Sex Ed – To Teach or Not to Teach
Digg This!For a number of years, advocates for reproductive health care and for the empowerment of young people have been warning about the dangers of Abstinence-Only Sexuality Education. As predicted, years after heavily funding this initiative to deny people, particularly young people, accurate information about reproductive health topics, we are beginning to see an up tick in the number of teen pregnancies, births and sexually transmitted infections. SIECUS released it’s State Profiles: A Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the States for Fiscal Year 2008. It’s a fascinating and complete look at what kind of sex ed is happening and the related health outcomes.
Coincidentally, Tara Malone of the Chicago Tribune took a look at the issue in Illinois which ranks fourth in receipt of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage funds. Her article, Sex ed: Abstinence-only programs under review, is a great read on the tough challenges that state faces. As we see increasing numbers of teen pregnancies, births, and sexually transmitted infections, more communities are discussing the sex ed programs in their communities. In my community, I know we have a curriculum for sex ed, but it’s hard to find out if it is being taught district wide. What’s happening in your community?
