Under a new law in Mississippi, school districts must decide by the end of June whether they'll teach an abstinence-only version of sex ed or whether they'll teach abstinence-plus, which includes information about contraception. Several schools around Jackson have chosen abstinence-only, to the dismay of one Democratic state lawmaker who hoped schools would start talking about the facts of life as it's actually lived. The state says 61 percent of its adolescents are sexually active, 15 points higher than the national average.
From Jackson's Clarion-Ledger:
Although she'd prefer all districts choose abstinence-plus, [Rep. Alyce Clarke] said: "We'll see how it goes and hope and pray that it does help."
AP Photo/Laura Tillman
Willie B. Gilmore, right, director of the Delta Health Partners Healthy Start Initiative, and social worker Debra McGee have been making the rounds of schools in Mississippi.
In related news today, the New York Times features the headline "Fighting US's Worst Teen Pregnancy Rate in Miss." A federally funded project out of Tougaloo College has been holding special classes in schools in the poorest parts of the state, trying to help very young mothers. Meet high school junior Donyell Hollins, a new mom:
"I'm going to talk to her more about it, inform her," Hollins said of her 5-month-old daughter. "'Cause I didn't have that talk with my mom. I had to learn on my own."
The next generation may have to learn on their own, just like she did. Mississippi's new law requires school boards to vote on which version of sex ed they'll teach, and then parents decide whether their kids can attend. Democrats in the House passed their version of the bill with an opt-out provision, but Republicans in the Senate wouldn't let that through.
(H/t Cristen Hemmins)
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abstinence-only v. hormones = Me v. Muhammad Ali
'nuff sed.
I make it 5-1 odds teen pregnancy rates increase under abstinence sex education. The more you tell teenagers what you don't want them to do, the more they do it.
alas for Rep. Clarke, prayer and its eternal failure is just what's gotten Mississippi into such a mess. I had to teach my classmates about what really happens with sex. We had "health class" but the teachers were so inept and so afraid, it was practically worthless. Happily, my mom was a nurse and let me read and ask about anything I wanted to know.
The blind fools are ignoring the needs of the young and naive. To let them learn their sexuality on their own without knowing there is a safe way to prevent major consequences is more of a sin than the sex they want to prevent by guilt.
They don't want to prevent it, they want to punish it. And you can't punish what doesn't happen.
When kids get frisky and get caught, you have a handle on them that lasts for life. By the time they do the necessary penance to be partially accepted back by the community, they're so invested in the "solution" that they'll be first in line to stone the next "sinner."
Better yet, for the rest of their lives you have a shame button to push.
Mississippi: last place for anything worthwhile, first place for anything horrible.
"Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!" - Phil Ochs
Watch it! That's my homestate you're talking about.
"We'll see how it goes and hope and pray that it does help."
Didn't they try that already, and weren't they "leading the nation in teen birth-rates"? Obviously they weren't "praying" hard enough....
"[Rep. Alyce Clarke] said: "We'll see how it goes and hope and pray that it does help."
She stole that line from the Catholic Church!
Hand the keys to the Mustang to the teenager with a learner's permit and tell them not to drive it over the weekend while mom and dad are away on a short vacation. Gee, that will work quite well, don't you think?
They need my boy Dan Savage to come down and talk to those kids! I've been watching his show with my teenagers and OMIGOD it's uncomfortable but he never shies away from any question...and what is AMAZING is the questions!!! These kids WANT TO KNOW...then of course, I have to talk to MY kids which is great...kinda...
It worked for Bristol Palin..... no, wait
My thoughts exactly. Naive and foolish, which is exemplified by all of the Pailins. I am waiting for the next one down the line (Willow?) to get preggers. You know it's going to happen.
Well, Alyce . . . go ahead and pray yer heart out. But miracles are rare in these instances. The most often heard prayer is something like, "Dear God Please Please Please don't let me be pregnant!" when it's just a tad too late for that.
Regarding sex, teens are just like toddlers - rushing headlong into a whole new world that's opened up to them, not having a clue about all the dangers and pitfalls that surround them. Parents who simply say no, no, no are extremely ineffective. Just ask all of them around you who are raising their grandchildren.
Not protecting a two-year-old is child neglect, but not protecting a teen from the negative consequences of sex is considered a parental right. Hogwash!