Some Florida school districts are rolling back a more comprehensive approach to sex education in favor of abstinence-focused lessons under pressure from state officials who have labeled certain instruction on contraception, anatomy and consent as inappropriate for students.
Officials from the Florida Department of Education, led by an appointee of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, have been directing some of the state’s largest school districts to scale back their lesson plans not only on sexual activity, but on contraceptives, human development, abuse and domestic violence, as first reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
The shift reflects a nationwide push in conservative states to restrict what kids can learn about themselves and their bodies. Advocates are concerned that young people won’t reliably be taught about adolescence, safe sex or relationship violence at a time when sexually transmitted infections have been on the rise and access to abortion is being increasingly restricted.
Sex Ed is uncomfortable. It involves having frank and honest discussions with teenagers about taboo topics and acknowledging that they won’t just do what you tell them, and so you need to meet them where they’re at.
Conservatives don’t want that. They want something quick and easy regardless of if it’s correct or functional. They’d rather a higher risk their kid becomes a teenage parent than accept that this uncomfortable process that involves accepting that they don’t get the final say in what their kid does is the best way to prevent it.