Needham weighs new sex ed program

Published by The Boston Globe

The Needham schools may devote more time to teaching sex education if the School Committee approves a proposed pilot program, the district’s wellness director said.

Kathy Pinkham, director of the schools’ Wellness Department, said she will introduce the new sex ed curriculum to parents and welcome feedback in three different presentations next week.

She has already met with some parents and is offering one-hour, open forums on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week.

Proponents hope to introduce the curriculum in a pilot program later this school year, and implement it permanently next fall.


Needham does not offer much sex education in the schools because health programs have been cut and changed multiple times, and sex ed has been lost over the years, said Pinkham. Needham has maintained education about puberty in fifth grade, but health classes in other grades devote less time to sex ed, she said.

The school district was aware of the missing component for some time and decided to study the sex education program because it has become a topic parents expect their children to learn about, said Pinkham.

Pinkham said students can be influenced or confused by new media such as cellphones and social networking. As an example of the changing landscape, she cited the controversial new website www.rateBU.com, where students can rate photos of their peers.

“Kids are maturing so much quicker at younger age,” she said. “They’re more interested in things. I think they need some language and some guidance to navigate life.”

The School Health Advisory Council spent two years comparing Needham’s program with those of other districts, holding focus groups with students and parents and conducting other research, she said.

The current health program teaches social and emotional learning skills related to drugs and alcohol, such as making good decisions, communication and healthy relationships, said Pinkham. The new health program will apply these same skills to sex-related contexts, she said.

The program will also introduce “homework” assignments for parents and families involving a series of questions to discuss after class lessons, said Pinkham. Similar assignments are encouraged and successful with the fifth grade program, but the school wants to extend them to sixth, ninth, and 11th grades, she said.

“We’re really trying hard to create partnership with parents around health,” said Pinkham. “The response has been fairly positive actually. Parents are very appreciative of the effort to include parents in the process.”

Monday’s forum is at 12:30 p.m. in the upstairs conference room of the Emery Grover Administration Building at 1330 Highland Ave.

Wednesday’s meeting will be from 7 to 8 p.m. at Needham High School, 609 Webster St., in room 728. On Thursday, Pinkham will present at 9 a.m. in the Needham High School Media Center.

Pinkham will meet with parents again after the winter break and present a pilot program to the School Committee for approval in January, she said.