As a general rule, I am not enthusiastic about the General Assembly micro-managing school curriculum, but since Senator Tallian’s SB 309 merely amends some micro-managing already in place, I suppose it’s all right. It would require sex education, which already requires abstinence education, to also include information about AIDS and HIV that is “factual, medically accurate, and age appropriate.” I’d go further and say those three things are good criteria for any education concerning the human body.

As defined in the bill, “Medically accurate” information means information that is supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods; and recognized as accurate and objective by leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the medical field to which the information relates. The problem, of course, is that there is nothing in here that tells the kids that STDs are righteous punishment from the Almighty for their wicked ways. Perhaps it can be amended in committee.

Rep. Linda Lawson has introduced HB 1317 concerning notice to parents about abstinence only education. If a school decides to go the abstinence-only education route, it would have to send out the following notice:

“Your child is receiving abstinence-only human sexuality education.

Abstinence-only education does not teach students how to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases other than by remaining abstinent.

Your child is not receiving the following:
(A) Information on methods, other than abstinence, for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
(B) Medically accurate instruction on the risks and benefits, including safety and efficacy, of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved methods for:
(i) reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; and
(ii) preventing pregnancy.
(C) Medically accurate instruction regarding the correct use of FDA approved methods for:
(i) reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; and
(ii) preventing pregnancy.
(D) Instruction that provides lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students with the necessary skills for making and implementing responsible decisions about relationships and sexuality, including the use of all effective methods to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
(E) Instruction that provides sexually active students with the necessary skills for making and implementing responsible decisions about relationships and sexuality, including the use of all effective methods to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
You have the right to review the abstinence-only curriculum in its entirety. Written and audiovisual educational materials used in abstinence-only education are available for inspection.

You have the right to excuse your child from all or parts of abstinence-only instruction.

You have the right to be involved in your child’s education.”.

Might as well require them to send out a notice saying, “Hi, we’re being criminally negligent with your child’s education. How soon would you like our resignation?” It would probably be better to skip sex education altogether than an abstinence-only curriculum that might give some parents the illusion that their children’s educational needs in these areas were being fulfilled.