UPDATED: School Board to Review Middle School Abstinence-Only Instruction in Health Lessons

Correction: This article erroneously stated the number of sex-education tracts in Northville middle schools and the date for a decision on the program changes. The middle school only offers abstinence-only lessons. The earliest the board is expected to make a decision is on June 28.

The Northville Board of Education will soon be seeking public comment on changes to its abstinence-only curriculum in the district's middle schools. The change, if approved after considerations from public hearings, would mean new DVDs and lessons offered in the abstinence-only curriculum.

Some of the proposed changes include introducing a DVD for sixth, seventh and eighth graders called "Dangers of Sexting: What Teens Need to Know" and lessons about puberty for sixth graders. For seventh graders a DVD titled "Understanding HIV and AIDS" is also proposed.

Currently, the district offers abstinence-only education in the middle school. 

Abstinence-only education "is geared around the idea that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method for preventing sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and pregnancy," he explained

According to a district email, the two hearings will give parents an opportunity to hear a 21-person committee's suggestions for changes to health lessons, including the inclusion of high school instructional DVDs.

"If approved, the new material would be used beginning with the 2011-2012 school year," according to the email.

It further states that by law the committee is made up of parents, faculty, a high school student, local clergy and health professionals.

The two meetings, which will be held in room 302 of the on Main Street, are scheduled for:

1. June 7 at 2 p.m.
2. June 14 at 6:30 p.m.

After the hearings the board will consider the public's comments and, if they decide to adopt the curriculum revisions, could approve them as early as June 28 at its next meeting.