the following was reported by Journalist Heath Gilmore
Today's lesson: condoms in the classroom cause controversyHEATH GILMORE
December 3, 2009
Picture from Q and A ... the Choices Decisions Outcomes’ website.
A PRIVATELY run sex education program operating in NSW public high schools questions the effectiveness of condoms for preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Real Choices Australia operates the program, Choices Decisions Outcomes, mainly in government schools across Australia. One of its directors and spokeswoman, Debbie Garratt, has links to the Catholic Church and has worked with anti-abortion groups.
The program is used at Ulladulla High School. Teams are trying to promote it in the Newcastle, Kempsey, Macksville, Port Macquarie and Taree regions. On the Choices Decisions Outcomes' website, students are warned that condoms are not 100 per cent effective in stopping sexually transmitted infections. It highlights that children who engage in sexual activity are ''flirting with danger''.The website goes on to say there is ''no scientific evidence that condoms prevent the transmission of most sexually transmitted diseases''.
The NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the program compromised the State Government's public health strategy, which says the use of condoms during casual sexual encounters ''significantly'' reduced STI transmissions.
''The program is using subterfuge to infiltrate the classroom and indoctrinate young people with a minority viewpoint, putting their sexual health at risk,'' Dr Kaye said.
Ms Garratt said the program, which catered for the first four years of secondary schooling, encouraged adolescents to make healthy lifestyle choices regarding their sexuality as well as health and relationship issues.
Asked whether the website was designed to dissuade students from using condoms, she said some readers may have inferred the wrong meaning. ''The message is that condoms are not 100 per cent safe,'' she said. ''We don't promote abstinence as the preferred option.''
Nicholas Parkhill, the chief executive of ACON, formerly the AIDS Council of NSW, said questioning the effectiveness of condoms put the lives of young people at risk.
''It is very concerning to learn that groups are questioning the effectiveness of condoms in relation to the prevention of HIV and other STIs,'' Mr Parkhill said.
Ellie Freedman, medical education co-ordinator of Family Planning NSW, said scientific evidence existed that condoms prevented the transmission of most STIs. She said laboratory studies showed latex is impermeable to STIs.
''At Family Planning NSW we advise that consistent condom use is the most effective way of protecting against STIs,'' Dr Freedman said.
A spokesman for the Department of Education and Training said Real Choice Australia did not require departmental authorisation for its presentations, only approval from principals.
''Where an external speaker addresses students on a topic, the regular classroom teacher remains present to ensure the information is consistent with the curriculum,'' he said.
''Condom use is included as one of several options for minimising the risk of infection.''
1 comment:
I'm at a loss to see what your problem is with the info on Condoms given by the program. It says that they are not 100% effective. Are you trying to say that they are?
If they are 100% effective, then why did I get pregnant as a 15 year old after following the directions of the people like yourself who talk all about "safe sex" but not possible risks and consequences? People like you, let me down. I wish I had attended a program like CDO to help me think things through. Does it offend you that some students, on hearing the information and thinking it through, might decide to wait? What is wrong with waiting to have sex? You believe in "choice" but you're so totally against the choice to wait, that you won't even let people talk about it. People like you should have not led me to believe that using a condom would protect me. It didn't.
Oh but don't publish this comment on your blog or anything. It would be terrible if people heard a different point of view wouldn't it. Hey, if people read that condoms didn't "100% protect me" then they might decide to abstain or wait to until they're older to have sex. You wouldn't want that would you?
oh and another thing....make sure you continue to launch attacks on organisations you have an ideological disagreement with, *before* getting your facts straight. Don't let the truth get in the way of your agenda.
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