Tennessee governor signs controversial "gateway sexual activity" bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Tennessee teachers can no longer condone so-called "gateway sexual activity" such as touching genitals under a new law that critics say is too vague and could hamper discussion about safe sexual behavior.

Governor Bill Haslam's office Friday confirmed that he had signed the bill, which stirred up controversy nationwide and even was lampooned by comedian Stephen Colbert.

"Kissing and hugging are the last stop before reaching Groin Central Station, so it's important to ban all the things that lead to the things that lead to sex," he said on the "Colbert Report" television show.

But proponents say the new law helps define the existing abstinence-only sex-education policy.

Under the law, Tennessee teachers could be disciplined and speakers from outside groups like Planned Parenthood could face fines of up to $500 for promoting or condoning "gateway sexual activities."

David Fowler, president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, which pushed the bill, said it does not ban kissing or holding hands from discussion in sex education classes. But he said it addresses the touching of certain "gateway body parts," including genitals, buttocks, breasts and the inner thigh.

It is unclear from the bill's wording whether Tennessee teachers could promote masturbation.

The bill sailed through the legislative session, passing the Senate 28-1 and the House 68-23.

Opponents, which include Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee and the state teachers' union, say that before they can begin fighting the new law, they have to be able to figure it out. They worry that discussion of sexual behavior could be interpreted as condoning it.

"The very ambiguous language in this bill certainly puts teachers in a very difficult situation" when it comes to knowing what to teach, said Jerry Winters, spokesman for the Tennessee Education Association.

Fowler said the new law was authored in part because of incidents in which teachers were instructing about alternate sexual practices as ways to have gratification without risking pregnancy, according to Fowler.

He said one such incident involved a Nashville high school teacher who was encouraging girls to give boys oral sex in order to get a condom on them.

Fowler also pointed to a Planned Parenthood-organized program at a school in Knoxville, where students were directed to a web site "that actually lists as possible methods of birth control things like oral sex and anal sex play that I think most Tennesseans would find inappropriate."

Lyndsey Godwin, manager of education and training for Planned Parenthood, said the idea that her group was encouraging such behavior was "utterly false." She said that while Planned Parenthood educators may answer a student's question by agreeing that anal and oral sex don't lead to pregnancy, they also emphasize the disease risks.

Godwin said Planned Parenthood supports the state's abstinence-centered policy, but the reality is not everyone can be abstinent. She said that being able to address issues of condom use, contraception and answer questions about sexual behaviors to educate students are essential to her group's role.

Winters of the Tennessee Education Association said that already existing sex education policy was "quite adequate."

"It does focus on abstinence, but in this modern world to say that ‘just say no' is the answer to teenage pregnancy is putting your head in the sand," Winters said.

http://news.yahoo.com/tennessee-governor-signs-gateway-sexual-activity-bill-001703989.html

[adgal]

Ok, so I will admit I have no idea what this bill is talking about.  It really doesn't make much sense to me.  I do know this....teaching abstinence only clearly isn't working.  I just think it's time to get real.  Teaching about birth control is not condoning sexual activity amongst teenagers.  And if we look at the rapidly rising rate of teenage pregnancy?  Me thinks it's time for a change.  Just my opinion.

[specialmom]

I do find the term 'groin central station' very funny.  

I think this is a dumb idea, however, I'd try to have a teacher fired for talking about oral sex in order to get a condom on a guy (encouraging girls to do this, yeesh).  I still believe in teaching abstinence as much as safe sex (as it is the ultimate safe idea--  physicall AND emotionally for teens).

I really would LOVE a more conservative culture.  I think teens having sex is a really really BAD idea but am not sure a law that makes it illegal to touch certain areas would work.  Okay, I know it wouldn't.  

Groin central station.  ha

[teko]

Im not sure what the big whoop is either. People have been getting pregnant from unprotected sex, forever! It was just as bad when I was a teen. The difference is now is that there is an overload of information out there and places to get birth control pretty much free of charge and without mom knowing about it too.

I still think if your going to teach anything in school it should be the consequences of an unplanned pregnancy and how to avoid it. The basics that one needs to know.

