Indiana parents call planned student sex survey "pornographic"

A preview of a May 18 sex education and behavioral survey meant for students grades 6-12 of Monroe County, Ind., has some parents upset. School administrators commissioned the survey after some parents expressed concern over reports that middle school students were sexually active. The voluntary confidential 51-question survey covers topics such as abstinence, sex education, AIDS, intercourse, oral sex, dating, and birth control. The district, which has 10,700 students, has not participated in a similar survey since 1993. Parents will be notified by mail in advance of the survey and must inform the district in order to opt their children out. The survey will be administered to about one third of the student population. "I read that thing, and it's pornography to me," said parent Eric Warren, according to Bloomington's Herald-Times. "To administer this survey in any workplace to adults over 18 would be sexual harassment." Some Grandview Elementary School parents who previewed the survey objected to the subject matter; others objected to officials' plans to ask 12- and 13-year-olds specific questions about sex. My son "doesn't know about this stuff. Nor should he, at his age," said Penny Buhr, the mother of a sixth-grader. But the students to be surveyed have already had sex education courses in fifth grade, said Jennifer Staab, district health coordinator, noting that some districts include sixth grade in middle school. "Those kids will be in middle school this fall, and much of this arose from middle school-level discussions," she said. Students who took a test survey felt " 'it was about time' and seemed to want even more questions," said Staab. The district is open to modifying the survey in line with "responsible" suggestions, Staab said. (AP)