TUSTIN : Boys, Girls to Watch Sex Videos Separately

Boys and girls in sixth and seventh grades in Tustin Unified School District will no longer watch sex education videos together, after complaints from parents who said the practice is inappropriate.

School district trustees adopted the same-sex viewing policy after Monday’s town hall meeting in which some parents demanded that they see the videos first before they are shown to their children.

One parent, Mike McClay, suggested that the videos not be shown at all until a panel of parents could determine if the materials are appropriate for 12- and 13-year-olds.

The school district began showing the videos that contain information on AIDS, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases to sixth- and seventh-grade students this year as part of the health curriculum.

Peggy Lynch, the assistant superintendent for instructional services, said that the videos are shown during science classes, which both boys and girls attend.

But Lynch said that boys and girls do not discuss the contents of the videos together. Under the new plan approved Monday, boys and girls will watch and discuss the videos separately.

About 50 parents attended the town hall meeting and several expressed outrage at the showing of the videos, which they said used slang language to describe sexual situations and body parts.

In addition, the videos, particularly the one featuring former basketball star Earvin (Magic) Johnson, do not stress abstinence strongly enough.

“We don’t think Magic is a good role model,” said Bart Hansen, a parent. “His advice of safe sex gives kids a false sense of security.”

In the video called “Magic Johnson: A Conversation With Magic,” the former Lakers star says that postponing sex until marriage is the best attitude. But he urges those who are having sex to use a condom.

Parents also objected to the video “Who Am I Now?,” which is intended for sixth-graders, and “Kids to Kids,” which is shown to seventh-grade students.

Some contain slang terminology,” said Sandy Kenny, who prohibited his son, a seventh-grader at A.G. Currie Middle School, from watching “Kids to Kids.”

Two videos, produced by a company that manufactures sanitary napkins, also contain scenes on how to use sanitary napkins, which are embarrassing to girls, Kenny said.

But Lynch said that the videos, which are also used in other school districts, were approved last year by the school board after a review by a panel of teachers and administrators.

Lynch said students can watch the videos only after getting a written consent from their parents. Last year, the videos were made available to the public for comment, but no one opposed them, she said.

“I guess we provided the opportunities before,” Lynch said. “But we respect (parents’) viewpoint.”

District Supt. David Andrews said that changes in the way the videos are presented are being made in the interest of the students.

“We’ll continue to assess what we are doing,” Andrews said. “We have to listen to what the community is saying.”