Obviously its getting a might stupid as far as I can tell. If you really want to cut down on unwanted pregnancy, end welfare as we know it so they know they have to carry the consequences of their actions and that includes supporting and raising the child.

[brice1967]

"Groin central station"!  LOL, that is rich.  

My boys and I just had a conversation about "sex-ed" in school, last Tuesday.  Abstinence just doesn't work all of the time.  Thinking this is the only method of birth control and disease prevention is a big mistake.  Yeah, abstinence is noble and in a perfect world is a wonderful thing.  But really?  

We also attended a program that my youngest son was a part of.  The premise behind this program was, "ask a teen anything".  There were a panel of teens (about 20-25 of them) who would sit at a table of about 6 adults and field questions.  For the most part, I felt the kids were very honest when answering the questions.  The questions varied from drug/alcohol use, bullying, sex/ "Sexting", inappropriate use of the internet....

At one of the breaks, we watched a film with preteen and teen girls talking about sex.... sheesh!!!  It was alarming what these kids knew and didn't know.  Abstinence was brought up but apparently not often used and most thought unprotected oral sex was a way to prevent STD's.....

A law of this nature isn't going to do a whole heck of a lot, in my opinion.  Teens will be teens.... (not that I am excusing any risky behavior) but ignorance on parents behalf is not a brilliant idea either.  

General consensus was, talk to your kids even regarding the "difficult" subject matter.  

[adgal]

I really like those programs they have that put young people right into the situation.  They have to spend time with a young mom who is struggling, do the work of caring for the child.  Show them first hand what the reality is like.  And sure, I agree that teaching abstinence is best, but I still think conversations about birth control are important ones to have.  And of course sexually transmitted diseases.

[brice1967]

Yeah, this program was started by a group of high school kids in either North or South Dakota.  The guy leading the program was a high school teacher at the time and was presented with an opportunity to make a difference because of something that happened in his class.  

I can't remember the particulars, but an incident in the class led to some discussions with the students, their parents and school administration regarding "sensitive teen issues", funding was found and this program was put together by the teacher and the teens in this class.  Now, this guy roams the country on grants, presenting this subject matter to mostly rural communities throughout the country.  

An interesting statistic used in the program about teen sex was, 85% of the teens interviewed had engaged in some form of sexual activity beyond "kissing" and only 15% of the parents interviewed thought their kids were involved in said activities. (Talk about ignorance!!!)

There was also a very moving video on bullying.  A young man who had been bullied all through school, looked to be at wits end.  He sat there, music playing in the background, and using index cards with hand written messages on them told his story.  As the video moved along, you could watch the emotion rip through this poor kid.  

Just when you think the kid was literally going to commit suicide, he turned the corner and presented his fight plan.  He realized that he was worthy of a life without bullying, that his life did have value, and that he vowed to fight bullying everywhere.  Very, very moving video.

[specialmom]

I personally loathe the tv program 'teen mom' as it somehow had made having a baby under less than ideal circumstances cool.  I have a really hard time with these teenagers taking pregnancy and parenthood so lightly.  You see it everywhere (even here) and I just shake my head.  Shows like that don't help.  

I agree.  I think baby bootcamp . .. without someone's mom to help them or a boyfriend (that statisically rarely hangs around) would be so beneficial.  I think a clear black and white picture of the cash it costs to raise a kid---  reminding them that govt. assistance to live is NOT being independent, make them get up all night with little babies that are screaming, spend the day caring for a child, etc.  I think it would be very eye  opening.   And sadly, as I help my children navigate through the elementary years and the complexities of little self esteems, learning with others, wanting to do various activities and having the financial means to make it possible for them,etc. is NEVER considered.  Parenting doesn't end when they are out of diapers and it actually gets MORE expensive and emotionally draining.  Heaven forbid a child has any circumstance that requires 'extra' like my son does.  After baby years is rarely brought up and should be factored in as well.

Because I can't tell you how many kids think it is no big deal to get pregnant and some are actually trying.  The worse their home life was, the more often you see them try.  There is a psychological componant to that I suppose . . . a very misguided one.  

I'm not being judgemental----  but I think it is an uneducated decision to go this route.  We need to educate them and baby boot camp sounds like a great idea!!!!

