Illinois: Teens Urge Teaching Sex Education; "Abstinence-Only Is Not Working"

A state-appointed teen panel recently recommended that Illinois mandate sex education in public schools and that it cover how to prevent STDs and pregnancy beyond being abstinent. Under current state law, school districts are not required to offer sex education, but those that do must stress abstinence.

In a PowerPoint presentation titled "Sex Education: The Real Deal," the Student Advisory Council noted a 2007 survey showing nearly half of Illinois high school students reported they had had sexual intercourse. The rate of teen births and at least two STDs has increased since 2005, in tandem with federal abstinence-only funding, according to state data. "Abstinence-only is not working, so Illinois needs to take a stand and help our youth," SAC concluded.

"Being high school students, we know what goes on in high schools and what happens between teens on the weekends," said Sarah Chapman, SAC secretary and a junior at Indian Creek High School in Shabbona. Chapman said her sex education class did not discuss contraceptive options and in a "20-minute conversation said abstinence is the only way." "We think sex education is the real deal and abstinence should be taught as an option," she added.

SAC made its recommendation to a State Board of Education committee based on hundreds of interviews with students over one year. SAC members heard complaints that some sex education programs seemed from another era. Survey participants suggested incorporating updated videos, YouTube, or calling in teenage mothers to speak.

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