North Carolina: Abstinence vs. Sex Education in Battle to Fight Teen Pregnancy

Gaston County recorded 519 teen pregnancies in 2007, a figure that is unlikely to drop without better sex education, said county Health Director Colleen Bridger.

According to the state Department of Instruction's Web site, schools are required to teach abstinence until marriage and the dangers of STDs. An additional comprehensive sex education unit that includes discussions of birth control and the importance of condoms is available. Gaston County currently offers abstinence-only sex education.

"We follow the standard course of study and will continue to follow the standard course of study," said Reeves McGlohon, Gaston County schools superintendent.

However, "Counties in North Carolina that teach comprehensive sex education have lower teen pregnancy rates than Gaston County," Bridger said. "Research shows abstinence-only education doesn't work, and I think it is time for Gaston County to try what the research shows works."

The school board is always looking to improve instruction, said McGlohon. The curriculum committee recently heard a presentation about sex education and has discussed the topic with a faith-based initiative. "We're concerned, as is the Health Department, about the number of teenage pregnancies," said McGlohon. "In partnership with parents, we will certainly look at the issue."

Bridger said the Health Department inquired about adding the comprehensive component to the standard curriculum around five years ago but the matter never came up for a vote. The time has come for schools, parents, and health officials to take an active role in the decisions teens are making, she said.

"There will always be people opposed to it, but the majority of parents want their children to learn comprehensive sex education," said Bridger.

Back to other news for March 2009