MIXING MESSAGES

Now that the Wake County Board of Education has voted to "expand" its
sex-education curriculum (news story, Nov. 6), maybe next they'll want to
undertake a drug-education program. Since teens will invariably at some
point experiment with drugs, it's good that teachers cover the variety of
drugs and their effects. It's best to just say no to drugs, but teachers
need to be ready to address the ifs, ands or buts, just in case teenagers
do use them. We need to be tolerant of those who will be engaged in such
behavior, as well as those who sell these substances, because we certainly
would not want to offend them.

As ridiculous as this example is, it is unbelievable that five members of
the school board have voted to allow the plans of the Wake County School
Health Advisory Council to take effect. It should be clear what kind of
agenda they have for our students, with mixed messages of "abstinence plus"
and "tolerance." This does not bode well in their attempts to provide
character education, which I don't believe can happen in a moral vacuum anyway.

I am all for being open and frank with students about matters of sexuality,
but not when those providing leadership may not share the same value system
or world view, especially those of the Health Advisory Council. Our youth
deserve better.

Scott Williams

Raleigh