A bill about sex education passed the Senate in Illinois this week. And we must say, we're excited to see it a step closer to being law. The legislation requires any schools that teach sex education to include contraception in their courses. The bill says the curriculum must be “age appropriate” and “medically accurate” … Which means no more lying to kids about statistics to scare them into abstaining.
Some Illinois lawmakers who firmly believe that teaching kids about contraception will only encourage promiscuity are a touch on the annoyed side.
“Why do you want to duplicate a failed policy?” Sen. Dan Duffy (R) asked. “This policy would do the opposite of what we want—increase pregnancies and increase the frequency of STDs.”
Unfortunately, this law won't mandate sex ed in schools, and parents will still be allowed to have their children “opt out” of the course. But at least the courses in existence will be honest.
The Illinois House will get to vote on the bill next.
Some Illinois lawmakers who firmly believe that teaching kids about contraception will only encourage promiscuity are a touch on the annoyed side.
“Why do you want to duplicate a failed policy?” Sen. Dan Duffy (R) asked. “This policy would do the opposite of what we want—increase pregnancies and increase the frequency of STDs.”
Unfortunately, this law won't mandate sex ed in schools, and parents will still be allowed to have their children “opt out” of the course. But at least the courses in existence will be honest.
The Illinois House will get to vote on the bill next.
Way to go! Honesty is always the best policy. Abstinence only methods teach kids that sex is wrong and dirty which I feel does way more emotional damage that letting them know about condoms. Give kids all the facts and let them know how to help protect themselves against pregnancy and STDs.
Thank you! Honesty and answering questions in its entirety is the best way to go. I know when I was a kid and adults would leave things out or say something that was a myth...I didn't trust them to tell me anything else. Great article. Great perspective.
I hope this becomes law soon. (I live in Illinois.) Odd that in Illinois parents can opt their kids out of sex ed, but if you try to opt out of DARE (which has been proven to not prevent drug use and may actually increase it) you may have DCFS show up at your door. The last two years, I didn't even get a permission slip for DARE, but got multiple papers for the sad "class" that at this moment (before this law passes) passes for "sex ed."
It appears to me that the very parents who will opt out are the ones who not only refuse to be honest with their kids about sex, but end up being grandparents while still in their 30s, with teen kids becoming parents way too soon. I've seen it too many times for it to be coincidence.
Thanks for this, Rayne.