Some Pittsburgh Parents Petitioning For Broader Sexual EducationPOSTED: 12:03 pm EDT March 17,
2008 PITTSBURGH -- Hundreds of Pittsburgh parents want their teenage children to get broader education on sex.  Check Out the ReportTwo parents have been circulating a petition called "Pittsburgh Public Schools Silencing Sex Education" on the Internet. The goal is to force the Pittsburgh Public Schools to overhaul its sex education program.So far, they have 260 signatures. But they want to convince the school board that the majority of parents want a change.Parents Terri Klein and Ilene Schwartz said they believe the current policy to teach teenagers about sex by preaching abstinence does not answer many of their questions and provide them with the information they need to make healthy and responsible decisions.Klein said she's not upset at what's in the textbook, rather what's not in the book."And I said, so you mean to tell me my children will never hear the word condom during their stay in the Pittsburgh Public School, and they said, 'Yes. That's right,'" said Klein.Klein and Schwartz want comprehensive sex education that would teach students about contraception and sexual practices in addition to abstinence."We're a knowledge-based city and to have children being taught what I consider to be something from the dark ages just shocked me," said Schwartz.As for the board, WTAE Channel 4 made several calls and was told some schools supplement the curriculum by bringing in outside instructors. When asked why the district teaches abstinence only, district officials said they'd get back to us, but they never did. Related Links: More County NewsGet RSS | E-Mail Alerts Copyright 2008 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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