Sexual Content Scraps High School Textbook
High school officials have decided not to adopt a proposed new health textbook after receiving complaints that the book could infringe on student privacy.
John Myers, an assistant superintendent of education services for Huntington Beach Union High School District, said a textbook review committee decided Thursday not to recommend “Making Life Choices” for district health education classes. The Board of Education has final say over all textbooks.
One controversial portion of the proposed textbook includes questions asking students to survey their peers on contraceptive use. A teacher guidebook, also criticized by opponents, included exercises that would have called for student discussion of explicit sexual terms.
Myers said the district would resume its search for a health textbook because current materials are years out of date. The high school district serves about 13,000 students in Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and Westminster.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