[R Glass]

“David Fowler, president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, which pushed the bill, said it does not ban kissing or holding hands from discussion in sex education classes. But he said it addresses the touching of certain "gateway body parts," including genitals, buttocks, breasts and the inner thigh.

It is unclear from the bill's wording whether Tennessee teachers could promote masturbation.”

Masturbation without touching Genitals? Must be one of those Jedi Mind Tricks. I’ve got to watch Star Wars again.

[specialmom]

OMG----  why on earth are we discussing masturbation in a class anyway???  Why would they need to discuss body parts.  

Not getting this.  

I have a better idea, parents go through a class on how to talk to their teens.  

I'd honestly be disgusted if my kids were in class and the teacher is talking masterbation (masturbation), touching a girl's breasts------------  

I'm find with them telling my boys that they MUST use protection if they decide to have sex to protect against babies and std's . . . but why would they need more than that?  
Not getting it.  Thinking of putting my kids in a non public school . . .

[R Glass]

I’m on a mission now and  I must know the secret of Masturbation without touching genitals. It sure would make the work day go by faster.

[specialmom]

Isn't there something called 'mental masturbation'?  I think that is just replaying in your head last night's porn though.  I don't know for sure . . .

Oh, good times in health education these days.  I'm calling my priest!

[orphanedhawk]

I wish the law would stick to other things. They need to get out of the bedroom.

Specialmom: Unless things have changed drastically since my kids were teens, parents have to sign a consent form for their kids to participate in sex ed classes.

When my kids were teens, the school had a program taught them about condoms, STDs and other forms of birth control Not subjects like masturbation !.
There was a week long program where they had to carry around an egg, and take care of it like it was a baby. Kind of silly but it taught them how much constant care the 'egg' needed.

They also had people with AIDs visit, talk about their illness and the importance of protecting themselves.
Seeing real people, sick from unprotected sex, made more of an impact than I could have.

My kids came home and talked about what was going on in class.
This opened up areas of discussion I wouldn't have thought of.
I told my sons that if they got a girl pregnant, they could land up paying to support that child for 18 years.

Ironically only one girl in my daughter's class of high school got pregnant. She was Catholic and her parents didn't allow her to take part in the program.

I'm going to add a different spin.
Our bodies are animals and once ready to breed the urge is very strong. Say what you like but puberty can hit with a ton of bricks. It's just not realistic to expect all teens to have so much self control to abstain from such strong instincts. This is why they need to learn to protect themselves.

With teens, their peers are often a bigger factor in their decisions than mom or dad.

[specialmom]

Oh, thanks for the Catholic reference.  LOL

Anyway, what you describe is traditional sex ed and I have no problem with that.  Masterbation (masturbation) and feeling girls up is ridiculous.  

[specialmom]

Oh, and don't get me wrong.  I realize teens masturbate . . .  but have for probably the history of the world.  Having it be a topic for a class discussion . . .  really not necessary.

[specialmom]

And I think it is a sad statement to refer to humans as being the same as animals.  Not buying that.  We have brains that function in a different way.  Some won't abstain but to just say we are animals and we shouldn't ever have that expectation?  I guess I should then expect my husband to cheat on me when he's out of town too . ..  afterall, he's just an animal and that is an overpowering urge.  

[adgal]

You know, I have a slightly different opinion on the topic of masturbation and body parts.  I actually think it is ok to reference that topic.  I don't think there is a need to go into huge detail, but if teens want to discuss it openly, I think that is ok.  To me that would go hand in hand with teaching that their bodies are something to be respected, and that that is normal behavior.  Kids can often feel like they are weird or freaks, and personally I think that leads to low self esteem.  I think low self esteem can lead to the need to fit in or to confuse sex with being loved.  I guess I am pro being open about sexuality in general.  I also think that as the mother of a son it's important to make him realize the repercussions of getting a girl pregnant.  I want him to realize that he must take equal responsibility for preventing that and that if it happens, he is responsible for supporting and raising that child.  I feel that too often teen pregnancy is left as a girls issue and that not enough boys realize they too are responsible.  Honestly?  If I think he is or is about to become sexually active, I'll be buying him those condoms myself.  I hope he chooses to wait, and yes we will discuss abstinence, but....

