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State lawmakers agreed on a new sex education curriculum for public schools Thursday. If Gov. Bev Perdue signs the legislation, it will be the most comprehensive and science-based approach the state has used. The governor should sign it.
Getting to this point has been a politically rocky journey. The House and Senate had competing bills.
The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Susan Fisher, D-Buncombe, created two sex-ed tracks. One would teach abstinence-only until marriage. The other would be a comprehensive course teaching about abstinence, contraception, STDs, relationships and other topics. Parents would choose which course their children took, or they could choose not to have their kids take either.
The Senate version was a one-track curriculum. All districts would have to teach an abstinence-until-marriage curriculum. But they'd also have to provide information on contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and disease. Students whose parents wanted the abstinence-only version would be able to opt out of the more detailed information involving contraception and sexually transmitted diseases.
The Senate version won the day. In the end, it gained the support of the sponsor of the House bill. Fisher said Thursday the bill still gives parents a choice in deciding what kind of sex education their children will receive.
She's right. It also finally provides a curriculum that gives N.C. students vital access to age-appropriate, science-based information critical to their health, safety and well-being. It's the kind of information that can help them make smart choices in serious situations.
Parents are often the best people for kids to turn to for advice and information on these matters. But not all children have parents who can provide it, or are even willing to. And not all children will go to their parents adhere to their advice. The schools provide another avenue to get this critical advice and information – and state lawmakers are right to make it available.
The statistics highlight why. North Carolina's teen pregnancy rate is ninth worst in the nation. About 20,000 teenagers will get pregnant in North Carolina this year.
A comprehensive, science-based education program can help reduce the number of unintended teen pregnancies. Such a program also can help reduce the number of STDs.
By reaching agreement on this matter, state lawmakers have given the children of this state vital tools to safeguard their health and welfare. Bev Perdue should sign this bill and make it law.
