A Common Sense Approach To Sex Education

Thursday, March 1, 2001

ws vi |TT thisOM is ha in fe“ iL ‘eX & vie his case ex ihe |o] oo ach te nt ie +and sie aetn 2 On the 28. the peak ay this vr on “nrage anh one is ne “Ne = tt a Tr OF EDUCATION vine => is A Common Sense“Approach To Sex Education (NAPSA)—In a new report on sexuality, the nation’s top doctor, Surgeon General David Satcher, calls on parents and teachers to work together to provide young people with responsible and healthy sexuality education in Overwhelming Majority of Parents Support Providing Young People with Sex Education in High School order to reduce unintended preg- nancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The report states that while sex education should stress abstinence, courses must also provide med- ically accurate information about contraception if parents and schools are to protect the sexual health of students. Dr. Satchercalls for a “mature and thoughtful dis- cussion about sexuality” using the “best available science and best practice models.” James Wagoner, President of Advocates for Youth, a non-profit organization working to prevent teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and sex- ually transmitted infection among young people in the U.S. and internationally, praised the report for stressing the importantrole of par- ents and bringing some common sense to a controversial topic. “The Surgeon General’s report highlights the critical link between the role of parents and the role of schools in providing young people with sexuality education that includes values and medically accurate information,” said Wagoner. “This report sends a clear message to politicians: follow the research, support what works and do not invest millions of United States taxpayer dollars in unproven abstinence-only-until marriage programs that censor information about contraception.” With this report, the Surgeon General has addedhis prestigious voice to the growing numberof medical institutions that have called for a more comprehensive approach to sexuality education. ae 82% of American parents supportall aspects of sex ed being taught including birth controland safer sex | 12% of American parents support basic sex ed being taught 6% of American parents don't know/think sex ed should be taught Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, 2000 @Q In the last two years, the Institute of Medicine, the American Medical Association, American Academyof Pediatrics and the White House Office of National AIDS Policy have all issued reports highlighting the scientific research in support of education that includes information about both abstinence and contraception. “Parents understand that sexuality is not an either/or question,” said Wagoner. “Young people need information about abstinence and contraception to be healthy in today’s world.” For more information, visit www.advocatesforyouth.org.

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