BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Nine of the 13 archdiocesan parochial schools have already implemented the third edition of the Benziger Family Life program, according to Maureen Kane, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

More than 30 percent of the Catholic schools in the archdiocese have used a version of the Benziger Family Life series since 1978.

A random survey of principals currently using the Benziger series revealed that the essential ingredients for a positive experience for students and their families are competent teachers, parental involvement and effective communication.

The Benziger Family Life program has been taught at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Atlanta since 1978, according to Margo Wolke, principal. "The program has been in place longer than I've been at the school," Mrs. Wolke said.

"All of the students who are enrolled this year are participating in the program," Mrs. Wolke said. "We have not had any problems or requests from parents who do not want their students to participate. Since we've been using it for so long, it really isn't a new thing for our parents, teachers, students or faculty. Everyone seems very happy with the program."

She credits effective communication and qualified teachers with making the sensitive material on sexuality covered in the fifth-grade text a positive experience.

"We sent a letter home to parents telling them what is going to be taught and when it will be covered," she said. "Wehave one teacher who has been teaching this material for eight years; she has a goodrelationship with both parents and students. The children really trust her and like to talk with her."

The Benziger Family Life series has been used at St. John the Evangelist School, Hapeville, for the past 12 years as a supplement to the school's religion text.

"It is a vehicle for teachers to talk about family values in relation to what they teach about our Catholic religion," said Christine Foley, principal. "It is not meant to be intrusive or to take away the privacy of families. Its purpose is to support wholesome family living."

At Our Lady of the Assumption School, Atlanta, students have been using the Benziger Family Life program since 1978, according to principal Joan Tiernan. She has found the program to be an effective way of assisting parents in the formation of their children in the areas of moral catechesis, character development, sexuality education and family support.

At St. Thomas More School, Decatur, this is the first year that all students in grades K-8 are using the Benziger Family Life program, according to Dr. Tom Collins, principal.

"Only five of the 416 students enrolled in the school are not participating in some or all of the program," he said.

However, the Benziger series is not new to members of the faculty and many students. "We've used these materials in the past, but we just didn't have enough materials for each individual student on every grade level," he said. "Now we do."

Collins said parents have really liked the "family connection" booklet that accompanies each grade level of the Benziger Family Life program. The 6-page magazine contains informative articles on Catholic parenting, morality and emotional and spiritual growth.

St. Joseph's School, Marietta, is in its second year of implementing the Benziger Family Life program. According to Sister Pat Baber, RSM, principal, parents have several options concerning their child's involvement in the program.

Students may attend family life classes at school but have preparation and review done with their parents at home. Parents may use the materials and teach their child completely at home, or they may choose not to have their child participate in the program at all.

Sister Baber believes that one of the strengths of the program is that it explains the basic teachings of the Church on issues encountered in contemporary life. Moral issues such as birth control, abortion, premarital intercourse and homosexuality are defined and explained by Benziger according to Catholic teachings and beliefs.

"Students are taught why we believe what we do and learn to embrace these values," she said.

Parents of fifth-graders at St. Joseph's receive the text in August, but actual classes don't begin until January. This provides parents with the opportunity and first privilege of teaching their children. At St. Joseph's, as in most Catholic schools, details of the reproductive systems of both sexes are presented in single sex classes.

St. John Neumann Regional School, Lilburn, implemented the Benziger Family Life program this year for students in grades K-8. However, for the past six years St. John Neumann has had a family life program for students in grades 6-8.

Sister Dawn Gear, GNSH, principal, believes that the Benziger Family Life program has many strengths. "It offers a Catholic view of family life," she said. "It is a complete and comprehensive Catholic family life program that is rooted in Scripture and grounded in the authentic teachings of the Church. I feel this program is morally sound and designed to support family involvement in Catholic family life education."

Parents of fifth-graders were presented with a brief overview of the program in September. "It was agreed that teachers would advise parents ahead of time when sensitive chapters in the fifth-grade program were going to be taught so that parents would be able to help their children at home," Sister Gear said.