ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Sex Education: A Reasoned View

A fine line between concern and interference appears to have been crossed by would-be censors who have been monitoring sex education classes at Corona del Mar High School. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education was correct last week in adopting rules designed to prevent disruptions by them or any other group.

The Committee to Restore Ethical and Traditional Education (CREATE), a Costa Mesa group that wants the school’s sex education program revamped, has been sending monitors--many of whom do not even have children in the school--to two classes since last spring. The classes are life science, which includes sex education, and psychology, which touches on the subject of homosexuality. CREATE members believe that the classes promote promiscuity and homosexuality.

Recently, CREATE supported two candidates who tried unsuccessfully to unseat Newport-Mesa incumbents. The overriding election issue was the district’s sex education program--revised last summer with parent involvement. As required by state law, the program tells students to abstain from sex. But it also provides other information about how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. CREATE wants the sex education program to stress “just say no” abstinence almost exclusively.

The district board’s decision to adopt a new policy gives principals more authority to determine who may visit classes. Priority will be given to parents with children enrolled in the classes or who will soon have children enrolled. Advance notice will be required.

This is a reasonable policy that should safeguard classrooms against disruptions and distractions.