Sex Education in America

In January 2004, National Public Radio (NPR), the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), and Harvard University's Kennedy School published the results of research examining Americans' views on sex education in United States public schools. The project addresses whether and what kind of sex education Americans think should be taught in school, and surveys middle school and high school principals on what is actually happening in the schools. Two nationwide telephone surveys were conducted. As part of this initiative, NPR reported on the results of the survey and sex education more broadly. Stories included a profile of abstinence only and more comprehensive sex education classes, a report on why parents think their daughters are better prepared for sexual issues than their sons, and a Youth Radio report on the different definitions of abstinence.

In general, the research found that 93% of Americans think that sex education should be taught in schools. Parents are generally content with whatever type of sex education is offered by their children's school, and public school principals report little serious conflict over sex education in their communities. 74% of principals say there have been no recent discussions or debate in school board or other public meetings about what to teach in sex ed. Likewise, few principals report being contacted by elected officials, religious leaders, or other people in their communities about sex education.

However, as the study's summary document makes clear, this mood of consensus does not mean that all Americans agree on what kind of sex education is best. For example, 15% of Americans believe that schools should teach only about abstinence from sexual intercourse and should not provide information on how to obtain and use condoms and other contraception. 46% believe that the most appropriate approach is one that organisers call "abstinence-plus" - while abstinence is best, some teens do not abstain, so schools also should teach about condoms and contraception. 36% believe that abstinence is not a priority in sex education, and that the focus should be on teaching teens how to make responsible decisions about sex. Meanwhile, 30% of the principals of public middle schools and high schools where sex education is taught report that their schools teach abstinence-only. 47% of those schools taught abstinence-plus, while 20% taught that making responsible decisions about sex was more important than abstinence.

When it comes to the general approach to teaching sex and sexuality in the schools, Americans are divided. Respondents were asked to choose which of 2 statements was closer to their belief: (1) "When it comes to sex, teenagers need to have limits set; they must be told what is acceptable and what is not." Or (2) "ultimately teenagers need to make their own decisions, so their education needs to be more in the form of providing information and guidance." 47% selected the first statement; 51% selected the second.

The surveys identified several distinctions of note. First, according to organisers, just as the initial impetus for sex education in schools came from health advocates, the historical impetus for abstinence education has come from evangelical or born-again Christians. Members of the latter group tend to hold very different attitudes about sex and sex education. For instance, 81% of evangelical or born-again Christians believe it is morally wrong for unmarried adults to engage in sexual intercourse, compared with 33% of other Americans. Second, parents think their daughters are better prepared to deal with sexual issues than their sons (60% of parents said their daughter was very prepared; only 36% said the same of their son).

Click here to access files for download in PDF format (including a summary, the survey of the general public/parents, and the survey of principles) or to listen to the archived NPR stories.For more information, contact:

Heidi Hess

Kaiser Family Foundation

Tel.: (650) 854-9400

hhess@kff.org

OR

The Kaiser Family Foundation's Communications Department

Tel.: (650) 854-9400/(202) 347-5270

press@kff.org