Since President Obama cut federal funding for the “abstinence-only” sex education program, many schools across the country are implementing more comprehensive sex education classes. North Carolina is one of them.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/03/nc.teen.preg.art.jpg caption="The teen pregnancy rate in North Carolina rose more than 12 percent from 2003 to 2007, according to the state's health department figures."]
Since 1996, North Carolina law required teachers to tell teenagers they were “expected” to abstain from “sexual activity outside of marriage.” However, the law did not have the lasting effect on teenagers officials had hoped.
“They've gotten pregnant more often. Imagine that,” says Gaston County Health Director Colleen Bridger. “Our STD rates are going up. Our pregnancy rates are going up.”
According to North Carolina Health Department figures, from 2003 to 2007 the teenage pregnancy rate rose more than 12 percent. North Carolina now has the ninth highest teen pregnancy rate in the country.
CNN spoke to some students who lobbied lawmakers for a change in the law to allow teachers to tell high school students about contraception – because of their experiences in "abstinence only” classes in high school.
“People were raising their hands and asking really interesting questions and she wasn't able to answer them just because the curriculum told her you know you only can talk about this and this but you know not this and this and this,” recounts Eli MacDonald, 16.
Gabriella Magallanes, 19, remembers her teacher telling the class to "wait to have sex until you get married," and that "condoms won’t work." If you have sex, "you're going to get an STD and die.” Magallanes adds: “When kids hear that, they shut their ears off, they just stop listening.”
But Jere Royall of the North Carolina Family Policy Council, says the abstinence-only curriculum works for students, when taught properly. “They need to understand that sexuality is an important part of life … but what they also need to understand what the consequences are if they engage in sexual activity outside of marriage,” he says.
In the end, lawmakers listened to both sides, amending the original law passed in 1995 so that teachers first instruct students about abstinence and then about what they can do if they're having sex. It’s a challenge Bridger and other health officials are willing to take on.
“The starting point is getting people comfortable transitioning from saying, ‘We expect you not to have sex, but if you do, here are some things you can do to protect yourself. Here are some things you can do to reduce your risks.’”
There is still an alternative for parents who want their kids to be taught only abstinence. When the new law takes effect in North Carolina next year, parents will still be allowed to opt out of comprehensive sex education classes.