The Journal

Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial

Nikole Brown

Sex is taboo in our society. Even though the United States media are saturated with sexual messages, many Americans are taught sex is something dirty, something to be feared until marriage. The fortunate few who got all of the information they needed in high school health education classes are in the minority. Teens are left to fend for themselves, collecting sometimes faulty information from friends, the Internet and the media. Thankfully some states are making the decision to rethink abstinence-only programs in high schools and are looking for alternative methods of teaching sex education.


One of the stipulations for receiving federal grants for abstinence-only programs are schools cannot use money to promote contraceptives. Educators are required to tell teens in the program that bearing children outside of marriage is harmful to themselves physically, psychologically and to society. Where does this leave teens? Any states that accept these grants are required by law and the Title V abstinence grant program to follow the abstinence-only program and its rules. Six states - Connecticut, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin - are turning down federal grants for abstinence-only education and are dropping out of the program managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


Ohio Democrat Gov. Ted Strickland has proposed stripping federal and state funding for abstinence-only programs. Ohio received more than $24 million in federal and state funds in the last three years for abstinence-only programs. Although Ohio's pregnancy rate has declined 10 percent since 2005, the governor said students need more education to protect their health. Additionally, Ohio schools have been accused of distributing false information about contraceptives and abortion.


Unfortunately, in Colorado, where sex-ed standards also are being discussed, attempts to offer sex education are called a "comprehensive condom, contraception and copulation curriculum" by their own Republican Sen. Shawn Mitchell. This distorted view of what teens would learn stops teens from being informed about risks, such as sexually transmitted diseases. Others opposed to the shift towards sex education include: Sen. Ted Harvey and Sen. Josh Penry of Colorado, Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana and Rep. Bob Sump of Washington - all Republicans.
Teens are sent to school to learn information that will help them with life challenges, which should include sexual education. Programs should be value-based, but denying sex education is avoiding responsibility. Sexuality is just another part of human personality, and its development should be discussed - both in and out of the classroom.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools