Don’t fail our children

Access to sexual health education for Arkansas K-12 students has been in the news and letters sections in the past few weeks. There are differing opinions as to the benefits and the pitfalls. SB304, The Arkansas Healthy Lifestyle Education Act of 2019, was defeated in the House Education Committee. In response, Terrah Graves, a master of social work student, presented facts and statistics to support the inclusion of sexual health education for Arkansas students. Kay Hicks then raised some questions about how and by whom the subject would/should be taught in schools. She also suggested focusing on academics at school and relying on parents, churches, and synagogues to teach sex education.

In a perfect world, all students would focus on academics/good grades and families would provide guidance and facts in order for young people to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, that is not the case in our state. The Arkansas Adolescent Reproductive Health Facts published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that Arkansas ranked first on final 2016 teen birth rates among females ages 15-19. Remember that for every teen female there was also a teen or adult male involved in creating these statistics.

In 1964, a group of concerned professionals founded a nonprofit organization called Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). Since then, it has become a recognized leader in the field of sexuality and sex education, publishing many books, journals, and resources for professionals, parents, and the public. SIECUS recently published the National Teacher Preparation Standards for Sexuality Education to help educators.

All Arkansas students deserve scientifically accurate, evidence-based sexual health instruction that is ageand grade-level appropriate. Anything less and we are failing our children. SARAH THOMPSON

Fayetteville