Washoe schools oppose abstinence-only sex ed video

SPARKS - The Washoe County School Board turned down a new sex education videotape for seventh-graders partly because it promotes a fear-based, abstinence-only message.

Carson City schools earlier adopted the video, entitled "The Rules Have Changed the Teen STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) Epidemic."

Washoe County trustees rejected it Tuesday on a 3-1 vote. But the matter likely will return to the board for another vote because a four-vote consensus is required for any formal action.

The Washoe County district's SHARE sex education advisory committee rejected the video last year on a vote of 8-2.

In a letter to the board of trustees, SHARE committee member Nancy Lim criticized the video for suggesting that condoms "don't work" and for potentially inspiring irrational fears.

"The over-hyped, fear-based tone was felt to be a turnoff for many teens who most needed to hear the abstinence message," Lim said.

"Examples of the alarmist format included blood dripping into a sink when a link was drawn between teen suicide rates and teen sexuality."

The video was introduced to the board by trustee Lezlie Porter, the only member who voted in favor of it.

Porter said the video offers updated, scientific information to teens.

She said it would be an improvement over the current seventh-grade sex-education video used in the district, which Porter called a "talking head" video.

The video currently used in the district was produced in the late 1980s by a pathologist at the University of Nevada, Reno.

"There's no compelling message" in the current tape, Porter said. "It's just, 'Here's an STD, here's what it looks like, now onto the next one."'

Porter said the proposed video would give children more clear direction on the dangers of extramarital sex.

"I think the message of (the proposed) video is that kids need to be careful, and that abstinence is the best choice," Porter said.

Board member Jonnie Pullman, who voted against adopting the proposed video, called the video "sensationalized."

"I really did expect to support this film. And I don't," Pullman said. "It reminds me of a few videos I saw in school. One was 'Red Highways."'

Pullman referred to an education film from a genre infamous for scaring teenagers with graphic depictions of car accidents.

Newly elected Trustee Barbara Price said that while teaching children about abstinence is important, the proposed video could be harmful to students.

"In several instances throughout the film, ... kids could be led to believe that if you're sexually active, depression can follow and also suicide," Price said.

Porter defended the video's dramatic depictions of the dangers of teen sexuality, including sexually transmitted diseases.

"I think the issue should be as real as possible," Porter said. "I don't think you can overly frighten someone if you tell them the truth."