To the law-makers of Arizona,

As an Arizona high school student, I am writing to you with concern the ineffectiveness of the abstinence-only sex education program in our state. I encourage you to implement a holistic, comprehensive sex education program instead.  

            The current abstinence-only curriculum does not work because it is idealistic not realistic, it is inaccurate and unrepresentative, comprehensive sex education will lead to less teen pregnancy, and it will provide all kinds of youth with accurate information.

According to the Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (ReCAPP), 47% of high school age teen are having sex regardless of sex education. Since almost half of teens are having sex anyway, they need to know how best to do it safely. Schools must take a realistic approach. Currently, the abstinence only based education is idealistic, hoping that students will follow the advice and not have sex, but for those who are having sex, they should be educated on how to do so safely. Do not forget that comprehensive sex education does stress that abstinence is the best way to prevent STIs and unwanted pregnancy, but comprehensive sex education also covers alternative ways to have safe sex, including the use of condoms, female contraception, making informed decisions about relationships, promotes communication between the parent and child, abstinence, and more. (ReCAPP http://recapp.etr.org).

Comprehensive sex education will provide accurate information to the youth. According to a report by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, more than 80% of abstinence only programs provided inaccurate information. (NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts http://www.prochoicemass.org). Students deserve accurate information in order to make wise decisions and to be prepared for if they choose to become sexually active. If they are given false information, they will not make informed decisions and will not be prepared. They will not know how to treat themselves or each other which is a dangerous way to live as a teenager. It is important to give correct information to youth when teaching about sex education.

In writings by Pamela Kohler in 2008, Kohler compared the rates of teen pregnancy between youth with no formal sex education, students with abstinence only sex education, and students with comprehensive sex education. She found that states with comprehensive sex education programs have a 50% lower rate of teen pregnancy than states associated with abstinence only. (http://www.siecus.org).

For some kids, the sex education they get from their school is the only information they get, so it is important for them to get the whole story. It is important for youth to receive formal sex education. 70% of male and 78% of female adolescents reported to Guttmacher Institute to having talked with their parents about sex education. It is important for youth to talk to their parents, but what is taught and discussed at home cannot be controlled. Even if youth does talk to their parents, the information may be inaccurate or incomplete. Since so few adolescents have discussed topics of sexual health, it needs to be taught effectively in schools. (Guttmacher Institute https://www.guttmacher.org).

According to Guttmacher Institute, more than 80% of adolescents had received education on STDs and HIV while 55% of males and 60% of females had received formal education on methods of birth control. Teens require more education than just the scare tactics of using HIV to prevent them from having sex. They need to be informed about how to safely have sex. Not only being educated on female birth control option, but Guttmacher Institute writes that only 50% of females and 55% of males were formally instructed on how to use a condom. (Guttmacher Institute https://www.guttmacher.org).

Living in the media driven world that we do, the access to information, accurate and inaccurate, is very easy. Based on data collected at Guttmacher Institute, more than half of students in 7th-12th grade reported to have used the internet to research issues affecting them or someone they know. Since information is so easy to post online, the information that they come across can be inaccurate. If schools teach them, they will receive correct information. (Guttmacher Institute https://www.guttmacher.org).

The current abstinence only sex education in not inclusive to all youth specifically those included in the LGBTQ+ community. It does not recognize any identities other than those who are straight and cis-gender. Comprehensive sex education is LGBTQ-inclusive, so it helps youth understand those of an identity different from their own and teaches kids of all identities about sexual health. A report from the Gay, Lesbian, Straight education network (GLSEN) found that less than 5% of youth had taken a health class that included positive mentions of LGBT related issues. The focus of abstinence only sex education is on heterosexual couples and teen pregnancy in those heterosexual relationships. By learning about LGBTQ+ issues, not only do youth in the community feel included, represented, and educated, but it also promotes acceptance in schools and builds open-mindedness in the youth. (Human Rights Campaign http://www.hrc.org).

By teaching youth how to safely handle sex, teachers and parents are showing their children respect and the youth’s ability to make an informed decision. It creates trust between the youth and the adult, both because the youth feels respected and valued and because the adult will be able to trust the adolescent to make a smart and informed decision on their own.

One alternative that I believe to be a good option is the Our Whole Lives (OWL) programs. There are 4 programs: one for Kindergarten and 1st grade, one for 4th–6th grades, one for 7th–9th grades, and one for 10th–12th grades. The OWL program provides a holistic sex education that included topics of relationships, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual health. In each grade, the information presented is appropriate to the age and development levels of the youth. It focuses on the values of sexual health, self-worth, responsibility, and inclusivity. The program takes a social justice approach and works to build and strong and supportive peer support system. Although the program was started by the Unitarian Universalist Association, the program does not impose the faith on anyone nor does it attempted to recruit people. Currently the program is used by some private and charter school, but have yet to be adopted by public schools. As a matter of fact, my school has just started the program. There is also a parent class option so parents of students know what is being covered in the program. (Unitarian Universalist Association http://www.uua.org/re/owl).

I hope you consider my proposal and found the opinion of a high school teen educational.

Sincerely,

Emma Sar, Valley 10th grader