Ignorance Isn't Bliss: Boston Students Campaign for Comprehensive Sex Ed

In the debate over how to teach sex education in schools, young people's voices often go unheard. But in Boston, a group of students from the Jamaica Plains neighborhood are making sure they get a say in the matter. In conjunction with the nonprofit Hyde Square Task Force, the students have launched a campaign to demand that a comprehensive sex education program be implemented in all the city's high schools.

The group made an informative and funny video (after the jump) that interviews students, politicians and public health leaders. In it, they point out that there's no standardized sexual education in Boston schools, despite the state's high rate of STDs and teen sexual activity.

In addition to the video, the group is running a Facebook campaign, "Sex in School: Does Ignorance Keep Us Safe?" Among other things, they are demanding a standardized comprehensive sexuality education program beginning in 9th grade, free condom distribution in Boston Public high schools and a student awareness campaign to promote safe sex in all the high schools. One of the main goals of the campaign is to ensure that students are able to weigh-in on the curriculum development and implementation.

The video highlights problems that are nationwide. Although the U.S.  teen birth rate is at its lowest levels in decades, it's still much higher than other countries, including Western Europe. The explanation is largely cultural -- in many parts of Europe, parents, teachers and other are more accepting of teen sexuality and more likely to encourage and provide access to contraception.

Contrast that with the U.S., where abstinent-only education is still taught, despite its ineffectiveness. In the video, the teens notes the patchwork method of sexual education in Boston schools, and the fact that some of the people teaching sex ed, like P.E. teachers, may not be well-qualified to do so.

That means that teens are getting their sex education from TV, Internet and, as a few teens in the video note, "pornos." The result it that one in four female teens in Boston has an sexually transmitted infection. On their Facebook page, the campaign also points out that in Massachusetts in 2006, the black teen birth rate was nearly three times higher than the white birth rate and the Hispanic teen birth rate was nearly six times as high.

The campaign is drawing attention and action. According to the Boston Globe, the public school system recently created a new Health and Wellness Department, and are working with the public health department to develop a sex ed program.

Of course, the students will have to keep up the pressure to make sure they are given a voice in the curriculum and its implementation. But it looks like they're on the right path to make sure that happens.

Check out the video:

Photo credit: soundfromwayout