School District Scraps Girl’s Science Project on Condoms
School officials who are upset over a student’s trophy-winning condom reliability experiment said the science fair project wasn’t compatible with the district’s sex education philosophy emphasizing abstinence.
The Coachella Valley Unified School District withdrew Shari Lo’s project from the upcoming regional competition even though she qualified two weeks ago with a sweepstakes trophy at the district science fair.
Supt. Colleen Gaynes said she made the decision to pull the project after the Riverside County Office of Education voiced concerns about it to a district administrator.
“At first I was very confused but now I’m upset,” the 15-year-old Coachella Valley High School student said. “I’m disappointed that my project was judged scientifically and scored well but didn’t score well with some people’s opinions.”
Explaining her objection to the project, Gaynes said, “Because it is on condom reliability, it basically encourages safe sex. Our philosophy is abstinence, not safe sex.”
Lo said she chose condom reliability as her science fair project because she is concerned about the high teenage pregnancy rate and other ramifications of sexual activity.
She bought six brands of condoms and put them through strength tests.
Lo said she plans to appeal Gaynes’ decision in hopes of participating in the Inland Science and Engineering Fair in San Bernardino from April 22-24.
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