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Family life and sex ed programs

Published (3/21/2008)
By Thomas Hammell
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Schools could be permitted to provide responsible family life and sexuality education for middle and high school students.

HF615, sponsored by Rep. Neva Walker (DFL-Mpls), would allow school districts to provide an age-appropriate and medically accurate program for students. The bill would require school districts to consult with parents and guardians of enrolled students when establishing polices, procedures, curriculum and services.

The bill was approved March 18 by the House K-12 Finance Division. It now awaits action by the House Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division. Walker said the bill was taken out of the 2007 omnibus bill at the last minute.

She emphasized that the bill is not strictly about sex education, but also includes issues about healthy relationships and physical violence between partners.

Walker said the education is relevant because increasing numbers of young people are involved in sex and physical violence.

“We believe that this mandate is exactly the wrong message,” said Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council. He said sex education was the reason behind a recent news report of high numbers of sexually transmitted diseases in young people.

Walker said abstinence would be preferred, but too many young people are not receiving the information provided in sex education.

“There has to be a way to standardize this information,” Walker said.

“We don’t have any control over what teachers teach in the classroom,” said Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton). She unsuccessfully tried to table the bill.

A companion bill, SF588, sponsored by Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.

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