I imagine Monday’s sex education headline in the News & Observer attracted the attention of many of you — it certainly caught my eye. Included in the article were the results of a 2003 survey administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), assessing parental attitudes on sex education in our public schools.
According to the article, “Supporters of comprehensive sex education will push the State Board of Education this year to broaden the sex-ed curriculum beyond its ‘abstinence-until-marriage’ core.”
North Carolina schools have been teaching the abstinence-until-marriage message since 1995, when legislation specifying this curriculum was enacted by the state. Courses emphasize that a mutually faithful, monogamous, heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding out-of-wedlock pregnancy and STDs, including HIV/AIDS. State law does allow schools to expand on this message, but they must first hold public hearings. Since the law passed, numerous legislative attempts have sought both to remove the word “marriage” and to broaden the curriculum. Every year, attempts have failed. Nevertheless, opponents of the abstinence-until-marriage curriculum are now attempting to pressure the State Board to somehow circumvent existing law.
As a former member of the Mecklenburg County task force determining guidelines for Family Living, Ethical Behavior, and Human Sexuality curricula, I have a vested interest in the outcome of this debate. I also understand that there are stark differences between the philosophies of a “comprehensive” curriculum and. an “abstinence-until-marriage” message. While supporters of both views tout the word “abstinence,” a comprehensive approach portrays abstinence as one of many forms of contraception.
Interestingly, this 2003 telephone survey of parents — not state data on teen pregnancy –is providing the impetus for this redirection. Yet, data showing trends in adolescent pregnancy in North Carolina reveal substantial improvements. Over the past 25 years, the number of teen pregnancies has declined significantly, from 26,339 in 1978 to 17,883 in 2003. Evaluating the data since 1995 (the year the abstinence program began) reveals a major drop in teen pregnancies — from 22,262 in 1995 to 17,883 in 2003 — a reduction of close to 20%.
While our current curriculum may need to be refined, it should not fall prey to the designs of a politically correct and liberal elite. Our state, like many others around the country, is caught in the cross-hairs of an ongoing national debate over what to teach kids about sex. In the final analysis, who will craft the message? Please make sure that your voice is heard. Contact the State Board of Education and tell them where you stand on this issue.
You can follow the progress of this story, as well as all of the latest education news, by visiting the Alliance online. Following education issues in North Carolina must be easy, effective and quick for people with busy lives. The “Headlines” section of our home page is updated daily with articles from every major newspaper in our state. Click on “Headlines”, located in the left column of the site, to view previously posted news stories. At the Alliance, we are committed to keeping you informed and empowered as we join together working to improve education for the children of North Carolina.