened at the end of la decision? that was some classic subway reading...

Toby

I am amazed the powers that be haven't also brought back Julio and Marisol. Those were somewhat entertaining to read on the subway car cards.

garth

Stan, you are right. I got no basis other than this from the News:

But AIDS watchdogs fear the city's updated lessons will gather dust on principals' shelves.

"The time for ceremony is over. We need action," said Joe Pressley, executive director of the city AIDS coalition, who has been pushing the department to update its lesson for six years.

that and 14 years as a student in New York City public schools along with numerous friends who work for the Department of Education. But no, no specific research, facts or etc.

Stan the Man

"Which is all nice and good in a press release, but the likelihood of many of these changes making it into the schools for quite some time seems minimal."

Is there any basis to this statement whatsoever? Any specific research, facts, etc.?