Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Wisconsin State Journal (11.29.05) - Monday, December 05, 2005
Doug Erickson
Current state law lists more than a dozen topics that school districts "may include" in their sex education instruction, and no one topic is favored over others. While the word "abstinence" does not appear on that list, "discouragement of adolescent sexual activity" does. The abstinence bill sponsored by Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) would require districts to "present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior" for students.
Lazich said her bill retains the voluntary aspect of sex education, districts are not required to offer it, and it does not prohibit the discussion of other topics. The bill was created out of concern that students are not getting a strong message that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method to prevent STDs and unplanned pregnancies, she said.
But critics believe that Lazich's bill is just the first step toward a state-mandated abstinence-only curriculum, which they contend does not work. Parent Martha Vukelich-Austin said she is concerned that some districts will interpret the bill as abstinence-only, resulting in children not having the knowledge they need to make smart choices. "When you give kids a complete education, it has been shown to delay sexual activity," said Vukelich-Austin.
An alternative bill sponsored by Rep. Tamara Grigsby (D- Milwaukee) would require districts that offer sex education to provide "scientifically based information and instruction." Though Grigsby acknowledged that her bill has little chance of being adopted, she said it is impossible to ignore the high rates of sexual activity among Milwaukee teens. "As much as I'd prefer abstinence, it simply hasn't been shown to be an effective approach," she said.
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