Ray Carter September 13, Ray Carter. The materials, obtained independently by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, provide a glimpse of how sex education is handled in some Oklahoma schools today and how that material may differ significantly from the basic biology-focused lessons provided to prior generations.
What harmful biases or stereotypes might you encounter? What social or professional opportunities might become available to you? What opportunities might you now lose? However, the appropriateness and effectiveness of many public-school sex-education programs have been questioned by experts.
She said the focus on various gender identities may be one of the biggest changes in school sex-education curriculum in recent years. Yet many school districts have, effectively, chosen sides on these issues and are using sex education as the vehicle to enforce conformity with their views.
The review showed only six rigorous studies found evidence of effectiveness defined as improvement on a protective outcome such as abstinence, condom use, pregnancy, or sexually transmitted diseases, without other negative effects, measured 12 months after program completion. The goal of the program is to prevent teen births and sexually transmitted infections. The results of state testing in the school year, the most recent available, showed that 84 percent of students in Tulsa were not proficient in science.
Director, Center for Independent Journalism. He has two decades of experience in journalism and communications. He previously served as senior Capitol reporter for The Journal Record, media director for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and chief editorial writer at The Oklahoman.
