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Rock Talk, Vol. IX
The results are in and Texas tops the charts in births to girls aged 15 - 19. The Anne E. Casey Foundation publishes KIDS COUNT study annually but these results are based on figures from 2004.
State law requires that abstinence be emphasized during sex education classes in schools. However, local jurisdictions are able to plot their own course with delivery method (of the class, not the babies) and amount of information conveyed. The survey results indicate that revisions in the plan are required.
How can sex education programs compete with the images and lifestyles portrayed on MTV, "reality" shows and movies? Perhaps the state could sanction a video along the lines of the one in The Girl Next Door.
The solution to ending unplanned, or premature pregnancy, is for parents to start sex education in the home at an earlier age (think middle school) instead of when their kids are "old enough." Imagine that: parenting in the home instead of schools increasing in loco parentis, substitute parenting. Sadly this approach seems farther from Texas and closer to Utopia.
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Photo: flickr user zoomar.
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Nice visual to go along with this story, Jason.
Depressing issues require entertaining photos.
And yet more funding was just approved for abstinence only education.
Yeah, because that's totally working.
"Imagine that: parenting in the home instead of schools increasing in loco parentis, substitute parenting. Sadly this approach seems farther from Texas and closer to Utopia."
Schools exist to teach kids things that parents can't or won't. The solution to teen pregnancy, among other things, is more education, not less. It would be great if all parents gave their pubescent kids education on how to avoid pregnancy, diseases, etc, but that is not happening and isn't likely to suddenly start happening.
Yeah, schools should teach things that parents can't like Physics, Art History & Archery. Parents clearly know about sex. That's how they got to be parents.
Utopia would be having schools' primary focus be academics. Reality is that too many parents place too much on the shoulders of educators.
Thanks for the comment, heyzeus.
Just my opinion, but you can increase the teaching of sex education all you want in the schools and it still won't make a difference. It all comes down to values, culture, and self-respect/self esteem -- which all stem from the environment the kid grows up in (family and other influences).
On the educators? I'd say that the majority of American parents these days are relying on television to teach their kids.
Yes, It's Readin', Ritin' and Rythmatic.... not Readin', Ritin' and (W)Rap that Rascal.
I don't want to light a fire here, but it would be interesting to compare that data to abortion statistics (what little is available.) Are we number one in teen pregnancies as well as teen births?
Stereotypically, Texas is very pro-life. Whether that holds to real-life situations, I have no idea, but if it did, that could account for the proportionally higher numbers of teen births.
(That is not to say that parenting isn't an issue. I'm always in favor of good parenting.)
-Jules
Rythmatic? They teach the rhythm method in schools?
They teach rhythm in school if you take band!
They teach the rhythm method in Catholic schools. And the "pray your ever-lovin' ass off" method. Which probably contributes to the Texas statistic, actually.
Oh please, they don't teach the rhythm method anywhere. I went to Catholic schools and I'm not pregnant.