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Hundreds of Helena residents offered their opinions about school district's proposed health curriculum at a packed meeting on Tuesday night.

After over 7,000 written comments and much debate, the Helena School District released a revised proposal, changing several parts of the sex-education portion of the curriculum.

The requirement for students to name reproductive organs was moved from kindergarten to 4th grade, and the revision teaches 5th through 12th- graders that abstinence is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The first draft of the sex-ed curriculum stated that people can love people of the same gender; the revision replaced this with the requirement that a child should know that family structures can differ.

The original draft stated sexual intercourse includes vaginal, oral, and anal sex; that language was removed from the revised proposal.

Even with the changes, many residents are still outraged, while others continue to defend the proposal.

Helena Lee said, "Helena residents have been assaulted by the first draft and the revised draft is an insult to our intelligence. This must stop with your vote."

James Murry commented, "Abstinence is definitively the best prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection. It is becoming (an) antiquated and intangible platform for many teens."

Ken Lay said, "If you pass this health curriculum you will have changed my mind and I will have to look at pulling my kids out of the Helena Public Schools."

Aimee Ryan said, "I can think of nothing more important to teach our youth about than the human body and all its functions including that of sex. When we stop fearing sex and we start embracing and respecting our bodies we will confident self-loving youth."

The board is scheduled to vote on the curriculum at its October 12th meeting.