Texas Monthly has an important article this month on the decline of sexuality education in our schools, “Faith Hope, and Chastity“, and I highly recommend its reading. I confess that I have a dog in this fight since I joined the board of Planned Parenthood of Cameron and Willacy Counties last November. but I am there because I believe in it’s mission: “providing high quality, affordable reproductive health care to the people of our community regardless of income, sexual orientation, marital status or age.” It’s a locally controlled affiliate, as are all affiliates, dedicated to serving those in need in our community.

The Texas Monthly article should be must reading for everyone involved or concerned with educating our children. The upshot is that so-called “abstinence only” education is failing those children and has no effect on their actual sexual behavior where comprehensive sexuality education does.

Blanca Cavazos, CEO of PPCWC, had this to say in the cover email she sent this morning:

We have a huge problem in Texas with teen pregnancy and the lack of appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education, but you already know this. The fact that a few vocal, well-connected individuals have the power to make decisions about what will be taught in our classrooms with total disregard to the target population - teens - is unacceptable. Our teens are being bomparded with contradictory messages. On one hand you have the messages from the abstinence only or abstinence-based teachings then they go home and get an entirely different messafe from the TV shows they watch. Are these the messages you want them to receive?

It is also my hope will anger you enough to do at least one of the following things:

1. Find out what curricula are being taught in your kid’s schools and let us know.
2. Find out how you can serve your school’s health advisory council. This council reviews sexuality education curricula and makes recommendations to the full school board.
3. Write a letter to the editor and express your concern.
4. Contact your state and congressional legislators and educate them on this issue.
5. Talk to your kids or grandkids about sexuality because no one else is.

These are issues that will effect your children’s lives forever. Read up.