Teaching Abstinence in Sex Education

States have left the sex education aspect of health education up to local districts in the same manner that the federal government has left it up to the larger community to decide what constitutes pornography. In essence, states have simply followed the lead of the Supreme Court which has left it up to local communities to decide for themselves what is decent and what is not. In a similar fashion, school boards have the power to determine whether or not to offer sex education in local districts. Given that most school boards are exceedingly conservative, sex education is looked upon as a Pandora's Box of trouble for school board incumbents who want a smooth tenure before entering into more powerful political office.

It is into this dangerous fray that educational leaders must tread, often without the support of the nine out of ten citizens who say they are in favor of sex educat

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hose choices to begin with. Elders talked about the necessity of family planning; the conservatives countered with the argument that teens should not be having families. Add to these ongoing arguments the threat of AIDS, and it is not difficult to understand how the teaching of abstinence won the day. A look at California's Education Code (1987-1988) with regard to the content of sex education includes this provision: Under existing law, the governing board of a public elementary or secondary school may include sex education in its curriculum but may not require pupils to attend any class which human reproductive organs and their functions and processes are described, illustrated, or discussed. [State Bill 2394] would require all ... classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual intercourse to emphasize that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only protection that is 100% effective against unwanted teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and AIDS when transmitted sexually ... Sex education programs which do not emphasize sexual abstinence are inconsistent with society's concern for reducing unwanted teenage pregnancy, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. (Ch. 1337, p. 3399-3400) As a trend
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Approximate Word count = 2832
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)

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