An Interview With PW Program Director Karen Kropf About Sex Ed.in CA
How has sex education in CA changed in the last 10 years?
KK: When we started telling our stories story to teens in 1998, I saw it had a profound positive impact on their decisions about sex. We assumed the community would be relieved that there was an effective way to combat teen pregnancy and the spread of STDs. But not everyone was happy about it. Some adults told us it was “unrealistic” to try to teach teens they could exert control over thier sexcual impulses. Others were frankly opposed philosophically to having children reject a sexually permissive lifestyle.
Are you talking about gay/lesbian issues?
KK: Sometimes it comes under that guise, but even adults who are living together aren’t too crazy about having their child come home and say, “I’ve decided to wait to have sex until I’m married.”
Of course, I do get asked, “what about gay students? They can’t get married, so aren’t you discriminating against them?” But we believethe discrimination comes from the OTHER side -- by sayings homosexual students CAN t control themselves.
But there are NO benefits to adolescent sexual activity - whether you’re attracted to someone of the same sex or the opposite sex. Multiple studies link adolescent sexual activity with higher dropout rates, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and obviously it increases their risk of infections. On the other side, sexual self-control helps young people (gay or straight) learn how to delay gratification, resist temptation, and develop the relational skills they will need later on.
But aren’t you really just scaring kids out of having sex?
KK: We get that all the time. I know when people hear “abstinence educator” they think “The Church Lady” from Saturday Night Live. Our presentations aren’t like that at all. When we realized that fear only works as long as the fear lasts -- we developed a technique that gets into their hearts, and changes how they see sex.
How do you respond to the complaints that your presentations violate state law?
KK: State law requires schools to teach a comprehensive program. Over the course of the unit teachers have to cover abstinence, reproduction, contraception, HIV/AIDS, sexual disease transmission and prevention, sexual harassment and safe surrender laws. Having a PW presentation highlights one specific aspect of sexual decision-making. Any teacher who brings us in MUST cover the rest of the material somehow. Either with another speaker (many use local clinics) or covering it themselves, using the Health textbook.
How do you respond to statements like the health educator from CSUN, Amy Reichbach, who was also quoted in the Daily News, saying “Abstinence really is the best form of contraception; it’s just not realistic”?
KK: I take comments like that straight to the classroom and show it to the teens. Sstudents hate it when adults lower the bar, as if they can t expect too much from teens. It makes them even more committed to proving those adults wrong. No one likes to be stereotyped. Teens are a lot smarter than adults give them credit for. Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them.
Abstinence presentations are criticized for not meeting the needs of students who are already sexually active. How do you respond to that?
KK: I have two responses. First, I’m not opposed to giving students information on birth control or condoms. I’m only opposed to telling them that it provides the SAME LEVEL of protection as not having sex at all. Because that’s a lie. My second response is, just because a student has already “done it” that doesn’t mean it was a smart decision, or that the best decision is to continue. When adults are talking with teens who smoke or do drugs, responsible adults don’t stop telling them it’s not healthy. My own story is a great example that it s never too late to make a BETTER decision.
You discuss "Post-abortion syndrome.” Are you anti-abortion?
KK: I want abortions to be unnecessary and undesirable, yes. Some people want to change laws, I want to change hearts. Teens have the impression that abortion is an easy answer, but those of us who’ve done it, we know it’s a hard decision to live with. Sexual self-control means young girls are able to achieve important goals without having to choose which of their babies will live.
People who support abortion will say “Then why not include information on contraception at the same time?”
KK: Because contraception does fail, especially with teens. Because it can’t protect their heart and their dreams. Because it’s just not good enough.
Occasionally a student will ask, “Aren’t you going to give us condoms?” And I’ll tell them, I believe you deserve 100% protection, 100% of the time. No pill, shot, cream, foam or condom can promise that. You’ll have to get condoms from someone who thinks it’s OK for you to have less than 100% protection.”
Some teens say, “I’m worth waiting for” and get their pin, but then have sex anyway, don’t they?
KK: Correct. No one can get through to everyone. But teens don’t practice “safe sex” 100% of the time after a comprehensive sex ed. class either! In fact, a 2005 study* showed sexually active 9th graders use condoms about 75% of the time, but it drops off to about 55% of the time by the 12th grade, as they get more dependent on other forms of birth control -- even though their risk for infection is much, much higher than the risk of pregnancy. I feel we have an obligation to demonstrate the safest, healthiest strategy for avoiding physical, emotional and relational problems. Then it’s up to the student to decide what to do with the information.
The youth you talk to are someone eles kids. What makes you care?
KK: First, because they are OUR future. Today's teens are tomorrows employees, parents, leaders and decision-makers. Second, because adults tell me all the time, “I wish someone had told me this stuff when I was a teenager.” My generation is carrying around a lot of brokenness because of decisions we made as teens. Last, because what they're getting is half-truths, outright lies and filtered nuances. We owe them the truth. They deserve at least a fighting chance to do what my generation wouldn’t.