Anyway, I am ok with all these topics being discussed in school.  To many kids have too much misinformation.  I find it far scarier that so many kids get their info from other kids rather then adults.  

[brice1967]

It was pretty trendy around here for a while for teenage pregnancy.  The common thought was, "my mom and dad will be here for help".  We still see so many grandparents raising their grand kids while the parents go do what they should have been doing before getting knocked up.


The bar I used to manage had a gift shop that sold bar merchandise.  One of the women who worked in the gift shop had a 15 year old daughter.  This young girl was a pretty good student, but did not have the most supervision.  Dad was nowhere to be found and mom worked late nights at this gift shop.

One evening, (about 2:30 a.m.) I saw this 15 year old girl hanging out with this 22 year old punk kid that I'd run out of the bar a few times.  This kid already had a few brushes with the law and really was not the kind of guy you want your daughter hanging out with, never mind the fact that the daughter was 15 at the time.  

I asked this girl if everything was okay.  She introduced me to her "boyfriend" and told me that they'd been dating for a couple of months.  (He is 22, she is 15!!!  Hello statutory rape!)  I took it upon myself to give her a bit of a lecture on this "young man" and she told me that I "didn't understand him" and was 'completely wrong" about the whole situation.

I then took it upon myself to bring this relationship to the attention of this girls mother.  Turns out, mom was an advocate for the relationship and thought that it was 'true love that brought these 2 souls together".  (Yeah, mom was not so bright and that fact was radically known.)  I told her that it was an improper relationship, that it was probably grounds for a statutory rape conviction, and yet MOM tried her best to convince me that there was no "funny business" going on.  

I asked "mom", "what do you think this punk wants from your 15 year old daughter, gripping conversation?".  At this point, "mom" convinced me to mind my own business.... I kindly backed out.

Fast forward 4 months... the 15 year old girl finds out that she is pregnant, and the man she loves has left the country (so to speak).  Mom convinces the daughter to drop out of school to pay special attention to the pregnancy.  

Now fast forward to just after the birth.... the baby was born with a respiratory issue because its mother smoked cigarettes through the pregnancy, the damned 22 year old who is now 23 comes back onto the scene and puts up a legal fight because the now 16 year old mother is "unfit" and wins custody of the new born......  

Who knows where that situation lies today, but I bet it isn't all that good.

[specialmom]

I'm sorry, but I don't think my kids need to be open about their sexuality at school and with a teacher.  Gosh, I know all about my body parts . . . where they are and what you do with them and never had a class in which someone talked about it.  This is different than a general class about our anatomy------  but why on earth would a child ask in a classroom of their peers about masterbation (masturbation) and open a topic for classroom discussion?  Like I said, there are questions on the child behavior forum of toddlers discovering sensation . ..   do we really need a teacher's interpretation of it for our .teenagers?  

It's not appropriate in school.  I'm sticking to that.  

And I think that when we need teachers to discuss all of these issues with our kids, it is again a sad statement of the culture of pitiful parents we have here.  

I'm all for traditional sex ed but really don't need to 'modernize' it to the point of open forum for anything sexual and I do expect abstinence to be part of the curriculum.  

[R Glass]

I give up. I’ve been trying all day, to no prevail.
I guess you have to be a Jedi Priest.

[orphanedhawk]

You know, I thought about my saying the only pregnant teen in my kids class was a Catholic girl. The truth is there could have been others, who had abortions that I never heard of. She was the one who kept the baby.

Of course our minds are in a different realm but the body's instinct are still strong and I know people don't like being called animals. I don't like it either, it's insulting to the animals.

R.Glass~ no touching genitals ? hmmm~ sounds like sex toy time to me ;)

[adgal]

Actually, I think you hit the nail on the head my friend.  If all parents were having these discussions with their kids there would be no need to have them in school. Sadly, that is just not the case. So it's not kids like yours and mine I worry about.  It's those born to parents who just will not discuss any of these topics.  I'm not saying that having these conversations will prevent teenage pregnancy - kids with excellent families who are very involved in their kids lives still deal with it.  But I do think that too many parents do not discuss things like birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. and I feel they are doing their children a huge disservice.  So although I wish it wasn't necessary to talk about this in school, I feel like it is.  

