School drops sex-ed class; Parents riled by abstinence-only theme

ITHACA--According to the Ithaca Journal , "the Lansing Board of Education has barred an abstinence-only presentation from its middle school."

According to the article, opponents of the program "argued that a focus on marriage could upset children from nontraditional families."

The opponents also argued that "the organization's Christian affiliation was inappropriate for a public school." The program is organized by the Ithaca Pregnancy Center, "which is sponsored by more than two dozen area churches."

Apparently, some parents find the program's "waiting for marriage" theme to be "devisive."

"It should be taught as a health choice, not a moral choice" in the public school, said Marlaine Darfler, mother of a Lansing High School sophomore. She said she would prefer a program that focuses on teaching eighth graders ways to say no to sex.

However, the Journal reports, "the organization uses skits -- such as people passing around a half-eaten piece of chocolate or drinking out of the same glass of water -- that are intended to be funny while also driving home messages about the health risks of sexual activity."

According to the article, the program is taken to as many as 10 public schools a semester, "normally without incident."

So, basically, now "waiting for marriage" is an "offensive" concept?