Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Sex Education Report Stirs Abstinence-Only Debate, 12/13/04
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec04/abstinence_12-13.html

Initiating Questions:

1. What kind of sex education is taught in your school?

2. Who should decide what kind of sex education is taught in schools?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What is abstinence education?

Abstinence Education teaches that abstaining from sex outside a monogamous, life-long relationship is the expected standard. The only discussion of contraceptives is about failure rates.

2. What is comprehensive sexuality education?

In contrast, comprehensive sexuality education teaches kids that abstaining from sex is the safest way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, but also discusses where to get contraceptives and how to use them. Right now, the federal government does not give any money to these teaching methods.

3. What did the Waxman study discover about many abstinence sex education curricula? What did the study say was taught about condoms?

The Waxman study found that many of the sex education curricula use outdated studies and/or medically inaccurate information.

One curriculum said that condoms are only 69 percent effective in preventing HIV transmission. According to the Centers for Disease Control, when used correctly, "latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles the size of STD pathogens."

4. What did critics of the report say?

Critics of the report say that Waxman used outdated teacher's manuals and took religious references out of context. They claim the report was a political tool to discredit abstinence education.

"Unfortunately what they continue to do for purely political reasons is to take issues and information out of context to try and discredit abstinence education, which is a disservice to our children," said Alma Golden of the Office of Public Health and Science.

5. What do many supporters of abstinence-only education think about the teaching of contraceptive use?

Many supporters of the abstinence-only education believe that teaching contraceptive use promotes sexual activity.

"You've got two days of abstinence and then, wink, wink, we know you can't do that, so here's all this other information. In Texas, the buckle of the Bible Belt, that would be considered extremely offensive to the vast majority of parents," says Kyleen Wright, president of Texans for Life.

6. How do proponents of comprehensive sex education counter this claim?

Critics of the abstinence-only education, such as Terry Bergeson, the superintendent of Washington state schools, counter this argument saying that "although in a perfect world, teens would not be having sexual relations; the reality is that a vast majority do and they need good, honest information about their sexuality and health."

7. What role does the federal government play in sexuality education?

At this time, the federal government does not mandate sexuality education. An estimated 22 states mandate some form of sex-ed, but the responsibility of choosing what to teach is often left up to local school districts or school boards.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Do you agree or disagree with Dr. Douglas Kirby when he says that educators don't have to chose either abstinence-only or comprehensive sex education? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning?

2. What kind of sexuality education is provided in your school? Is this where you learn about sexuality? If not, where else do you learn about sexuality?

3. Who should be responsible for teaching students sexuality education? Who should decide what is taught in schools?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.