The physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Society applaud the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for its decision to revamp health and sex education in our schools.
The new curriculum offers an age-appropriate, evidence-based, and inclusive approach to learning that will increase understanding of and destigmatize health-related issues such as mental and emotional health, sexual and reproductive health, and substance use disorder.
The children of the Commonwealth deserve comprehensive education from a trained and trusted source of information. This updated curriculum will reduce misinformation and stigma and foster agency and autonomy to enable students to feel confident and empowered to make sound health-related decisions, reducing risk of harm and ultimately improving health outcomes.
-Barbara S. Spivak, MD, President, Massachusetts Medical Society
