Schools remove sex ed videos

Irma Lemus

BURBANK -- The Burbank Board of Education agreed to stop showing

fifth-graders growth and development videos that offended some parents by

discussing masturbation in pubescent children.

The board decided Thursday to pull “Girl to Woman” and “Boy to Man”

during a special meeting held to view possible alternatives to the

videos, which have been shown to fifth-graders in Burbank schools for the

past 20 years. “Girl to Woman” was also optional for fourth-grade girls.

“I’m concerned that fourth- and fifth-graders are watching this. It’s

unnecessary to bring masturbation in when talking about body changes --

it’s ridiculous,” said Olga Aguirre, 49, one of a handful of parents who

attended the meeting.

Aguirre said she worried that her son, a fifth-grader at George

Washington Elementary School, would be watching the video this spring.

“I know kids are growing up faster, especially with sixth-graders

going into middle school, but they are still kids,” Aguirre said.

Not all the parents at the meeting were in agreement.

Sonia Arce, 39, who has two children in Burbank schools, said she had

no problem with the videos.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal,” she said, “We can’t put our head in

the sand and pretend this doesn’t happen.”

Arce said she felt children need to know about changes their bodies

are going through during puberty, including masturbation.

“It’s natural, it’s normal. I know my son knows about it although he

doesn’t say anything,” she said. “At least with the video he will learn

about it and will be able to come up to me if he has questions. It’s

easier for me, as a parent, because I won’t have to bring it up.”

This spring will mark the first time in 20 years the videos will not

be shown, said Andrea Canady, director of elementary education. Instead,

videos by Always, a company that makes sanitary napkins, will be used,

she said.

Canady said a committee made up of district officials and parents will

be formed to decide on a standardized tape and curriculum to be used in

the future.

Sjaan Buck, Burbank Unified’s head nurse, said the original videos

were appropriate for children.

Some girls may start menstruating when they’re 8 years old, she said.

“I think it provides good information. We are not providing sex

education, but health education,” Buck said. “Kids need to know,

especially because kids mature faster (now).”

But after meeting with parents, none of the board members argued for

keeping the videos

Mike McDonald said they gave children the wrong idea.

“The video doesn’t explain masturbation. All it says is that it’s done

by touching... There is no mention about whether these kids are ready for

sex,” McDonald said.

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW

Should developmental videos that include references to masturbation be

shown to fifth-grade students and ? Please explain your answer.

Mail responses to P.O. Box 591, Burbank, CA 91503, e-mail to

bleader@earthlnk.net or call our Reader’s Hotline at 241-5973.