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Abstinence-plus overtakes abstinence-only education

Written by Catherine Swift, Editor-in-Chief

Comprehensive or abstinence only? The debate over what should and should not be taught about sexuality and reproduction in America’s public schools is one of the most sensitive controversies in education.

In the late 1990s, the federal government began funding absitinence-only sex education with $1.5 billion dollars in grants. However, there is evidence that suggests this expenditure was largely ineffective.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, as of Feb. 2012 there were no studies showing that abstinence-only education decreases or delays teenage sexual activity. In fact, studies show that it has possibly deterred teens from using contraceptives, leading to an increased risk of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Because of these facts, more and more states have been making the switch to comprehensive education. Although the specifics of the curricula, also known as “abstinence-plus,” differ from state to state, generally this means that contraceptives are covered to some extent.

Some include instruction on how to use condoms but many do not, and most still stress abstinence. North Carolina has partially made this transition and includes a brief presentation on several forms of contraception in addition to reproductive systems, healthy relationships, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and abstinence.

Although this type of sex education is typically termed “comprehensive,” there are a number of topics that it does not cover in all states.

North Carolina’s curriculum, for instance, does not provide information on abortion. Women’s health and physical education teacher Allyson Corhn encourages discussion in her class, but she must be careful in responding to questions that the approved sex education curriculum does not allow her to address.

“I’ll answer every question that I can, but if there’s something where I’m questioning whether or not I should say that or talk about that, I always say, ‘You’re better off talking to mom or dad.’ I just have to be really careful,” Corhn said. “It’s a fine line, and honestly I wish it could just be open conversation, and if you had a question, you could come talk to me about it, but it is what it is now, and I’ve got to follow the rules.”

In addition to covering contraception, comprehensive sex education also differs from most abstinence-only programs by acknowledging the fact that a large percentage of teenagers do engage in sexual activity. Abstinence-only programs start with the assumption that teenagers are waiting until marriage.

In fact, the Guttmacher Institute reports that approximately 70 percent of American teenagers have had sexual intercourse by the age of 19. This number is different in various regions of the country; for instance, the percentage of sexually active teens in WNC lies at 47.6. North Carolina’s curriculum, like many other states’, addresses this reality by encouraging healthy relationships and helping students develop strategies to resist pressures.

“I use being a younger teacher to my advantage. I don’t sugar-coat things, and I tell them that it wasn’t that long ago since I was in their shoes,” Corhn said. “I knew exactly what went on when I was in high school, and it wasn’t that long ago. We talk about pressures — pressures from boys, pressures at parties, even drinking and drugs. We talk about tendencies and what kind of stuff goes on at school, so I use being closer in age so that a lot of the kids feel comfortable with talking to me about stuff.”

Despite the precautions taken to keep sex education school-appropriate, students and their parents sometimes elect to opt out of the class or at least portions of it.

“I think either the child doesn’t feel comfortable talking about it or the parent would rather be the one educating their child about that, and that’s fine, that’s a parenting decision,” Corhn said. “I think the more awareness kids have about things the more they know about the situations they’re getting into.”

While many debate what should be taught in sex education, some parents and organizations believe it should not be taught at all in school. The Guttmacher Institute reports that only 21 states and the District of Columbia mandate that public schools provide sex education. Corhn, however, feels that it’s valuable.

“I think the more open we are and the more we talk about it, the more comfortable kids feel,” she said. “I think it gives them the strength and the power to say, ‘Wait a minute. I learned what can happen if I engage in that behavior, and I’m not ready for that.’ If I’ve touched a few kids like that to where they made those decisions, then I think I’ve done my job.”

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