OJAI : Students to Be Taught About AIDS
The Ojai Unified School District has ordered its elementary and junior high schools to begin teaching students about AIDS prevention and other facts about the deadly disease.
The school board decided unanimously Tuesday to launch the new health instruction, but stressed that it is aimed at prevention and is not in response to any AIDS outbreak in the community.
“We’ve decided we would begin some type of instruction at the fifth- and sixth-grade level because students have already heard about it and may be misinformed,” Assistant Supt. Pam Martens said.
“We will introduce it at that level, but we won’t go into more detail until the higher grades,” she said. “Parents always have the chance to preview the materials to see if they don’t want their children to attend classes.”
The board approved two videos on acquired immune deficiency syndrome for high school health classes, where information about AIDS and its transmission is ongoing. It also ordered a search for other appropriate educational materials for instruction at lower grades.
Board members said they based their decision on recommendations from a special committee of administrators, teachers, a student and community members. The district’s Health and Family Life Committee decided to continue meeting to evaluate future needs.
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