Unfortunately, the same can pretty much be said for Texas high school students:
AUSTIN -- Two high school health textbooks that passed the initial state review process earlier this month now are being criticized for being so focused on abstinence that they fail to include state-mandated information on contraception.
The books, which will replace 11-year-old texts, were found by panels of educators and citizens to meet state curriculum standards, including one which requires students to "analyze the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of barrier protection and other contraceptive methods including the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, keeping in mind the effectiveness of remaining abstinent until marriage."
But critics, including a member of the review panel, said that the books shouldn't have been approved. They plan to take their concerns to the State Board of Education, which will hold a public hearing July 14.
Because members of the Texas State Board of Education are reknowned for their reasoned and well-thought out decisions when it comes to putting the interests of Texas children ahead of the Christian right-wing organizations that funded their campaigns.
But back to our story:
For example, Holt, Rinehart and Winston's "Lifetime Health" lists 10 steps for students to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases. The use of latex condoms is not one of them. Students are advised, however, to get plenty of rest.
If textbooks are advocating abstinence to prevent STDs and not even discussing contraception, what could the other nine steps possible be? Sign of the cross? Mormon undergarments? Wearing mittens?
This would all appear to go against the "no child left behind" stance advocated by both our former and current Governors, as preaching abstinence to teenagers has proven notoriously ineffective in preventing the creation of new children.
But don't take my word for it:
Texas has the nation's highest teen birth rate, according to the National Vital Statistics Report, based on 2002 data.
We're #1! And that statistic nicely complements the tightening of Medicaid eligibility requirements for low-income pregnant women and cutting the budget for the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Cathie Adams, president of the Texas Eagle Forum, a self-described pro-family group, praised the publishers for consulting with interested organizations before submitting their books to the education agency. She said that abstinence-only for teens is "very much in keeping with policies from the White House, as well as policies that are wanted by parents."
And also those policies held in Narnia, Brigadoon, Never-Never Land, Whoville, the Keebler Elf tree, and a host of other fantasmagorical realms. Those of us who occupy this dimension could stand to be a little more realistic.
Hey, the Eagle Forum's pro-family... they endorse policies guaranteed to create a whole bunch of new ones. Of course, the problem that they're all led by single teenage parents doesn't seem to bother them much.
"Those of us who occupy this dimension could stand to be a little more realistic."
Agreed. Besides, anyone who expects the Texas public school system to educate their children on sexual education is fool. Parents, get in there and do your job! Retards may be running our public school system, but that doesn't mean you can't educate your children yourself. Ultimatley, some of the fault for teen pregnancy lies squarely on the grandparents' shoulders if they didn't arm thier kids with the necessary information, as well as keep a watchful eye on the little fuckers.
thank you, pete, for reminding me why i don't want to give up, roll over, and just get a secondary teaching certificate while my fiance jettisons up his career ladder. i'd rather wait tables than deal with "no child left behind."
Hey, at least we Texans are equal-opportunity idiots. We're not only lacking in knowledge about essential biological functions, but also every other subject other the sun.
Courtesy of the 6/30 "Houston Chronicle," you gotta love this headline: "Texas high school graduation rate worst in nation for second time." (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/2654323)
Choice bits include...
"For the second straight year, Texas has the lowest percentage of high school graduates in the nation, according to a U.S. Census Bureau study released Tuesday."
"In the Houston Independent School District, ...administrators believe that as many as 40 percent of the city's students never graduate."
FORTY-PERCENT?!!! Sweet zombie Jesus...our species is doomed.
Justin - which species are you talking about? Humankind? Or Texans? ;-)
(Just a little friendly banter to start off Hump Day. Go ahead, take shots at this genuine, honest-to-goodness Massachussetts liberal.)
What's the point? Isn't being a Red Sox fan punishment enough?
Not only are we #1 in teens getting knocked up (and uninsured childre, don't forget!), but Texas also has the youngest fossils in the known world, as none of them can possibly be older than 10,000 years.