Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 05/11/1998 All articles from this issue

School Officials re-examine controversial health program at Los Altos High School

printer friendly version

By Linda Taaffe

Town Crier Staff Writer

"Health" could be at risk at Los Altos High School after school officials re-address the program in response to parent concern.

A handful of parents addressed the Board of Trustees of the Mountain View/Los Altos Union High School District during the regular meeting May 11 to ask that the district's mandatory health class be made optional, saying the curriculum centers around sex and has no academic merit.

Parents said they were concerned that the open discussion about sexual attitudes, behaviors and lifestyles could "break down a student's natural inhibitions," and many class topics were not appropriate.

"I simply find no worthwhile reason for students to take this class, but I'm deeply concerned with the number of reasons not to take it," parent Nancy Wildanger said. "Just because kids have the knowledge doesn't mean they will make the right choices. Kids know not to drink and drive, but that doesn't stop them. There's no moral fiber (in the class)."

Parents urged the board to either make the class optional or to integrate portions of it with other classes such as biology.

Marlene Schuessler, who has worked in the district for 35 years as a teacher, assistant principal and counselor and helped coordinate the health program, said the semester-long class is a unique program that combines several health topics in one class including sexual education, AIDS awareness, CPR, nutrition, traffic safety and depression.

She said the class only spends about three weeks on the sexual education portion of class, during which time students may opt out and work on alternative assignments. She said only about one student per semester opts out.

"I think the class is useful. It's important for kids to learn resources for their adult lives," Schuessler said. "Kids have too much they have to learn in biology. They don't have time to discuss the topics to the extent that we do in the health class. It's just not the right atmosphere."

Schuessler said historically health was not well taught. "Six years ago, we hardly could fill three classes, but now we can easily fill five. That it is popular and kids are willing to sign up for it (during the regular academic year) is significant," she said.

Giovanna Tripiano a senior in the class, said she thinks the class is worth it and would recommend it to others even if it was optional.

"It's not just about sex. We learn about helpful stuff like AIDS," Tripiano said. "This is the only place we can actually talk about these things. I feel more comfortable talking with my parents now."

Tripiano said she has learned a lot through the guest speaker and hands-on activities, which are a regular part of the course. "They make it personal, real."

Schuessler said she has invited speakers from local agencies, persons who have contracted AIDS and officers from the Los Altos Police Department to teach students about safety and health through first-person accounts.

Brigitta Sarraf, assistant superintendent of educational services, said the board was surprised by the parent concerns. "This came out of nowhere," she said.

Sarraf said though a health class is not a state requirement, it can include topics mandated by the state. She said some schools include these health requirements in physical education and biology classes. She said the school board, which helped design the health curriculum, made the class a district requirement.

She said currently students can be opted out of sex portions of class but not the entire class.

Sarraf said the board will "revisit" the program.