Good for you to get involved. I need to find out what information is given to the kids here in Colorado.

Hah! Randomly, I saw that episode (the first one I've ever seen!) It was depressing. That said, from the commercials it looks like other episodes do deal with adoptions at least (though dunno if any do abortion, since the point is "...and pregnant")

I'm coming at this from before sex was talked about in schools--when girls were sent away to stay with a distant relative for six months, and the reasons given were wide-ranging, but never the truth. When menstuation was covered in a class for girls only by a filmstrip--that was a cartoon! They couldn't bear to broach the subject of kotex (and yes, the strip was produced and distributed by the brand name) by actual live people.

The mechanics of intercourse, or other sex practices, much less the emotional fallout involved, or the possibility of protection--all these were never mentioned, much less discussed in school. I learned about coitus from a friend, whose mom had discussed it with her. My mom asked me, embarrassed as she could be, if I knew about stuff, when I was 18! She was deeply religious and neurotically avoidant, as were the moms of most of my peers, and if we had depended on our mothers, we'd have been as ignorant as girls a century beforehand when we married as virgins.

Sex ed in schools was a fantastic development--I and many of my contemporaries--heard the "Ahh, ahh, ahh" of a heavenly choir as the light of revelation shone from above--or from somewhere, as children began to learn about the mechanics of things at an early age, and to discuss in more depth as they grew older. Discussion was encouraged, curiosity was encouraged, opportunities made for real learning. Yes, there was a period where every Hollywood starlet was supporting a wedlock-free baby bump, and it was the height of chic. But Hollywood also went into discussing the realities of parenthood--parenting teens AND parenting BY teens--on popular tv shows. Girls didn't get sent away, hardly ever, any more. Guys were held more responsible, and paternal rights became an issue. It was a hot mess, but at least it was going on in the light of day.

So imagine the horror and regret and deep sense of despair I felt when people in power started repressing information again. Not only in matters of sex education, but in all areas of personal freedom. Sex ed in schools is, I believe, a firm indicator of how open and healthy a society is. It's a building block. Kids who went through public school in the last ten years are going to be unnecessarily repressed about a lot of things as they go through the rest of their lives. We've allowed public opinon to do those kids a huge disservice.

If the light is dawning again, it's because of people like you. You go get 'em, girl. Save the world, one sex ed class at a time.

Yes, ma'am!!

I'm coming at this from before sex was talked about in schools--when girls were sent away to stay with a distant relative for six months, and the reasons given were wide-ranging, but never the truth.

There's a magnificent book out called, I think, The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Years Before Roe v. Wade by Ann Fesslar. Wonderful book. Left me feeling horrible, sad, angry, and grateful that my mom didn't have to go through that.