After sophomore Clara Mates appealed to the School Board to change several outdated  Tamalpais District Sexual Education policies last year, the Board finally agreed to reform the policies last month.

While researching board policy, Mates discovered 19-year-old policies instructing teachers to “teach honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage,” disregard informing students about STIs, and stress abstinence until marriage.

Mates, a member of the Redwood High School Gay Transgender Straight Alliance (GTSA), decided to take action.

“I’m the kind of guy who finds looking through board policy an exciting task,” Mates said. “I happened to come across that section that was quite outdated. I printed out the relevant parts, scheduled a meeting with Mr. Sondheim, and met with the Board.”

The policies were originally based on an abstinence education state law from 1988 that was supported by the Traditional Values Coalition.

“Mostly I was kind of updating myself on the school’s policies,” Mates said. “The reason I was looking in the first place was to figure out what type of free speech limits students have. While I was there, I found that out in addition.”

Mates discussed the sex education policy regarding monogamous heterosexual marriage with the GTSA and they agreed it would be best for him to bring it to the administration, as it stood out as discriminatory.

The policy has been rewritten to state that “instruction and materials shall teach respect for marriage, committed relationships, and the diversity of stable family structures in our community.”

“I don’t think [the teachers] let it impact their judgment much, but it’s good to have it gone as a remnant of discrimination that happened in the past,” Mates said.

Mates has previously done similar investigations out of interest. Earlier this year he looked into the publishing company of an old biology textbook when he realized it dedicated a full three pages to discussing abstinence and only a paragraph to methods of contraception. He then found out the textbook was published by a company with similar traditional and conservative values.

“It’s good for people to have at the very least an understanding of the policies that are governing them,” Mates said. “I encourage everyone to fight for equal rights and protection however you can. Look into things that go against your goal, and if there are, go out and change them.”