j----_. - New York Civil Liberties Union

Mahopac 356
How to Use This Guide
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The structure of this guide parallels the structure of
the Health Education Syllabus: Grades 1(-12. It is organized
by grade-level clusters and by objectives. At the
lowest grade levels, the emphasis is not on the disease
of AIDS but on the general concepts of communicable
diseases, healthful lifestyles and community resources.
As the students become older and approach
sexual maturity, the material becomes more specifically
related to AIDS. Material is presented when it is developmentally
appropriate and in ways that make sense to
students at a particular age level.
The person responsible for health education in your
district will need to review the grids preceding each
grade-level cluster. Each grid contains the lessons for
that grade-level cluster identified by number (#) and
learner outcome. The lessons are organized by objectives
which provide the format for organizing an AIDS
instructional program consistent with the Commissioner's
Regulations and allow for an easy way to evaluate
such a program. The five objectives, which are consistent
in the total instructional program, are:
1. THERE ARE SOME DISEASES THAT ARE
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
A disease is a condition that impairs performance of
a body or its parts. Some diseases are communicable
and can be transmitted directly or indirectly
from one person to another. Diseases may be transmitted
by bacteria, viruses, or other organisms.
AIDS is a communicable disease that is transmitted
by avirus (Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV)
directly from one person to another by contact with
infected blood, infected semen, or infected vaginal
secretions.
2. THERE ARE SKILLS TO PRACTICE THAT WILL
LEAD TO A HEALTHFUL LIFESTYLE.
12
Skills have been identified which will enhance the
development of self-esteem and respect for others,
such as: practicing good health habits; practicing
the responsibilities involved with family, friends,
and school; showing an appreciation for one's own
uniqueness and the uniqueness of others; recognizing
the consequences of choices; practicing skills in
saying no; recognizing the value of abstinence; and
recognizing the influence of media messages. Opportunities
to practice these and similar skills are
emphasized in the lessons at each grade-level cluster.
3. THERE ARE COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR
INFORMATION, HELp, AND COUNSELING.
Supports and resources are identified at all levels,
from kindergarten through grade 12, reflecting
school, home, and community resources. There are
opportunities for students to learn where they are
able to obtain support for themselves and their families
and where they are able to give support to their
families and friends.
4. THERE ARE METHODS OF PREVENTION
FOR AIDS.
The virus that causes AIDS is transmitted via infected
semen or infected vaginal secretions during
sexual intercourse, via the exchange of infected
blood by transfusion, via infected blood from users
sharing needles and/or works during intravenous
drug use, or via infected women passing it on to
their babies during pregnancy, or delivery. At
present the most effective known methods of prevention
for AIDS include: sexual abstinence, abstinence
from illegal drug use, a mutually monogamous
marriage/relationship with a partner with no
known risk factors, education, and counseling.
5. THERE ARE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
IMPLICATIONS OF AIDS.
The social and economic implications of AIDS are
explicit in the 7-12Iessons. Students at all grade levels
will be able to recognize the delicate balance between
the need to protect the rights of the-individual
and the need to protect the health of all people.
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