South Carolina school removes student debate topics

School administrators in Fort Mill, S.C., have decided to remove the topics of same-sex marriage, abortion, and stem cell research from a high school debate out of concern that they might clash with a state education law. Two of the three topics originally were on a list of eight approved by Principal David Damm earlier this month for use in a student-run debate scheduled for October 19. The debate is intended to mirror the presidential debates between President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry. A debate announcement at the school said, "The issues to be discussed will be education, health care, economic growth and jobs, the war in Iraq, taxation and the national debt, faith-based initiatives, energy policy, and foreign policy.... Because of South Carolina laws, we cannot discuss such controversial issues as stem cell research, abortion, or homosexual marriages." Both Damm and Superintendent Thomas Dowling said the restriction referred to the state's comprehensive health education act, which prohibits health class discussion on abortion and homosexual sex. Dowling said the administration was not trying to censor the debate but was concerned that "if there's an exclusion from adding these topics in a classroom setting, quite possibly it's an exclusion that would carry over to this instance." Dale Stuckey, chief counsel for the state Education Department, said he has not seen stem cell research mentioned in the statute. "There is nothing in state law that prohibits in general discussion of any topic," Stuckey said.