Sex Ed Reform

Sex Education Reform: 

Sex Education Reform What’s the controversy and what can AMSA do?

Why is Sex Ed important? : 

Why is Sex Ed important? Most high schools students have had sex: 50% of high school students have had sex, 65% of high school seniors, and 20% of students have engaged in sexual intercourse with 4 or more partners during their life time (CDC, 2000a; Kann et al., 2000)

Why is Sex Ed important: 

Why is Sex Ed important And though most sex ed classes are very brief (often lasting only one or two classroom periods), young teens, ages 13-17, rank their sex education class as second only to their parents as an information source, and above such other sources as peers and the media (Witt, NASBE, Autumn 2002).

What’s the controversy? : 

What’s the controversy? School based sex ed programs are generally of two types: abstinence-only programs that emphasize sexual abstinence as the most appropriate choice for young people; and sexuality and STD/HIV education programs that also cover abstinence but, in addition, include condoms and other methods of contraception to provide protection against STDs or pregnancy (comprehensive sex education).

What’s the controversy?: 

What’s the controversy? Our government has traditionally funded comprehensive sex education programs But increasingly abstinence- only education has gained strength. In 1996, the Welfare Reform Bill (i.e. TANF) provided $250 million in federal funds to states over a 5- year period to support abstinence- only programs In 2003, the Bush Administration funded abstinence-only ed at $135 million/year .

What Sex Ed works? : 

What Sex Ed works? Abstinence- only is not supported by data: The former Surgeon General states, 'To date, there are only a few published evaluations of abstinence-only programs (Christopher and Roosa, 1990; St Pierre et al, 1995; Kirby et al, 1997; Kirby, 2001). Due to this limited number of studies it is too early to draw definite conclusions about this approach. More research is clearly needed.' (The Surgeon General’s Call to Action, July 9, 2001)

What Sex Ed Works?: 

What Sex Ed Works? But there is a vast amount of data that indicates that teaching comprehensive sex education alters the behavior of adolescents: increasing condom and contraception use of already sexually active adolescents. (Kirby et al, 1991; Rotheram-Borus et al, 1991; Jemmott et al, 1992; Walter and Vaughn, 1993; Magura et al, 1994; Main et al, 1994; St Lawrence et al, 1995; Hubbard et al, 1998; Jemmott et al, 1998; Coyle et al, 1999)

What YOUR chapter can do to get involved! : 

What YOUR chapter can do to get involved! Sex Ed yourself – check out: http://www.amsa.org/hp/sexed.cfm 2. 'Adopt a School': Working with Teachers – This project is meant to better educate teachers (teaching them a brief Sex 101) and to make teachers more comfortable teaching health/ sex education to their students.

Sex Ed Yourself : 

Sex Ed Yourself Interact with web links and on-line, interactive, and educational presentations addressing the controversy surrounding sex education. The site will also address state- by- state what is allowed to be taught in sex education classrooms.

“Adopt a School” Working with Teachers. : 

'Adopt a School' Working with Teachers. Pick a local elementary school you would like to work with and then to contact the school. Why elementary schools? The crux of the controversy surrounding sex education is the teaching of condoms Elementary schools are less controversial: most agree that children in elementary school should not be taught about condom use.

“Adopt a School” Working with Teachers.: 

'Adopt a School' Working with Teachers. How do I use 'Adopt a School'? 1. Contact Alex Blum alexbblum@yahoo.com (Sex Ed coordinator for AMSA) who will give you all the supplies and instructions on how to work with teachers to improve their knowledge of sex education. 2. Contact a local elementary school: Please contact a local elementary school on your own Coming Soon: A comprehensive list of names of local superintendent who can easily identify elementary school’ near your medical school. 3. Schedule a time to meet with elementary school teachers.