January 17, 2008

Washington, DC, Schools to Expand HIV/AIDS Curriculum

Now that the HIV/AIDS prevalence in Washington, DC, is the highest in the United States, the city’s public schools will be instituting a comprehensive HIV curriculum this fall, The Washington Post reports (Washingtonpost.com, 1/17).

The new curriculum will target a range of students, from fifth grade through high school. It will teach them how HIV is and is not transmitted, what the symptoms are and how to eliminate stigma toward those living with the virus. As they approach graduation, the Post reports, the program will urge students to stay current in their knowledge of the disease as well as on the latest research on HIV/AIDS.

Last month, an independent advocacy group gave the Washington, DC, public school system a “D” on a report evaluating its response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to the article, the DC State Board of Education voted the following day to push forward with the curriculum, which will go beyond “abstinence-only” education to provide more detailed and complete safe-sex information.

“We know that there’s a need to have immediate HIV education,” says Richard Nyankori, assistant to DC Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee. “We’re in a crisis.”

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Previous Comments:

Vickie, Tampa, 2008-01-23 10:43:45
Someone's head has been in the sand for years. Will they actually include discussions on condoms? I can only hope. I know that abstinence is the only fool proof method of avoiding HIV, but if we avoid the topic than we will not be providing our children with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves. Our society must be honest with our youths; they are exposed to too much sex and are blindly unaware of the consequences. I am grateful that we are finally doing the right thing.

Judith Backof, , 2008-01-22 21:26:47
Fifth grade is too late to start. Ten year olds are having babies!!!!!! There are programs that start as early as Kindergarten with basic hygiene and learning about different kinds of germs. Good luck, DC!

Tim, Huachuca City, 2008-01-22 14:21:18
I find it astounding that it has taken this long for our capital city to wake up and come to it's senses. Now if only we could make this a national goal, instead of just this one city. Many of our towns and cities in Arizona will not even let any HIV information be presented on campus, let alone the distribution of condoms. Oh we are so very advanced and so very civilized; as we watch our youth, thorugh their ignorance, condemn themselves to a life of pain and misery with this disease!

Theresa Raschke, Fond du Lac, 2008-01-17 21:51:15
I think that all the schools should implement a better cirrculum about HIV/AIDS since it is one of the fastest growing problems in the US today

jtny, New York, 2008-01-17 20:40:39
Better late than never...