* CDC Surveillance Summaries June 9, 2006 YSRBS
How has sex education in CA changed in the last 10 years?
KK: When we started telling our stories story to teens in 1998, I saw it had a profound positive impact on their decisions about sex. We assumed the community would be relieved that there was an effective way to combat teen pregnancy and the spread of STDs. But not everyone was happy about it. Some adults told us it was “unrealistic” to try to teach teens they could exert control over thier sexcual impulses. Others were frankly opposed philosophically to having children reject a sexually permissive lifestyle.
Are you talking about gay/lesbian issues?
KK: Sometimes it comes under that guise, but even adults who are living together aren’t too crazy about having their child come home and say, “I’ve decided to wait to have sex until I’m married.”
Of course, I do get asked, “what about gay students? They can’t get married, so aren’t you discriminating against them?” But we believethe discrimination comes from the OTHER side -- by sayings homosexual students CAN t control themselves.
But there are NO benefits to adolescent sexual activity - whether you’re attracted to someone of the same sex or the opposite sex. Multiple studies link adolescent sexual activity with higher dropout rates, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and obviously it increases their risk of infections. On the other side, sexual self-control helps young people (gay or straight) learn how to delay gratification, resist temptation, and develop the relational skills they will need later on.
But aren’t you really just scaring kids out of having sex?
KK: We get that all the time. I know when people hear “abstinence educator” they think “The Church Lady” from Saturday Night Live. Our presentations aren’t like that at all. When we realized that fear only works as long as the fear lasts -- we developed a technique that gets into their hearts, and changes how they see sex.
How do you respond to the complaints that your presentations violate state law?
KK: State law requires schools to teach a comprehensive program. Over the course of the unit teachers have to cover abstinence, reproduction, contraception, HIV/AIDS, sexual disease transmission and prevention, sexual harassment and safe surrender laws. Having a PW presentation highlights one specific aspect of sexual decision-making. Any teacher who brings us in MUST cover the rest of the material somehow. Either with another speaker (many use local clinics) or covering it themselves, using the Health textbook.
How do you respond to statements like the health educator from CSUN, Amy Reichbach, who was also quoted in the Daily News, saying “Abstinence really is the best form of contraception; it’s just not realistic”?
KK: I take comments like that straight to the classroom and show it to the teens. Sstudents hate it when adults lower the bar, as if they can t expect too much from teens. It makes them even more committed to proving those adults wrong. No one likes to be stereotyped. Teens are a lot smarter than adults give them credit for. Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them.
Abstinence presentations are criticized for not meeting the needs of students who are already sexually active. How do you respond to that?
KK: I have two responses. First, I’m not opposed to giving students information on birth control or condoms. I’m only opposed to telling them that it provides the SAME LEVEL of protection as not having sex at all. Because that’s a lie. My second response is, just because a student has already “done it” that doesn’t mean it was a smart decision, or that the best decision is to continue. When adults are talking with teens who smoke or do drugs, responsible adults don’t stop telling them it’s not healthy. My own story is a great example that it s never too late to make a BETTER decision.
You discuss "Post-abortion syndrome.” Are you anti-abortion?
KK: I want abortions to be unnecessary and undesirable, yes. Some people want to change laws, I want to change hearts. Teens have the impression that abortion is an easy answer, but those of us who’ve done it, we know it’s a hard decision to live with. Sexual self-control means young girls are able to achieve important goals without having to choose which of their babies will live.
People who support abortion will say “Then why not include information on contraception at the same time?”
KK: Because contraception does fail, especially with teens. Because it can’t protect their heart and their dreams. Because it’s just not good enough.
Occasionally a student will ask, “Aren’t you going to give us condoms?” And I’ll tell them, I believe you deserve 100% protection, 100% of the time. No pill, shot, cream, foam or condom can promise that. You’ll have to get condoms from someone who thinks it’s OK for you to have less than 100% protection.”
Some teens say, “I’m worth waiting for” and get their pin, but then have sex anyway, don’t they?
KK: Correct. No one can get through to everyone. But teens don’t practice “safe sex” 100% of the time after a comprehensive sex ed. class either! In fact, a 2005 study* showed sexually active 9th graders use condoms about 75% of the time, but it drops off to about 55% of the time by the 12th grade, as they get more dependent on other forms of birth control -- even though their risk for infection is much, much higher than the risk of pregnancy. I feel we have an obligation to demonstrate the safest, healthiest strategy for avoiding physical, emotional and relational problems. Then it’s up to the student to decide what to do with the information.
The youth you talk to are someone eles kids. What makes you care?
KK: First, because they are OUR future. Today's teens are tomorrows employees, parents, leaders and decision-makers. Second, because adults tell me all the time, “I wish someone had told me this stuff when I was a teenager.” My generation is carrying around a lot of brokenness because of decisions we made as teens. Last, because what they're getting is half-truths, outright lies and filtered nuances. We owe them the truth. They deserve at least a fighting chance to do what my generation wouldn’t.
* CDC Surveillance Summaries June 9, 2006 YSRBS
