Senate Approves Teaching 'Age Appropriate' Sex Education

The Illinois Senate voted 30-28 on May 25 to approve a bill that would require sex education courses in grades six through 12 to cover not only abstinence, but also contraception as a means of avoiding pregnancy and STDs.

The bill calls for materials to be “age appropriate” and “medically accurate.” Parents could ask that their children be exempted from the lessons. HB 3027 now goes before the House.

“There’s been some suggestion that perhaps this isn’t needed, that there’s not a problem,” said Heather Steans (D-Chicago), the bill’s sponsor. Steans noted, however, that many Illinois high school students are having unsafe sex.

Some Republicans objected that the measure is not needed, defending an abstinence-only approach and local school board control over the information covered. “Basically, this just comes down to who do you want to have control over the curriculum that’s in your school?” said Sen. Shane Cultra (R-Onarga).

Some parents may be too shy to broach sexual health issues with their children, said Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago). “We want to teach our kids abstinence but I think that the reality is that’s not what’s happening in our schools today.”

“The truth is, your community is not just like my community,” replied Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon). “And that’s why I think it’s important that the people you elect to your school board be responsible to determine what curriculum is taught, just like I’m responsible for electing a school board to take care of the kids in my neighborhoods.”

Comprehensive sex education is as important as math, English, and science in preparing youths for their future, said Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora). “By the way, if those same children contract [an STD], they may not have a future,” she said. Unintended pregnancy is not conducive to a college career, she added.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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