Tammie Reeder, Health Services Coordinator for New Albany Schools and an abstinence only education instructor, presents a "WAIT Training" lesson to a group of seventh grade boys.

Tammie Reeder, Health Services Coordinator for New Albany Schools and an abstinence only education instructor, presents a “WAIT Training” lesson to a group of seventh grade boys.

The New Albany School District adopted an abstinence-only education curriculum in May 2012 to comply with the requirements of the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE).  However, the New Albany Schools already have a well-established program and method of teaching in place.

For the past fifteen years, all seventh grade students at New Albany Middle School (NAMS) have had the opportunity to participate in the annual abstinence education course in a safe, positive setting.  Boys and girls are separated during the week-long course and are taught by school nurses in the district.

The abstinence-only program at NAMS has grown over the years and experienced minimal changes.  The program started as a partnership between the school and Junior Auxiliary of New Albany and has evolved into the school district taking over the project and receiving funding from various grants and local funds.   “Sex Respect” is the curriculum that has been utilized until this year when a change was made to the “WAIT Training” program, one of the MDE approved curriculums for an abstinence-only program.

The course is not required but is strongly encouraged and only taught with parental permission.  The course focuses on refraining from sexual contact until marriage, and birth control is not taught as an option.  Students also learn of the many risks associated with premarital sex including the physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual effects.   Abstinence before marriage is the only absolute way to avoid these risks.

“Over the years, I have received lots of positive feedback from the parents of students who have taken the class, as well as the students as they have gotten older,” said Tammie Reeder, Health Services Coordinator for New Albany Schools and one of the instructors of the abstinence only program.  Jill Robbins, high school nurse, is also an instructor. Reeder added that it is wonderful that New Albany Schools had a program in place long before mandates came from the state department of education.