The Sex Ed Debate Continues, Make Your Voice Heard
April 09, 2008 8:32:00
by Karina
Web Editor
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund
Kathleen Kersten's, columnist for the Star Tribune, wrote an article last Sunday, "The ‘Everyone Does It' Hooey Keeps the STD Epidemic Going," was wrong on so many levels, its hard to know where to start. Here's a little gem for you, though….
Research confirms that premarital sex puts young women at significant risk, not only for pregnancy and STDs, but also for related problems like infertility. They also risk psychological harm such as depression, suicidal thoughts and what Ross calls "the feeling of worthlessness that comes after being around the block a few times."
Kersten argues that by assuming kids are going to engage in sexual activity, we undercut the chance that they'll remain abstinent. Plus she says that sex without commitment (read: premarital sex-which by the way a recent study tracing premarital sex trends since the 1950s found that 95% of Americans engaged in premarital sex) is "caustic to human dignity." Therefore by teaching comp sex ed, we are causing the downfall of human dignity.
Yeah. Okay, moving right a long…
So, Josephine Marcotty, who writes about health care for the Star Tribune, responded on her blog yesterday morning:
Despite all the millions and millions of dollars the federal government has poured into abstinence-only education, there is a growing body of research that says such programs are not effective. Survey after survey find that by the time they are seniors about half of high school kids are sexually active. About 75 percent of college students also are sexually active….
...There is a bill pending at the state Legislature this session that would require schools to offer comprehensive sex education to all 7th through 12th graders. That means they would be taught how sex transmits disease and how to protect themselves. It also would teach them about human biology and birth control. This is the type of education that kids in most advanced countries in the world receive. Except this one.
Marcotty argues that the reason behind the STI epidemic is that kids don't have the right information and that accurate information will make a difference. I tend to agree with her.
But anyway, she ended her post wanting to know what other people think? So if you believe in comprehensive, responsible sex ed, please, go leave a comment on her blog and tell her why you think it's important!
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