Sex Education

I don't suppose this will surprise anyone, but I thought it worth discussion.

Are some states failing teenage girls by not providing them with a good sex education? Is it fair to teenagers for the state to decide what information about sex they can have and what they cannot? Sure, the information is out there on the internet, but in-school sex education would probably have a greater impact if it is a required course.

The more conservative the state, the higher the teen birth rate. In a new Washington University study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, researchers looked at the birth rates of girls aged 15 to 17 living in 24 states from 1997 to 2005. Interestingly, Arkansas (which was recently ranked as the 10th most conservative state in the nation by Gallup) had the highest teen birth rate (at 34.8 births per 1,000 teen girls). Texas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma (all above-average in conservatism) also rank high. However, New Hampshire, which tends to swing to the left, boasted the lowest rate during this time period (at 9.7)

conservative states tend to take a more conservative stance on sex education — some still focusing on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs instead of sexuality-based programs (14 of the 16 southern states, which also tend to be the most conservative, continue to concentrate on abstinence programs, according to a 2010 report from the Sexuality Information and Education Council)

http://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-he ... d%3D133567

Are some states failing teenage girls by not providing them with a good sex education?

No - It is not the state's responsibility to provide sex education. Therefore, the state can't fail teenage girls
(hey folks - there's plenty of ignorant adults, too --- try working in a crisis pregnancy center when a 22 year old sits in front of you and says "I don't know how this could have happened.....").

It's the family's responsibility ---- end of story.

I'll grant you that many families fall really short of their responsibility --

However, I think we fool ourselves if we think somehow, the state can compensate for family failures.

Like religion...

I think schools should be teaching life skills as well as academics. These would include basic finance..like credit and balancing a check book as well as health and sex education. The school years are the best chance to reach kids with all kinds of education. Saying it is the job of the parents is a cop out, the next generation needs to know this stuff and too many don't. And too many parents are either unable or unwilling to teach their kids.

However...Planned Parenthood does a good job in poor areas with sex education if their funds don't get cut.

Humorous you should say that --- Planned Parenthood seems to build the most clinics in areas with high birth rates.....

I'm not sure I'd say they do a great job of providing "education." (in fact, "education" seems to be one of their lower prioritites: PP spends $42M/yr on sex ed. By comparison, they spend $699 Million/yr on medical services).

Sorry --- all the fuss about providing education to the poor is bunk to my ears. PP is not in the education business -- and their financials prove it.

bailey bud wrote: Humorous you should say that --- Planned Parenthood seems to build the most clinics in areas with high birth rates.....

I'm not sure I'd say they do a great job of providing "education." (in fact, "education" seems to be one of their lower prioritites: PP spends $42M/yr on sex ed. By comparison, they spend $699 Million/yr on medical services).

Sorry --- all the fuss about providing education to the poor is bunk to my ears. PP is not in the education business -- and their financials prove it.

At least they are providing some education, better than providing none. 42 million is hardly chump change. No surprise that medical services cost more. Maybe with more of the former we would need less of the latter.

The unwed birth rate continues to decline so I don't know if the original story is much ado about nothing.

I'm skeptical of sex education programs (including abstinence-based programs). There's almost no good evidence that directly links ANY program with target behaviors.

We spend too damn much on programs.

Plain ole economics explains most of the story.

The simple truth is ---- if you're having sex --- chances are, your parents did, too (snicker)

People in these times want the schools to teach everything. Parents want NO resposibility for anything their kids might do.
Just watch the news.