Stuck In The Past

Just when you think Mississippi is ready to move into the 21st century you are sadly mistaken.  Recently a bill was introduced into the state legislature that would create a pilot program for sex education in the state.  That bill would have been HB 234 which stated:

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, ACTING JOINTLY WITH THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DETERMINE THE GRADE OR GRADES IN WHICH THE PILOT PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SELECT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO DEVELOP CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES PROMOTING PREGNANCY PREVENTION AND PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNPROTECTED, UNINFORMED AND UNDERAGE SEXUAL ACTIVITY; TO PROVIDE THAT NO STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY CLASS OR COURSE IN THE PILOT PROGRAM IF THE STUDENT’S PARENT OR GUARDIAN SUBMITS WRITTEN OBJECTION TO THAT PARTICIPATION; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WITH THE INPUT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TO SUBMIT A REPORT ON THE PILOT PROGRAM TO THE CHAIRMEN OF CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2012; TO AMEND SECTIONS 41-79-5 AND 37-14-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

All in all it would have proven that Mississippi was trying to find its way into the new century….but as normal the state will do everything possible to stay in the cultural dark ages.  The bill died in committee.  So Mississippi will continue to stress a proiven failure as their answer to sex ed…abstinance.  The program has not worked anywhere in the US, but that is okay for Mississippi and the religious right will continue to preach a worthless program and wonder why they have an ever exploding teen pregnancy problem.