[specialmom]

I think also adgal, I'm not opposed to sex ed and things like discussing if you are going to have sex that you always use protection, what std's are out there and how they can impact you, what happens if you do get pregnant and what it would mean (the taking care of an egg type of thing)---  I have no problem with that.  But I do think discussing seuxality is different.  And discussing things like masterbation (masturbation) is different.  

I can't think of any reason why it would be necessary to discuss masterbation (masturbation).  Perhaps if a general statement is made "we'd rather kids masterbate than engage in actual sex" . . . but really, I just can't see that as a classroom discussion.  

Sometimes I'm afraid that the schools overstep their bounds.  Even if parents aren't doing their jobs.  No sex, safe sex, consequences for non safe sex--------  great for a sex ed class.  Issues of foreplay, masterbation (masturbation), fondling, . . . um, no.  Not necessary.

[specialmom]

You must have gone to a really small school or have been keenly interested to know the religious affiliation of all the students.  

I'm a bit sad by your statement about insulting animals.  I'm thinking that we need to work on your self esteem a bit or introduce you to new people.  :>)

[adgal]

I agree with you that an out and out convo about masturbation and sexuality is probably over the line.  What I meant was just perhaps touching on it as being a normal human function.  The reason I feel that way is that again, I think there are far too many parents who treat is as a taboo issue, and there are even parents who treat it as something bad or wrong.  I worry about those kids self esteem in that they wind up feeling like freaks or weirdos because they have those normal hormonal urges.  So that is really all I meant.  I too don't think it necessary to go into detail.

I think schools have a bit of a tough role to play these days.  I mean, we've all seen it - those parents who seem to think it is the role of the school to raise their kids.  They are just too busy being "important" to prioritize their children.  So I do think sometimes the boundaries get skewed and it's tough.  There are parents like us who actually put raising our kids first and foremost and actually want to be parents.  Then there are those who seem to like the idea of having kids, but don't really want to put in the time or effort.  So I think schools often get caught in the middle if that makes sense.

[brice1967]

What is it that leads to so many parents being so disengaged?  As a parent, I try to remember all of the things (talks) that went well with my parents and model the conversations I have with my children along those lines.  As for the conversations that went... maybe not so well, I've dissected them and try to get to the subject matter in a better way.

Maybe I am a bit naive, but I think that the conversations I/we've had with our kids went rather well.  I think my kids would come to us with the difficult questions, or at least I hope they would feel comfortable enough to do so.

[specialmom]

Brice, I'm sure that the conversations went great.  And what I like about a parent having a conversation with their child is that they can express things to their kid out of concern and caring rather than a public school agenda.  Yeah, that might be different in each household-------  but I think that is okay.  We are a more conservative household . . . with conservative values and ideas.  Do I want a liberal teacher giving information to my child that I do not approve of?  Not really their place.  If you have different values than your neighbor . . . you wouldn't tell your kids to go to the for advice on what to do in a situation.  So, I do think parents have a right to choose what they tell their kids.  Even if they say masterbation (masturbation) is bad (ugh)-------  that is their value.  And a teacher usurping a parent's teaching a particular value isn't right.  Now, I just use that as an example-------  I'm not saying that this situation should occur.  I'm just saying that a parent does have a right to choose what they want to teach their kids about sexuality.  And the school system does not have the right to undermine it in my opinion.  

[specialmom]

oops, hit post before I meant to.  I'm off my soap box now by the way.

But Brice, I commend you for thinking about parenting in such a conscioncious way.  That is outstanding!  I have a goal of my kids knowing that I am open to any conversation they want to have and so is their father and we will open up dialogue ourselves along the way.  

There are so many untethered children with disengaged parents that it sickens me.  So much lost potential.  It is very sad.

[adgal]

So I continue to agree with all that both of you say.  And I believe that what you are doing is true parenting.  I think my hang up on this is again, those kids that are not being parented.  To many parents just aren't having conversations with their kids at all.  So yes, parents have the right to keep it along their value system, but then what happens if the child takes a different path, or has no information at all?  See what I mean?  Of course then the negative alternative happens in that parents that are properly parenting have some of their rights overstepped.  I dont' know - I guess like most things there is no easy solution here.

