Group pushing for better sex education
By: David Reynolds, Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: State & National
A pro-choice group supporting sex education reform bills in the N.C. General Assembly hosted an event in Raleigh on Tuesday night to raise awareness about issues such as sexual assault, women's health and prevention first education.
The group's latest event, featuring N.C. Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue speaking on a variety of women's health subjects, came as new legislation that would transform sex education in the state is in committee in both branches of the General Assembly.
The bills would change the policy of teaching abstinence only to a policy that would encourage abstinence but also inform students about current contraceptives and ways to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
Under the current law, individual counties can include information beyond abstinence-only education, but this practice is not widespread.
Rep. Maggie Jeffus, D-Guilford, a sponsor of the bill, said that while teen pregnancy rates have gone down since the enactment of an abstinence-only program in the early 1990s, she has received reports that abstinence-only education is not working.
"What we want to do is try and teach these young people is that while abstinence is preferred, there are other methods out there," she said. "All we're trying to do is educate them so they can make the proper decisions when the time comes."
Jeffus said that the only criticism of the bill has come from people who think it will promote sexual activity but that the amount of support far outweighs the opposition.
Melissa Reed, executive director for the National Abortion Rights Actions League Pro-Choice North Carolina, said her organization, which hosted the event, supports the bill's new instruction on contraception, the elimination of religious bias and a mandate that requires course materials to be factually accurate.
"The schools need to take a very proactive stance to protect the lives and well-being of our young people," she said. "An abstinence and sex education program will do that."
The group's latest event, featuring N.C. Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue speaking on a variety of women's health subjects, came as new legislation that would transform sex education in the state is in committee in both branches of the General Assembly.
The bills would change the policy of teaching abstinence only to a policy that would encourage abstinence but also inform students about current contraceptives and ways to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.
Under the current law, individual counties can include information beyond abstinence-only education, but this practice is not widespread.
Rep. Maggie Jeffus, D-Guilford, a sponsor of the bill, said that while teen pregnancy rates have gone down since the enactment of an abstinence-only program in the early 1990s, she has received reports that abstinence-only education is not working.
"What we want to do is try and teach these young people is that while abstinence is preferred, there are other methods out there," she said. "All we're trying to do is educate them so they can make the proper decisions when the time comes."
Jeffus said that the only criticism of the bill has come from people who think it will promote sexual activity but that the amount of support far outweighs the opposition.
Melissa Reed, executive director for the National Abortion Rights Actions League Pro-Choice North Carolina, said her organization, which hosted the event, supports the bill's new instruction on contraception, the elimination of religious bias and a mandate that requires course materials to be factually accurate.
"The schools need to take a very proactive stance to protect the lives and well-being of our young people," she said. "An abstinence and sex education program will do that."
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