Thursday, February 17, 2005
Speaking of Children Choosing What to Believe, Unsurprisingly, They Want to Learn About Contraception
Matt Franck of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that Missouri "Lawmakers got an earful from high school students Wednesday as they opened debate on a bill that would allow public schools in Missouri to teach sex education without mentioning contraception. The legislation by Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon, would eliminate a statute requiring that sex education classes and course materials discuss the benefits and side effects of condoms and other forms of contraception.
"At a House Education Committee hearing, the bill pitted advocates of abstinence-only sex education against those in favor of offering a broader range of information. And most of that testimony was offered by a handful of teens, the majority of whom told lawmakers that they want instruction on contraception.
"'To teach abstinence only is insulting to our intelligence,' said Montana Mallett, 18, a recent graduate of Webster Groves High School. 'You don't have to hand out condoms. Just teach them what's out there.'"
"At a House Education Committee hearing, the bill pitted advocates of abstinence-only sex education against those in favor of offering a broader range of information. And most of that testimony was offered by a handful of teens, the majority of whom told lawmakers that they want instruction on contraception.
"'To teach abstinence only is insulting to our intelligence,' said Montana Mallett, 18, a recent graduate of Webster Groves High School. 'You don't have to hand out condoms. Just teach them what's out there.'"