[orphanedhawk]

It was a very small country school and I apologize for mentioning the girl's religion. It was thoughtless and not relevant.

She was friends with my daughter for a while during elementary school. I knew her parents, who were lovely people. They were a bit older, had adopted two girls and were always involved in charitable projects in the community. By middle school, our girls had drifted apart, mainly due to their interests. My daughter was horse nuts, this girl was not.
But I digress.

I almost put a little, ha ha, behind my comment about the animals. It was meant humorously although I do feel animals get a bad wrap. Wild animals in particular. They do not kill except for their food and seem to be able to get along much better than we humans are doing. One may snarl at the other, but then it's over, no grudges.  I could go on.

I'll try to slow down and remember to re-read  what I type before posting :)

[specialmom]

Ha, orphanhaw, I only snarl occasionally but then move on.  I promise!  No grudges.  I was kidding back and should have put a ha ha behind my comment as well.

[teko]

LOL, I am so glad mine are raised. I would not want to be a mom in this day and age.

[MrsPincince]

Kids are going to do and touch each other just because they're curious. This bill isn't going to stop it..

[brice1967]

Look at you back on here!  Hope all is well, and I'd have to agree with you.  We've got legislation on the books that we cannot keep up already.  

[MrsPincince]

OMG Brice, newborns are so much work. I forgot..lol. I'm really well now. Baby Jalah is on a schedule now and I can get back to adult conversation. It feels good to be back. Just in time for the rat race of an election huh?!.....

[brice1967]

I will agree with you 100%.  More and more, I feel opinions are being passed as fact in modern day academia.  I feel subject matter like this is best discussed in the home, with the parents... but I also feel and give my kids the right to ask other trusted adults (my best friend or my wife's best friend) about this stuff, if they feel uncomfortable coming to us.

I've told my kids that they probably cannot come up with conversation fodder that I have not faced in my lifetime, and if they did, I am smart enough to find an answer.  I also assured them that they'd be hard pressed to tell me anything that I would be embarrassed about.  

[mikesimon]

In my humble opinion no child is going to speak completely candidly with a parent. No girl is going to tell her Mother what she's feeling much less what she's doing. Maybe I had a very unusual childhood but when my hormones were going crazy I felt a bit uncomfortable and maybe confused and I sure wasn't going to discuss my feelings openly with my parent(s) - there was no way.

I have been fortunate to have had some wonderful women friends in my life. Every woman I've known has truly believed that her Daughter would confide in them about sexual matters. I tried to convince them that their Daughters would never disclose that stuff to them and in every single case I was correct - the Mothers were caught way off guard. Imagine a girl going out on a date and for the first time a guy puts his hand on her genitals and/or the girl does likewise. Do you honestly believe that either kid is going to come home and talk about that or admit to doing that? I know better. The parent has to introduce the subject and direct the discourse because the kid surely won't. If the sexual education is purely educational I'm fine with it - I just want them to learn what they need to learn to get them through those crazy hormonal days with little to no injury.

Mike

[mikesimon]

More Teen Girls Postponing Sex
By Todd Neale, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today

Published: May 04, 2012

The proportion of teenage girls who have started having sex has gone down since the mid-1990s, according to the CDC.

From 2006 to 2010, 57% of girls ages 15 to 19 said they had never had vaginal intercourse, up from 49% in 1995, Crystal Pirtle Tyler, PhD, of the agency's Division of Reproductive Health, and colleagues reported in the May 4 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

And those girls who were sexually active became more likely to use effective contraception: About 60% reported current use of highly effective contraceptive methods, including intrauterine devices or hormonal methods with or without a condom. That was an increase from 47% in 1995.

Both trends have likely contributed to the continuing decline in the teen birth rate in the U.S., which was 34.3 births per 1,000 females in 2010, a relative 44% lower than the rate in 1990.

Nevertheless, teen birth rates remain higher in the U.S. than in other developed countries and the federal government has set a goal of reducing the rate by another 10% by 2020.

That "will require a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health that includes continued promotion of delayed sexual debut and increased use of highly effective contraception among sexually experienced teens," the authors wrote.

