Abstinence In Sex Education A Thorny Issue For Tucson Schools

TUCSON, AZ — Complying with a state law that requires sex education curricula emphasize abstinence as the only 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases is proving to be a thorny issue for the Tucson Unified School District. The school board on Tuesday delayed a vote after a contentious public hearing on the issue.

The family life curriculum proposal before the school board would emphasize abstinence in two lessons, but Tucson Unified School District Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo’s wants to make abstinence the focus in six or seven lessons, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

“That’s not saying that I am promoting an abstinence-only curriculum,” Trujillo said at a news conference hours before the meeting. “I am promoting a well-rounded curriculum that presents a lot of options for contraception, but I am insisting that abstinence be at the top of that list.”

» Read more about sex education proposal on the Arizona Daily Star.