TFN President Calls for Passage of Sex Ed Reform Bills
HB 741 and HB 1567 Require Accurate, Responsible Sexuality Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2009
AUSTIN Texas lawmakers have proposed responsible legislation that would bring sweeping and critically needed reforms to the way public schools teach teens about sexuality and health, Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said today.
“Deeply flawed abstinence-only programs that have a stranglehold on sexuality education in Texas have failed our families for more than 13 years,” Miller said. “Parents rightly provide the moral and ethical guidance children need. But our schools can and should do a good job teaching students the importance of abstinence while also giving them accurate, age-appropriate information about responsible pregnancy and disease prevention.”
The House Public Education Committee today is scheduled to consider two important bills dealing with sexuality education. House Bill 741 by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, would require comprehensive, or “abstinence-plus,” sexuality education in Texas public schools. House Bill 1567 by Rep. Michael Villarreal, D-San Antonio, requires that all information taught in public schools about condoms and other contraceptives be scientifically accurate. These bills would bring the most sweeping changes in the state’s sexuality education policies in more than 13 years.
A nearly two-year study from the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund released in February revealed that more than 9 in 10 Texas public school districts teach nothing about responsible pregnancy and disease prevention. Nearly all instead teach deeply flawed abstinence-only programs that are plagued with factual errors and rely on fear, shame and stereotypes to teach teens about sexuality and health.
Health education professors David Wiley and Kelly Wilson of Texas State University-San Marcos authored the study.
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The Texas Freedom Network is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of religious and community leaders who advance a mainstream agenda supporting public education, religious freedom and individual liberties.
