Mississippi Sex Education Bill Faces Deadline Next Week

Lawmakers who support a bill that would create a pilot comprehensive sex education program to combat Mississippi's high teen birth rate are hopeful it will survive a deadline next week. Although a similar Senate bill died earlier this session, the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday narrowly approved a revised version. HB 234 now must clear the Senate Appropriations Committee by next Tuesday to remain in consideration.

HB 234 would authorize the state boards of Education and Health to create an "age appropriate" pilot course for two school districts chosen by the state Department of Education. The bill states that classes will be segregated by gender during discussions about pregnancy, STDs and other issues. An evaluation of program results would be given to lawmakers by Dec. 31, 2011.

If the state will not step up to address its teen pregnancy rate, "it won't be done," said Rep. Alyce Clarke (D-Jackson), the bill's principal author. Clarke noted the problem when she worked for Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Services more than 20 years ago and saw growing numbers of young teenagers applying for assistance.

Bill supporters point to 2006 CDC data showing the state's teen birth rate exceeded the national rate by more than 60 percent. It would be a "tragedy" if the bill died this session, said Sen. David Jordon (D-Greenwood), a former biology teacher. Opponents said discussion about sex should be handled at home. "What everybody's afraid to say is what method would they use to demonstrate how to use a prophylactic?" said Sen. Lee Yancy (R-Brandon). "Is that something an eighth-grader or sixth-grader needs to see?"

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