Senator Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) wants local schools to teach a more comprehensive based sex education program.

"We need comprehensive sex education, which includes abstinence," said Deutch. "We know the sure form way to prevent pregnancy is by not having sex, but we need to ensure that our schools have comprehensive, medically accurate and age appropriate scientifically based information to prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancy as well.”

Deutch added, “We need comprehensive sex education with abstinence programming."

'Not Abstinence Only'

However, Palm Beach County School District spokesman Nat Harrington says Palm Beach County schools offer an abstinence-based program. But Harrington is quick to add that the sex education program is "not abstinence only."

"Our sex education program is not abstinence only. It's an abstinence based program. We do give our students contraceptive information," said Harrington.

Healthy Teens

However, Senator Deutch is pushing for more. Last year, he sponsored the Florida Healthy Teens Act, which passed its first Committee, Pre K-12 Education. But, the legislation did not receive a hearing this year.

Deutch said he sponsored the bill because "Florida ranks six in unwanted pregnancy nationally and second in terms of rates of HIV/AIDS."
Under the Florida Healthy Teens Act, local schools would follow the guidelines outlined in the Act, which includes providing comprehensive information such as:

•    Helping young people gain knowledge about the physical, biological and hormonal changes of adolescence and maturation,
•    Emphasizing the value of abstinence while not ignoring those adolescents who have had sexual intercourse
•    Providing information on the health benefits and side effects of all contraceptives
•    Helping young people gain knowledge about the specific involvement and responsibilities of sexual decision making for both genders,” among other information. Some of this information would begin in the sixth grade, Deutch said.

If approved, the Act would be implemented accordingly through the School District. However, parents could opt out of having their teenager be a part of the program, according to the Act.   

Deutch urges the importance of passing the Act due to teen pregnancies and STDs.

"When we are seeing studies that show one in four teenage girls have a Sexually Transmitted Disease, we cannot ignore that our kids need to be taught medically accurate information so they can keep themselves healthy," said Senator Deutch.

‘Wake Up Call’

Harrington adds that the District’s sex education program has recently undergone revisions and has provided more information to younger ages, including a youth risk behavior survey, which provides school officials with a look into what age and what risky behaviors students are experimenting with.

"It has been a wake up call to all of us," said Harrington, adding, "And it provides school officials with information on who they should give more information to on topics such as, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and sex."

Boca Raton News

Nicol Jenkins