Wisconsin students would learn about more than just the birds and the bees in sexual education classes, under legislation approved in the Assembly on Thursday night.
The bill would require any school offering growth and development courses to include information about sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives. State Representative Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee) says the bill provides teens with information they need, even if opponents don’t like to admit that many students are already sexually active. She says surveys have found at least 45-percent of high school students are having sex, with the numbers climbing before they graduate.
State Representative Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) was among many Republicans who blasted the bill for making schools choose between teaching everything or teaching nothing. The measure would prevent districts from only offering and abstinence-based curriculum.
Districts would not be required to teach any sexual education classes under the measure, and parents would have the option of removing their children from any courses that are offered.
State Representative Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) claims the bill would put the education of students in the hands of Planned Parenthood. But, Grigsby says the content of classes will be up to school districts to decide.
The bill now heads to the Senate.