PARENTS CAN SEE SEX EDUCATION VIDEOS FIRST.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

Parents will have an opportunity today to view several new Family Life Program videotapes on human reproduction that will be shown to Simi Valley fifth- and sixth-graders this year.

School district officials said they have received no complaints or calls of concern from parents about the tapes - new editions of a series the district has used in previous years.

But some parents said they are concerned that the videos specifically designed for boys and girls will be shown to co-ed classes.

``We need to preserve girls' and boys' privacy, their sense of modesty,'' said Jean Hughes, who has a 10-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter in the district. ``When you have girls and boys together in a room, they are going to be embarrassed, at least the first time.

``But (subsequently) it will break down their modesty and that sense of modesty needs to be preserved,'' she said.

District officials said the Family Life Program committee is expected to discuss the videos during a regular meeting tonight.

The video expected to be shown to fifth-graders is titled ``Fertilization and Birth.'' Sixth graders will see two tapes: ``Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Puberty,'' one designed for boys and one for girls, as well as ``The Road We Take: Kids Growing Up in the Shadow of AIDS.''

Officials said the videos have always been presented to both boys and girls, and the committee is not likely to change that policy this year.

``Wehave for years had co-ed (viewings),'' said Rebecca Wetzel, director of elementary education. ``We've always had a few parents who have had an objection to that. But for the most part, it has not be a concern for Simi or for areas around us. And it's strictly voluntary. They do not have to allow their students to attend.''

Only those students with signed permission slips from their parents are permitted to see the tapes. Those who do not have permission are taken to another classroom while the videos are shown.

Hughes said parents should preview the tapes and not put too much faith in the school system and teachers to give adequate instruction in health and sex education.

``Parents need to wake up and go to the meeting, be informed and take the responsibility to make these decisions themeselves,'' she said. ``They have to realize this is their job. The teacher is just helping them to do their job but it is they who have the last say.''

THE FACTS

The Family Life Program videos will be on display from 9-10:30 a.m. today at Valley View Middle School, 3347 Tapo St.

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Box: THE FACTS (See text)