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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 14, 2005 Review period set for new health curriculum By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune The Medford School District’s new health curriculum, which includes materials on sex education and on preventing teen tobacco, drug and alcohol use, will get its first public airing Tuesday. The school board will get an overview of proposed changes and open a two-week review period when all materials will be available for review and comment by parents and community members. "We do need to hear from people," Superintendent Phil Long said. "The two issues people get upset about is human sexuality issues being developmentally appropriate and fitting their values." The district is updating its curriculum for grades seven through 12 to meet new state standards, as well as existing state law, parental concerns and student needs. The district last adopted new textbooks in 1991, officials said. This time around, a committee of health teachers led by McLoughlin Middle School Principal Amy Tiger has proposed adopting educational magazines and teaching guides supplemented by state training for teachers to ensure students get current information. Advertisement State law requires comprehensive sex education that includes information about contraceptives and AIDS/HIV. It also requires schools to teach kids how to make healthy decisions regarding alcohol, drug and tobacco use, and to give them information on disease control and prevention, nutrition and physical activity as well as injury, violence and suicide prevention. The plan would standardize lessons among all the district’s middle and high schools and focus on teaching young people to find information and make decisions, teachers said. It would introduce contraception in eighth grade, two years earlier than it is introduced now. "There isn’t a comprehensive curriculum that doesn’t discuss condoms," Tiger said, noting that research shows kids need to get information in the classroom two years before they face real-life decisions. Long said the board wants people to be involved in the curriculum update and will welcome comments. People can address the board Tuesday or next month when it probably will vote on the curriculum. They can review materials at the district office, 500 Monroe St., Medford., after Tuesday and submit written comments. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail Review period set for new health curriculum ">[email protected] . If you go: What: The Medford school board’s review of middle and high school health curricula. When: 7 p.m. Tuesday. Where: South Medford High School cafeteria, 815 S. Oakdale Ave. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Salvia Divinorum Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s