Dropout rates are high in my hometown in Sitka , Alaska but so are the teen pregnancy statistics. This has been a continual problem in this town and it is definetly on the rise.
In 2002, Alaska's birth rate was 41 per 1,000 women ages 15-19 compared to a teen birth rate of 45 per 1,000 nationwide. Although Alaska's birthrate is around the normal percentage for the nationwide statistics it is still pretty high.
Alaska does not require schools to teach sexuality or STD education, however the Alaska Department of Education & Early development's health education team is commited to providing teachers and the school staff with current and scientifically sound research in health education, violence, and disease prevention. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention encourages schools to incorporate the above recommended curricula into a planned school health education program. Alaska ranks 34th in gonorrhea rates in ages 15-24 in the U.S. and 7th in chlamydia.
In my observations, over the last coupe of months having been back to visit Sitka, there were multiple teenagers I have personally known that have had or are having children before graduating highschool. I believe that if their was more information out there for these teenagers they would have thought twice about having sexual intercourse which their intimate partners or just some random male they had met at party. In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 23% of females and 28% of males in Alaska reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 30% of males nationwide. This rate has also gone up since the year 2003 but I couldn't find the actual statistic.
My solution to some of the problems of teen pregnancy would be to have the education of sexuality and STD education to be required in all schools throughout Alaska, whether they be public or private. Right now only 91 % of schools require health education, but not sexual or STD education. I think that something should be done about this.
4 comments:
I'm not sure what to think about this. I've read enough "horror stories" about young children being required to read/learn things much too mature for their age for a sex ed class, but I haven't probably heard as much of the other side. It seems like both sides of the issue have good points.
-Danae
Those statistics are of the charts, WOW! sex ed is very important. For most teens, they think, what i don't know can't hurt me. They are at a point in their life when they are ready to try new things-adult things, and they become vulnerable to those outside temptations. It is important for them to know that the stuff that they see in the media is not necessarily what is in reality. Sex education is a great way of doing this. it may not prevent all cases but it will shed needed light on the dangers of having sex during teenage years. Kudos!
the problem when is the right time to talk to children about sex and how much information should one share with them. some of us are unaware of this
I agree with you that there should be more education in the school for STDs and sex. Kids are having sex and using drugs earlier and earlier and if they don't have the education then they will just think that it's all fun and won't know the outcomes that could come with their choices.
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