Remember sex ed classes in school?
Teens today still aren't getting the full story. Instead, they're being misled by ideological politicians who take a "see no evil" abstinence-only approach over potentially life-saving guidance on contraceptives.
This is ridiculous. Even worse, it's dangerous. Our young people deserve medically-accurate, age-appropriate sex education. And the Florida Healthy Teens Act will guarantee just that in our public schools.
But apparently some Florida lawmakers are in the dark themselves when it comes to sex ed. They worked until the end of the legislative session to defend abstinence-only education and defeat this commonsense bill.
If they truly think teens don’t need better sex ed, then clearly, Florida lawmakers haven’t done their homework on teen pregnancy and STD rates. Sign our open letter - our legislators need to make the grade and pass the Healthy Teens Act. While you’re at it, why not take the test yourself and quiz your friends?
Kevin Freking
The Associated Press, June 24. 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Skeptical states are shoving aside millions of federal dollars for abstinence education, walking away from the program the Bush administration touts for slowing teen sexual activity. Barely half the states are still in, and two more say they are leaving.
For a full copy of this report, send a request to info@healthyteensflorida.org
NEWS RELEASE
TCPalm.com - Florida's Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches, June 1, 2008
Cara Fitzpatrick
Palm Beach Post, May 14, 2008
Cara Fitpatrick
Palm Beach Post , May 13, 2008
(Washington, DC) - Hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in the seventh annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 7, 2008. The purpose of the National Day is to focus the attention of teens on the importance of avoiding too-early pregnancy and parenthood through an interactive online quiz.
Harold Valentin, The Tampa Tribune
April 30, 2008
FOREST HILLS - Not only is lack of sex education a problem for high school students in Hillsborough County, said members of Teen Source Theatre, but also misinformation.
Source teens say a few popular myths include: Only gay people can get AIDS; pregnancy can be prevented if sex occurs in a swimming pool; and condoms don't work.
Will Dunham, Reuters
April 24, 2008
Programs teaching U.S. schoolchildren to abstain from sex have not cut
teen pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases or delayed the age at
which sex begins, health groups told Congress on Wednesday.
The Bush administration, however, voiced continuing support for such programs during a hearing before a House of Representatives panel even as many Democrats called for cutting off federal money for so-called abstinence-only instruction.
As schools grow and STD rates rise, some state lawmakers want contraception taught in 6th grade.
Claudia Zequeira, Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer
April 14, 2008
In theory, Florida's schools are supposed to teach sex education by promoting abstinence as the way to avoid pregnancy and disease.
But the reality of sex ed in Florida varies from school district to school district.
In Orange County, for example, schools teach students about condoms and birth-control pills.
