In Kentucky, sex education is required to be taught in public schools. Students are taught that abstinence is the expected norm for teens. The curriculum taught in public schools does not seem to align with societal trends. With issues rising containing evolving abortion laws, LGBTQ rights, and more, the mandatory curiculum does not include units on education over some topics students are interested in today.
“We understand the basics, like if you have sex you get pregnant, and the biological concept, like sperm and egg, but what we learn in highschool is not new information,” said Lillian Groves, a junior at BGHS.
“Health is the most important aspect of education. I strive to teach the students about gathering information and health literacy because the topics are always changing and evolving. Students will have to be an advocate for their health and take charge with good decisions that will lead to a healthier lifestyle,” said Lisa Correa, the health and physical education teacher at BGHS.
The House cleared a bill in Janurary, 2018 that requires sex education to be taught with an abstinence unit. “It can be tough to get funding for such research, but thanks to the research that has been conducted — such as this 2014 study showing that abstinence-based sex-ed has been ineffective in preventing teen pregnancy, and may actually contribute to higher rates of teen pregnancy — more and more federal funding has been funneled toward evidence-based sex-ed over the years, and school districts are following suit,” said reporter Stephany Auteri in an article for The Week.
Sara Choate, a sex education teacher in Lousivlle, spoke against the bill when it was presented. She, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, said, “A majority of high school students already have had sex by their senior year and many children have been subject to sexual abuse...Lecturing them to abstain from sex does not provide the help or information they need,”
Asend, a company that strives to lead conversation over topics involving youth sex relationships, ran a study in 2018 asking teens about the presure they undergo to have sex. The results conducted that 40% of teenagers feel presured by their sex education classes to perform sexual intercourse, and 32% feel more pressure from their partner.
“I believe that talking with teens and educating them about the risks and consequences of certain actions is important. The Kentucky standards do emphasize abstinence. It is a tough subject, but I believe it is a necessary part of the curriculum,” said Correa.
“I feel like to have a better understanding you would have to ask peers or look information up online and teach yourself because what we learned wasn’t ‘sex educaton,’ but ‘sex prevention,’” added Lillian.
Despite the curriculum nationwide mandating that schools must give clear, age-appropriate guidance for students, the content is not what students consider prevention, even if state legislatures feel the abstinence curriculum is effective for students in high school.
“We understand the basics, like if you have sex you get pregnant, and the biological concept, like sperm and egg, but what we learn in highschool is not new information,” said Lillian Groves, a junior at BGHS.
“Health is the most important aspect of education. I strive to teach the students about gathering information and health literacy because the topics are always changing and evolving. Students will have to be an advocate for their health and take charge with good decisions that will lead to a healthier lifestyle,” said Lisa Correa, the health and physical education teacher at BGHS.
The House cleared a bill in Janurary, 2018 that requires sex education to be taught with an abstinence unit. “It can be tough to get funding for such research, but thanks to the research that has been conducted — such as this 2014 study showing that abstinence-based sex-ed has been ineffective in preventing teen pregnancy, and may actually contribute to higher rates of teen pregnancy — more and more federal funding has been funneled toward evidence-based sex-ed over the years, and school districts are following suit,” said reporter Stephany Auteri in an article for The Week.
Sara Choate, a sex education teacher in Lousivlle, spoke against the bill when it was presented. She, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, said, “A majority of high school students already have had sex by their senior year and many children have been subject to sexual abuse...Lecturing them to abstain from sex does not provide the help or information they need,”
Asend, a company that strives to lead conversation over topics involving youth sex relationships, ran a study in 2018 asking teens about the presure they undergo to have sex. The results conducted that 40% of teenagers feel presured by their sex education classes to perform sexual intercourse, and 32% feel more pressure from their partner.
“I believe that talking with teens and educating them about the risks and consequences of certain actions is important. The Kentucky standards do emphasize abstinence. It is a tough subject, but I believe it is a necessary part of the curriculum,” said Correa.
“I feel like to have a better understanding you would have to ask peers or look information up online and teach yourself because what we learned wasn’t ‘sex educaton,’ but ‘sex prevention,’” added Lillian.
Despite the curriculum nationwide mandating that schools must give clear, age-appropriate guidance for students, the content is not what students consider prevention, even if state legislatures feel the abstinence curriculum is effective for students in high school.
By Hayley Hamilton