NARAL Pro-Choice Montana: P.O. Box 279 Helena, MT  59624 406.443.0276 prochoice@mt.net

 

On the Issues: Sex Education

Recent surveys have shown several positive trends concerning teenage sexual activity and contraceptive use. Statistics demonstrate a stabilization in teen sexual activity, a decline in teen pregnancy, and an increase in contraceptive use at first intercourse. Yet the U.S. continues to face an adolescent reproductive health crisis. The rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections remain unacceptably high.

In searching for solutions to this crisis, some individuals and groups have focused on abstinence-only education. But while abstinence education is an essential part of sex education, it should not be the only lesson taught. Sex education should also teach teens how to protect themselves if they do become sexually active.

Rather than focusing on abstinence-only education, the U.S. must demonstrate a national commitment to remedying this adolescent crisis through a multi-pronged approach. Such an approach would invest in the development of young women by valuing their lives, inspiring them to seek better futures, enhancing self-sufficiency, preparing them for higher education, providing job training and ensuring access to health care.

We need to embark on a campaign to increase family planning funding, improve and expand access to contraceptives, and increase awareness of and access to emergency contraceptives. Finally, we must launch a national effort to require comprehensive sex education throughout our primary and secondary schools. This approach would protect teens by promoting abstinence while simultaneously providing teens with the contraceptive and STD/HIV prevention information they need to make responsible decisions if and when they become sexually active.

NARAL Pro-Choice Montana believes that denying Montana’s teens access to accurate information regarding sexuality, pregnancy prevention, and STD prevention is bad public health policy.  Continuing to increase funding to abstinence-only sex ed programs is endangering the youth of Montana.

For talking points on writing a letter to the editor advocating for comprehensive sex education, click here.

For more information on comprehensive sex education, click here.

2007 State Summit

Julianna Crowley - Membership and Outreach Coordinator NARAL Pro-Choice Montana and Anita Kuennen - Executive Director Blue Mountain Clinic recently attending the 2007 State Summit on Comprehensive Sex Education sponsored by Advocates for Youth, SIECUS, ACLU, and Planned Parenthood. Included among several activities, was the Congressional Day of Action when they had the opportunity to speak with both Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester, and Congressman Denny Rehberg's staff about the current activity surrounding the Community-Based Abstinence Education Program (CBAE), the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, and Title V funding for abstinence-only based curriculums.

Senator Max Baucus, Anita Kuennen - Execuative Director Blue Mountain Clinic, and Julianna Crowley - Membership and Outreach Coordinator NARAL Pro-Choice Montana at the Capitol Building outside the Senate Floor.

Teen Meetings

NARAL Pro-Choice Montana Foundation is committed to ensuring Montana teens are part of our efforts to advocate for sex education. 

NARAL Pro-choice Montana Foundation and Planned Parenthood hosted two teen meetings on sexual health, one in Bozeman and one in Helena. A total of 33 students participated. Teens were asked to share opinions on the sex ed they've received, what they want to receive, and to talk about what kinds of messages they're getting from peers, the media, their parents.

Highlights

• Most students (67%) believed that people should start learning about healthy sexuality in elementary school.
• Most students (88%) would prefer to receive sex education both in and outside of school.
• When asked if they would prefer to receive sex education classes in school from a teacher or other community member, only 6% of the students said “Teacher.” 49% would like to receive sex ed from other community members and a full 39% chose “both teachers and other community members.” This gives some indication that students would prefer to be taught by outsiders rather than or in addition to their teachers (community programs, etc.)
• Only 19% of students received information about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth in school yet 66% believe it is important to receive this information in school.
• Some of the top issues facing teens today: Fitting in, pressure to look good, sex issues, pressure to use alcohol, and figuring out your post-high plans.
• Only 9% of students indicated that they remember hearing about sex for the first time from their friends in high school (all were freshman). The rest (90%) heard about sex for the first time from friends before high school.
• 54% said they thought teens today are pressures by friends into engaging in sexual activity either “always” (15%) or “often” (39%).
• The majority (64%) cite their friends as their primary sexuality educator.
• 97% said that teens today are engaging in risky behaviors.

 

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