Lawmaker debates sex ed with teens

A state lawmaker debated 25 teens Wednesday evening about how to teach sex education in Utah schools.

The students, mainly from West High School, came armed with facts and statistics.

Emma Waitzman, 17, a junior at West High, presented an East Coast study that showed abstinence-based sex education, compared to comprehensive sex education, didn't change the rate of sexual activity of teens. And teens who received the complete facts had a lower pregnancy rate.

But democracy rules when it comes to what's taught in this state's schools, said Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield. "Our value system in Utah is a lot different than in other states," he said.

Ray countered the students with a philosophy of stronger parents' rights and less government intervention.

"It comes back to parenting. It should be taught in the home," he said. "We don't want people teaching things to our kids that we don't approve of."

The Planned Parenthood Action Committee organized the meeting with Ray to offer him students' perspective on the issue.

Gabriella Huggins, 15, a West High freshman, agreed it comes down to parenting. "And we are becoming parents too young and too easily," she said.

There was no agreement at the end of the emotional half-hour discussion but Ray suggested the possibility of a less restrictive sex education pilot program in a school district. He also invited the teenagers to testify this summer before the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, of which he is chairman.

At the heart of the matter is a bill that would allow teachers to instruct students on birth control without worrying about repercussions. Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Salt Lake, sponsored legislation to that end during the 2009 session, but it was tabled by the House Health and Human Services Committee.

The bill proposed to amend Utah law to emphasize educators be allowed to instruct students on birth control options "without fear of reprimand."

Currently, by State Office of Education rule and in accordance with Utah law, educators may instruct on contraception options with prior parental consent.

The law also states teachers are not to "advocate or encourage the use of contraceptive methods or devices." Hemingway's bill would remove that prohibitive language.

Waitzman did an unscientific off-campus survey of 50 students at Clearfield High School and 57 students at West High.

Approximately half of the students surveyed stated they are sexually active. A total of 32 percent incorrectly answered one or both of two basic questions regarding sexually transmitted diseases. Thirty percent stated sex education in their school is insufficient.

Ray said abstinence-based sex education in Utah has been the decision of the Legislature for a long time and "probably most school boards would feel the same way."

Joey Richards, public affairs coordinator of Planned Parenthood Action Committee said he felt the event went well. "This wasn't the end of the discussion," he said.

E-MAIL: astewart@desnews.com