Informed decisions / LJWorld.com

Letters to the Editor

February 24, 2006

To the editor:

In July, our state school board allowed for the mandate (est. 1987) for age-appropriate comprehensive sex education to expire.

Since that moment, Kansans for Responsible Sex Ed has been fighting against and inevitably delaying the opt-in policies that were in consideration at the school board.

Finally, our coalition drew up a bill that would reinstate the prior mandate, placing responsibility in our children's hands. The Abstinence Plus Education Act reinstates age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education in Kansas schools, emphasizing the benefits of abstinence, while including information on HIV/AIDs and preventing unintended pregnancies. This act maintains local control over curriculum and ensures that all parents have the opportunity to opt their child out (a-plus4kansas.org).

Annually, over 5,000 Kansas teens get pregnant and 7,000 get a sexually transmitted infection (Planned Parenthood of Kansas Mid-Missouri).

By not providing medically accurate information in addition to pushing abstinence, we are showing doubt in our children's ability to make moral, responsible decisions. Studies actually show that teens who receive comprehensive sex education wait longer and increase the proper use of contraceptives in order to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (Alan Guttmacher Institute).

Let us all work on reducing the need for abortions by providing preventative, comprehensive sex education. The only way we are going to be able to prevent teen pregnancy is by giving teens the facts and good guidance, at home and in school, about making sexual decisions.

Joy Lawson,

Lawrence