Sept. 25, 1987: Tempers flare at AIDS film debate

Emotions and tempers flared in Waimanalo last night as some parents condemned and others approved the Department of Education’s AIDS information curriculum for students in grades 7-12.

Fewer than 30 parents of 270 Waimanalo Intermediate School students attended the information meeting scheduled for parents before that school’s AIDS instruction lessons begin Thursday.

About 10 parents strongly objected to one film, “The Subject is AIDS,” which one mother, Mabel Spencer, described as “a commercial for condoms.” She said she will not allow either of her two children to attend the AIDS classes.

“I’m going to teach them at home,” she said.

Those parents and Republican state Rep. Cam Cavasso also objected to educators limiting the time allowed for questions.

But several parents approved the program and said they want their children to attend the classes.

One mother said: “I was dead set against it when I came. You changed my mind. My kid will be going to the classes.”

Another mother said: “I want my son to participate, but I want my son and every other child to be able to get up and walk out. I like what’s been presented. But if he cannot handle it, I think he should have the right to say, may I be excused? I want to be sure he has the right to walk out. I don’t want him hassled.”

But Principal Marian Holokai said she didn’t want students to attend only part of the classes, because they would be getting only half of the information. She also said that if one student were permitted to walk out in the middle of class, others might get the impression they were free to come and go as they pleased.

Another mother said she wanted her daughter to attend the classes, but pleaded to have one of the last statements eliminated from the film.

The film, narrated by a young actress, Rae Dawn Chong, shows teen-agers discussing their relationships and AIDS. Near the end, Chong says, “If you’re going to have sex, use a condom. If you decide not to have sex, that’s okay, too.”

Don Cowan, of the state health department, said the Chong film is the “one students seem to relate to the best.”

Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.