Saratoga News

Redwood School teaches students to 'Just say no'

By Cecily Barnes

Redwood Middle School's Family Life Program teaches students about changes in the adolescent body, sexually transmitted diseases, conception and fetal development, and choices and values. However, the program completely bypasses even the mention of homosexuality or birth control.

"We don't talk about homosexuality at all," said Redwood science teacher Steve Bauer. "We briefly cover AIDS and STDs, but the only thing I really talk about is abstinence. I say it's a 100 percent preventable disease."

Redwood devised its current family life program five years ago in response to a state mandate and an outcry from the community. The state grants school districts significant leeway to mold their own programs, so long as they cover certain required topics, such as AIDS education and reproduction. However, neither homosexuality nor birth control are included as state mandated topics. Initially, a short lesson plan on homosexuality was included in Redwood's binder of information available to teachers, but the Saratoga Union School District board voted to cut that lesson a few years ago. Educators and administrators in the district are split over the issue.

"I think that's crap," said Alice Ruzicka, the district's psychologist. "We teach 90 percent of what these kids need to know and just leave out the other 10 percent."

Others, however, feel it is quite appropriate to leave out information on homosexuality and birth control for junior high school students.

"I feel the information is important to our kids, but I think the process could be delayed until later," said board member Cynthia Chang. "I think if it's too early of an age, maybe they might receive the wrong message from us, like it's a free ticket. "

At Saratoga High School, all ninth-graders are required to take a semester-long class which includes two weeks of sex education. Included in this program are segments on birth control and homosexuality. But Ruzicka feels that this is just too late.

"In terms of not acknowledging homosexuality, I think it's not acknowledging a portion of our society and, therefore, not acknowledging those students who may be grappling with their sexuality," Ruzicka said. "And I think if you acknowledge that there are children that age who are sexually active, than they need to be equipped with the knowledge that there is protection available for their health."

Redwood's Family Life Program offers a two-tiered curriculum, one for sixth-graders that covers adolescent changes, and another (taught in part by Planned Parenthood) for seventh-graders, which addresses postponing sexual involvement, as well as values and choices. Planned Parenthood's program typically mentions, while handing out a pamphlet of referral numbers, that teens questioning their sexuality are at a higher risk for suicide.

Planned Parenthood's David Billard stressed that the junior high school program is focused on postponing sexual involvement, but they do tell the students that if they are sexually active, they need to seek further information through one of the various referral numbers. According to Redwood counselor Nina Whitecanack, it is within Redwood's guidelines to offer the same referral information.

Are any Redwood students sexually active? Only they know for sure, but science teacher Bauer suspects so. Also, according to recent statistical reports by Planned Parenthood, 18 percent of the clientele there is 17 years old and younger, and 3 to 4 percent is 14 and under.

"It is very controversial, but I think it's reflective of our community," Whitcanack said. "We see ourselves as aiding the parents in family-life education, but we know that parents are the most important educators of family life."

Bauer, who teaches portions of Family Life, agrees that some aspects of the education are better left to the parents.

"[Students] raise some weird questions that I choose not to address. I suggest they go home and talk to their parents," he said. "The only thing I really talk about is abstinence."