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Public ponders sex-ed classes

By Gary Emerling
November 29, 2007

More than 30 parents, health professionals, students, and religious leaders testified last night at a State Board of Education hearing on proposed guidelines for sex-education classes in D.C. public schools.

The hearing was the first chance for those for or against the guidelines — which call for teaching students about sexual orientation and trends in contraception and abortion — to sound off in front of the board about the proposals.

Among the first topics that came up last night was whether the standards were age-appropriate.

"I certainly think that the places they are in the standards are very developmentally appropriate," said Dr. Lee Beers, medical director of the Healthy Generations Program at Children's National Medical Center. "Young people are having sex at earlier ages, and we do have to consider that."

Thirty-eight persons were scheduled to speak — though not all showed up — during the public comment portion of the hearing, which drew more than 100 people to the Old Council Chamber at One Judiciary Square in Northwest. The crowd dwindled as the testimony went on into the night.

The majority favored the standards, including representatives from organizations including Metro TeenAIDS, D.C. Fights Backand Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

"As young people, we really don't know what we're doing," said Ameia Young, a student at Anacostia Senior High School in Southeast who spoke in favor of the proposals. "A lot of teens are sexually active and don't know their status."

Others, including several pastors, opposed the guidelines and called on the board to stress abstinence on a stronger level.

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