The ‘big talk’ may not be enough to educate
Parents must do more to advocate good decision-making skills as well as safe sex

When it came to having the “big talk” about sex with my parents (which was actually a series of frequent lectures) my mom would always leave my brother and me with one thought: “Always remember,” she said. “Don’t be silly, protect your Willy.” Although this sentence is a little bit off the wall and was always sure to embarrass my brother and me, it is the one thing I never forgot throughout the sex education I received at school and home.

Now however, it seems that parents are going to have to be a little more careful about how they are teaching their children about sex.

Police filed charges against a 33-year-old mother last week in Baraboo, Wis., after she allegedly bought condoms for her 13-year-old son.

Under Wisconsin law, the woman can be charged with child abuse because her son’s girlfriend is 15, and by purchasing the contraceptives, she is aiding the sexual abuse of a minor.

Now, because this mother chose to deal with her son’s sexual activity by stressing the importance of safety, she may spend up to 25 years in prison.

Should the mother not have bought condoms for her son, and risked him becoming a father at the age of 13? Absolutely not.

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion although teen birth rates have recently reached an all-time low, the United States still has the highest teenage pregnancy rate of all developed countries. About 1 million teens become pregnant each year in this country.

In addition, teens now face increased chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, all despite increased sex education in American schools.

What is America doing wrong?

Certainly, 13 is a young age to start having sex, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be ignored. Sure, if you are too embarrassed to buy condoms yourself, you probably aren’t ready to have sex.

Yet it would be unreasonable to assume that if the mother simply told her son to quit having sex that he would do it. If this mother cared about her son enough to go to the store and buy him condoms, you know it is likely she had discussed with him all, or at least some of, the risks involved.

For too long now, the United States has continued to support teaching “abstinence only” in its schools. Although teaching abstinence is important, it is simply unrealistic to believe it will have a substantial impact on curbing premarital sex in the year 2001.

Students usually receive sex education for the first time in about the fifth grade, just as they begin to experience puberty. Later, they typically receive more focused education on sexual activity.

Yet, according to a study done by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, most teens still learn the majority of what they know about sex from friends, television and the media.

No more do children simply receive “the talk” from their parents. When children do, they probably already know more about sex than their parents think they do.

Leading researchers say the key to raising sexually responsible children is to talk to them often about sex and take opportunities like commercials or television shows dealing with sex to start the discussion.

Certainly, many parents probably dread the day they find out their children are sexually active. Some probably even ignore it. The smart ones will choose to discuss it.
It is unfortunate that child abuse is still so prevalent in America. Those people working in social services departments across this country are understaffed and underpaid when it comes to dealing with abused children.

Yet, in Wisconsin, the police department has time to arrest those parents who are simply trying to do the best they know how for their children.

Shame on Wisconsin. I hope their judicial system will prove to be a much better institution than their law enforcement.

As for the mother, I hope she continues to educate and support her son, even if his decisions may not be in his best interest.

Opinion Editor James Zwilling is a sophomore news-editorial journalism major from Phoenix.
He can be reached at (james_zwilling@usa.net).

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