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If you are anything like me, you are aching – almost pining away – for the comforting sounds of negative, political campaign commercials invading the newest episode of “The Bachelorette.”
And if you are anything like me, you would be more than willing to volunteer some time writing ads for whatever Democratic candidate gets the privilege of going head to head with President George Bush. The challenge is choosing where to start – what issue to explore.
Some Bush supporters may say that I will be singing a different tune when gas prices are 19 cents a gallon. However, as we watch oil prices fall, if another Bush program goes through, we will be watching sexually transmitted disease rates climb.
After the Bush administration got comfortable in the White House it put forth legislation that would only provide funding to school sexual education programs if they taught an abstinence-only curriculum.
“Are George Bush’s policies killing Texas children?” asks a Web site created by the Religious Freedom and First Amendment Coalitions. While the word “killing” may be a bit extreme, creating serious health risks for children is not far from the truth.
Despite the fact that no solid evidence exists to prove the effectiveness of abstinence-only sexual education programs, Texas has continued with this policy. Research actually shows – that Texas teenagers are not listening to the advice of their teachers. The state rates second, behind Mississippi, in teenage pregnancy rates, ages 15 to 17, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which analyzes federal statistics.
“I don’t think there’s any data that shows the abstinence education programs are working at all,” Peggy Romberg, director of the Texas Family Planning Association, said. “There are concerns that no one’s evaluating them to see if they do work, which is the normal thing for any federal or state program.”
It’s pretty clear that these teens have not been convinced that waiting until marriage is the way to go. If I was a parent with a grip on reality, I would want to be sure my child was armed with the information needed to protect themselves if they choose to have sex.
Yet Texas continues with its sex education policy, and health problems are rising. Texas has the fourth highest AIDS rate in the nation and chlamydia and gonorrhea rates are also topping the rest of the country, according to Texas Department of Health statistics.
These statistics are startling, and many other states face similar problems.
Society pushes kids today to grow up faster and to act like adults at younger ages. This may be considered a problem by many, but 150 years ago people were getting married and having children in their teens.
As far as sex education is concerned, maybe school officials should consider treating their students like adults. Supplementing abstinence education with information on contraceptive choices and the risks of STDs will do nothing more than arm teens with the information they need to protect themselves and make informed choices about their bodies.
STDs and pregnancy are an epidemic among young people. Changes obviously need to be made. The fact is teenagers are having sex. The challenge is before parents, teachers and the president to learn how to talk about it.
Jennifer Gundersen is a senior journalism major.
