Indiana's sex education near bottom

Less than 7 percent of Indiana high school sex education teachers educate students about proper condom usage, according to a recent IU survey. \nResearchers, who interviewed 400 Indiana high school and middle school teachers in a study to test the extent of sex education, said the results showed that many teachers are leaving out key aspects in their curricula. Fewer than half of sex education teachers reported discussing HIV/AIDS thoroughly, and only 35 percent discussed pregnancy. \nIU professors and Planned Parenthood representatives said they are worried that students are leaving high school without the knowledge they need to live sexually healthy lives. \nTheresa Browning, director of communication for Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana, said part of the problem is that teachers are unsure of what they can teach. She said teachers are required to teach abstinence, but should teach safe sex and all information available to them. \n"We teach these kids math and English," Browning said. "We need to teach them all the facts on sex education as well so they can make smart decisions." \nShe said the lack of information is worrisome, especially with recent findings that 35 percent of all new STD cases in Indiana occur in teenagers. \nA recent national report found that Indiana recently ranked 49th out of 50 in preventing unintended pregnancy, according to a recent report by the Guttmacher Institute. \nThe lack of information is causing concerned parties like Browning to join coalitions such as Get Real, Indiana!, whose Web site says: "Schools have an opportunity and obligation to give young people information in a balanced manner that teaches abstinence plus facts about contraception, reproductive health, relationships, and decision making." \nThe campaign also stresses the importance of teaching abstinence, anatomy, body image, contraception, disease prevention, gender issues, pregnancy, relationships and sexual development. \nIU professor in the Department of Applied Health Science Michael Reece said he believes the key to improving the problem is to talk about the issues out of the classroom as well. \n"Schools need help," Reece said. "I recommend more open and honest discussions in the community." \nBrowning said that parents and religious groups have been pretty receptive to open, thorough communication. She said school representatives don't think parents support them, but studies show they actually do. She said she would like to see more organizations out there to help spread the right information. \nBoth Browning and Reece agreed that the key is to make sure young people's questions get answered and that they are given the full spectrum of information. \n"If I could give advice to IU students, it would be to start thinking about your own sexual education," Reece said, "and what you can do as members of the community to support open and honest communication"