January 29, 2009, Sun Sentinel/Orlando Sentinel

A South Florida senator wants Florida public schools to ditch the wait-until-marriage message that's long been the basis of many sex-education classes.

Instead, state Sen. Ted Deutch, D- Delray Beach, has filed legislation that would require schools to teach students about condoms and other contraceptive methods starting in the sixth grade.

Meanwhile, two other lawmakers have introduced bills meant to discourage teachers from touting the benefits of sex within a monogamous, heterosexual marriage.

Right now, state law encourages that. But state Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, who penned the Senate version of the bill, called it "offensive language."
"I believe that should be taught at home and in religious institutions," said the 38-year-old father of four. "Certainly, monogamous, heterosexual marriage is a moral discussion."

The proposals have drawn criticism from politically conservative groups, which have long argued that teaching kids about birth control could encourage teen sex. They said parents would not tolerate discussions about sex without also talking about marriage.

People on both sides of the issue, however, say the bills do not have much of a chance during this spring's legislative session, given their controversial nature and lawmakers' focus on the state's financial woes.

Lance deHaven-Smith, a political-science professor at Florida State University, said the issues warrant discussion. But the bills likely will have to wait until next year or later for serious consideration.

"Legislation is not a one-shot process. It's something that often takes years to develop a consensus on, particularly on a significant change in direction," he said. "This is not the end. It's really probably the beginning of a long-tem process of re-thinking these issues."

Deutch introduced his bill — the Florida Healthy Teens Act — last year, but it didn't survive the legislative session. He could not be reached for comment, but an official from Planned Parenthood, a key supporter of the measure, said he had to try again.

A duplicate of Deutch's bill was introduced Jan. 8 in the House of Representatives by Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota.

Broward's school district follows an "abstinence plus" model, meaning that starting in the seventh grade students are taught that abstinence is the only way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, said Suzanne Edgar, the district's family life and human sexuality coordinator.

Seventh-graders also start learning about contraception such as condoms, though teachers do not demonstrate them for students, Edgar said.

For younger students, the district follows an abstinence-only model that's grade-appropriate.

Palm Beach County's sex education curriculum, in place since 1992, is called "abstinence based." The program stresses abstinence as the only certain way to avoid pregnancy and disease, but also gives students information about condoms and birth control, beginning in the sixth grade.

So it's likely already the kind of program Deutch wants for the whole state, Assistant Superintendent Judith Klinek said.

Parents continue to have the opportunity to opt out their children from the lessons, Klinek said. In grades K-3, teachers discuss decision making and having children show respect for themselves and others. Discussions about human reproduction start in grades 4 and 5, with the higher grades receiving instruction about sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention.

Staff Writers Kathy Bushouse and Marc Freeman contributed to this report.