Sex questions too graphic?

In particular board member Anne Moses found a question pertaining to oral sex, including a description of it, to be too graphic for this age group.

Moses also questions the overall validity of such surveys, saying she doesn’t think students always answer the questions truthfully.

“I don’t have any faith (in the surveys) at all,” she said at the board’s last meeting.

The survey is being done through the Nova Scotia Department of Health Protection and Promotion, in conjunction with Dalhousie University. The information will be used in the development of programs and initiatives in the fields of health and education.

The survey will be conducted in March and April and is targeted towards randomly selected classes in Grades 7, 9, 10 and 12. In the Tri-County board three schools will be randomly chosen for the survey.

This isn’t a new survey. Similar surveys have been conducted in 1996, 1998 and 2002. Schools in this region participated in ’96 and ’98. The Tri-County board was the only board in the province that did not take part in 2002.

Bill Curry, the school board’s director of programs and student services said most of what is included in the survey is already covered in the classroom.

Other board members said it would be naïve to presume students don’t know or aren’t talking about much of what is in the survey.

“I don’t think by refusing this survey we’re doing anyone any favours, let alone protecting the kids,” said Donna Tidd.

Board chair Faye Haley added that whether the board likes it or not, Grade 7 students are among those who need this information.

There are 98 questions in the drug use survey. Eleven questions relate to sexual behaviour but the survey states students can skip over these questions if they’re not comfortable answering them.

A letter of consent for the survey will go home to the parents of students that have been randomly selected for the survey.