To explore trends in sexual experience and contraceptive use among females ages 15 to 19, Tyler and colleagues looked at data from the National Survey of Family Growth collected in 1995, 2002, and 2006 to 2010. The NSFG is an in-person, household survey.

Although there were no differences based on race or ethnicity in the proportion of girls who had started having sex, there was a disparity in the use of highly effective contraceptives among those who were sexually active.

Non-Hispanic white girls were more likely than non-Hispanic black and Hispanic girls to use highly effective contraceptives (66% versus 47% and 54%) and less likely to use nothing at all (15% versus 26% and 24%). And since 1995, the number of black teens not using any contraceptives actually grew more frequent.

The authors noted that use of condoms is inconsistent among teens, and that pairing condom use with highly effective contraceptive methods should be encouraged.

"Dual use of condoms with a highly effective method of contraception can provide pregnancy protection with the added benefit of preventing sexually transmitted infections, including infection with HIV, which affects teens disproportionately," they wrote.

They acknowledged that the analysis was limited by self-reported contraceptive use and the lack of data on girls younger than 15.

See:  http://tinyurl.com/d7r4vqa

[Barb135]

I have to agree with Mike - no matter how much we like to think our kids would confide in us regarding sexual feelings (or many other things), very few kids are actually going to.  

Most of them are confused about what's happening, and many would be hard put to even have the ability to explain how they feel, let alone the desire to try.  I certainly would never have tried to explain it to either of my parents.  

I think many kids would be more apt to confide in a sibling than their parents.

[adgal]

I truly hope that I will have the kind of relationship with my son where he will feel ok telling me everything and anything.  I will work hard to try to ensure that is the case.  However, if he doesn't feel comfortable with that and won't, I much prefer he get correct information from an informed adult then another teen.  To me that is the most important part.  

[brice1967]

I would say that the vast majority of kids would not confide in their parents.  I can say that I did.... (I didn't give a play-by-play run down of the course of events, but I spoke up.)  My mother was initially taken aback and then we had yet another talk about all of the necessary precautions and the ramifications for conducting "business" the way I did.

I was up front.  I think my mother appreciated that.  Perhaps she didn't even want to think that I'd be doing something like that... but she did appreciate me being up front.

[specialmom]

But . . .   do we really want a stranger that has different values than your family has to be the educator about this important subject?  The sole source of information is a public school agenda that might or might not follow your belief system?  

Nooooooo, says I a concerned parent.  I don't expect my son to tell me who he is fantasizing about and exactly what he wants to do to them (gross!)---  but I do indeed plan on having dialogue with my child to give them information that I feel will benefit them.  Just like the public school does.  Only my message will be conveyed from the person that has loved and cherished them their whole life and hopefully has introduced morality to them, respect for their bodies and others' bodies, etc.  

Lazy parents let the school handle it all.  I think that is pathetic and discouraging.  

So, even though my son's may not tell me or their father everythigng, I'll have an open door policy (even if I silently do 15 hail Mary's) but be sure to get information to THEM.  

My mom was open to talking to me and while I didn't maybe give details of something embarressing, I did go to her about things.  It CAN happen.

[orphanedhawk]

Ideally both the parent, and the educators have a place in teaching our children.

When my daughter came home from sex-ed class, we discussed what she learned. She knew about STDs I'd never heard of.

When she asked me to help her get birth control, I felt a lump in my stomach, smiled and said, "of course."
I felt at 16, she was being responsible and I didn't want her to land up pregnant.

At the school my kids went to they could get free condoms, no questions asked, from the guidance counselor. In the age of AIDs this has got to be a good thing.

You just cannot assume because you want your kids to confide in you, that they will.
My sister was a 'good girl' and I was the wild one.
Same parents, different people.

[brice1967]

Teacher.... "Good morning class....."
Class.....  "Good morning Mr. Smith...."
Teacher...."Today in class, we are going to talk about masturbation, masturbation with a partner, fellatio, cunnilingus, sexual positions, lubes, condoms and other forms of protection..."

Right about there I hear a big car crash....   I don't know when "sex-ed" was introduced to the classroom but I rest assured that somehow, some way, we managed to procreate.  How, if this was not omni present in schools?