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Two sex education-related
bills died with the end of Florida's legislative session. The first measure
would have required the state Department of Education to offer family
planning and sex education services within four years. The second measure
would have required schools offering abstinence-only programs to post the
curricula on their Web sites.
The legislative flurry followed a recent Mathematica Policy Research study
on several abstinence-only interventions that found they were no better than
other approaches in reducing sex, with or without condoms. In six states,
policymakers turned down or announced plans to decline federal funding for
abstinence-only programs.
Locally, abstinence-only proponents would like to revise the abstinence-plus
sex education program taught to Hillsborough County youths. In addition to
abstinence, contraception is discussed in eighth-grade health classes.
"We promote abstinence," said Steve Vanoer, director of student health
programs for the county. "But if you do not abstain, here is what you need
to do to prevent diseases and unplanned pregnancies." One local
abstinence-only proponent, Terry Kemple, likens that approach to saying:
"Well, you should be abstinent, but since we know you're animals and are
going to have sex anyway, you should probably use a condom."
The
county receives $300,000 a year in federal Title V abstinence-only funds.
Few county dollars are spent on abstinence-only education, said Assistant
Superintendent Gwen Luney, though the Brandon Care Pregnancy Center
contracts with some schools to present an abstinence message.
At the state level, Planned Parenthood-Florida Director Adrienne Lazeroff
promised to continue working to help reintroduce in 2008 the bills that did
not pass this year.
St. Petersburg Times (05.18.07):: Andrew
Meacham |
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