Sex ed in the Miami Valley remains controversial
Governor announced in March that Ohio would reject Title V funding for abstinence-only classes. By Laura A. Bischoff, James Cummings and Scott Elliott Staff Writers, Dayton Daily News Sunday, May 20, 2007 Fynecia Hines says she learned about contraceptives through her friends that were taking them. At 19, she's now pregnant with her second child. Hines attended Trotwood schools, a district that stresses abstinence until marriage and steers clear of hot topics such as abortion and homosexuality. She now wishes she was given more sex education. "They left us pretty much in the dark," said Hines, who now attends a charter school and takes care of her son, Kirk. Hines said the abstinence message is good — and one she wishes she had heeded — but it isn't enough for everyone. Her middle school health class covered anatomy and sexually transmitted diseases, she said, but once she entered Trotwood-Madison High School there wasn't any more formal sex education. "It should be a required course for freshmen when you come in and the temptations have started," Hines said. She added that some students need sex education earlier, such as sixth grade when she became sexually active. Gov. Ted Strickland announced in March that Ohio would join several other states in rejecting federal Title V funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage classes. Strickland said abstinence should be stressed in school but as part of a comprehensive program that tells youth how to protect themselves against disease and pregnancy. (story continues) You can read the rest of this story on the Dayton Daily News Website.
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