TUCSON, Ariz. - Sex.
If that got your attention imagine how parents across the Tucson Unified School District reacted when they heard the district was revising what it teaches in sex education.
TUSD actually calls the program its Family Life curriculum.
Now to quiet questions about the program, the district is posting what it may teach and giving parents a chance to comment.
When the TUSD Board met on Tuesday it heard from plenty of skeptics concerned about what the District will teach and how it will teach it.
Board members heard statements like: "At the heart of it is the issue of what is gender. Is it binary? Is it choice?" and "I don't think you have a right to tell my children any kind of thing of that nature, period. That's for parents to do.”
The board decided to let the public review the topics and full teaching material for the program, with a review period from August 1st to a board vote on the program August 13th.
Superintended Gabriel Trujillo says critics are mistaken when they claim the program will teach school kids how to have sex.
"It is not a how to manual. I know that there has been some conversation and there's been some statements that this curriculum and these curriculum revisions are unduly focused on sexual practices and acts."
He says the Family Life program covers more than that.
“I don't think that the curriculum is given enough credit for its focus on healthy relationships, positive choices, good decision making, anti bullying strategies, self awareness, and its inclusion of abstinence."
The superintendent did not elaborate on how the program will handle sexual identity.
“Well, that's ultimately the decision of the governing board. I can't jump out in front of the board and say what they're going to approve on the 13th.”
Here is the link to where TUSD is beginning to post Family Life course materials
And Trujillo says parents who still have concerns will be able to keep their children out of the program.
"No family will have to be required to that their son or daughter is a part of these lessons and there's always alternative lessons provides for families that opt out."
You can see Superintendent Trujillo's full news conference below.
