Proposed Texas House bill would make changes in sex education

by Vince Leibowitz of Capitol Annex

A bill by State Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) would remove much of the controversial and unsound language from the Texas Education Code that places abstinence education above responsible instruction about sex education and sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, the bill would add language to the education code that would require that “age appropriate” health education curriculum related to sex is scientifically and medically sound.

Among other things, the bill, HB 741, would dump language requiring that Texas public schools "devote more attention to abstinence from sexual activity than to any other behavior" when teaching about sex. While the bill would allow existing language that emphasizes that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, it would remove language noting that abstinence prevented “the emotional trauma associated with adolescent sexual activity.”

The bill would also add requirements that health education curriculum related to sexual behavior:

(5) provide information about the health benefits, effectiveness, and safety of methods approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases;

(6) provide information about the health benefits, effectiveness, and safety in preventing pregnancy of all contraceptive methods approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration;

(7) provide information on local resources for testing for and obtaining medical care for sexually transmitted diseases;

(8) include strategies to promote effective communication between adolescents and their parents and other family members about human sexuality;

(9) address the economic and emotional requirements of parenthood;

(10) encourage students to develop healthy life skills, including goal setting, decision making, refusal and negotiation, and effective communication;

(11) teach skills for making responsible decisions about sexual activity, including how to avoid unwanted verbal or physical sexual advances and how to avoid making unwanted verbal or physical sexual advances;

(12) teach how drug and alcohol use may affect responsible decision making; and

(13) help students develop healthy attitudes and values concerning growth and development, body image, and relationships.

The bill also removes language requiring that schools, “teach contraception and condom use in terms of human use reality rates instead of theoretical laboratory rates, if instruction on contraception and condoms is included in curriculum content.”

The bill also goes into great detail to define “age-appropriate” information.

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Christin Richard, says:

It would be interesting to read the reflective journals of kids in school these past ten years, and the political tug-of-wars that they've had to endure. It's been my experience that even the youngest students aren't oblivious to the forces around them trying to influence their minds into something than their own conclusions. In this, the government continues its hokey, square britches approach to socialization as young minds learn more about the world that they live than any political-religious force could muster.