Texas Schools Emphasize Abstinence-Only Sex Education, Teach Misinformation, Study Finds

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 27 Feb 2009 - 3:00 PST

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A majority of Texas schools implement "scare tactics and spread myths in place of teaching basic sex and health information" in their sex education curricula, according to a report released by the Texas Freedom Network on Wednesday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The two-year study of 990 Texas school districts examined curricula, district policies and other materials from nearly all 1,031 public schools in the state. It found that 94% of public schools use abstinence-only instruction that usually downplays or ignores contraception and health screenings, with 2% ignoring sex education entirely. In addition, the report found that sex education curricula used by 41% of school districts included factual errors, mainly with regard to condom effectiveness and sexually transmitted infections.

The report also found that:

~ School materials often include misinformation about HIV transmission;

~ Fear-based instruction and stigma are standard in sex education;

~ 81% of school districts receive no formal recommendations for sex education instruction from state-mandated councils;

~ Most students in Texas receive no education about human sexuality other than the promotion of abstinence;

~ Stereotypes and gender-based biases are prevalent in sexuality instruction; and

~ Some classes include religious instruction using the Bible to teach sex education.

David Wiley, professor of health education at Texas State University, and Kelly Wilson, assistant professor of health education at the university, said that the report's findings can be attributed to "school administrators' fear of controversy and religious groups that teach that sex is shameful," according to the Star-Telegram. Texas has one of the country's highest teen pregnancy rates and receives more federal abstinence funding than any other state. The report suggests addressing the issue by appointing at least one certified health professional and educator to state-mandated health advisory councils that will review sex education policies every three years. The authors also suggest that the state decline federal funding for abstinence-only education and instead use material that emphasizes abstinence while providing medically accurate information. Kathy Miller, president of the Freedom Network's Education Fund, said that although she wants schools to encourage abstinence when teaching sex education, "we must stop burying our heads in the sand about high teen birth and STD rates and make sure young people get the medically accurate information they need to protect their health and their futures" (Frazier, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2/25).

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