| Releases
& Statements
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 18, 2007
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
Release #: 060-2007
Public Advocate Gotbaum: City Should Provide Comprehensive Sex Education
-Sex Education Not Mandated by State or City, Many High School Students Not Receiving Important Instruction-
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today urged the city to provide comprehensive sex education, saying that the lack of instruction profoundly affects the lives of thousands of adolescents. In a letter sent to School Chancellor Joel Klein this week, Gotbaum said, "According to an August 2007 report by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, nearly half of New York City youth (48 percent) reported having had sex, and approximately one in three reported being sexually active. Given the city’s high teen pregnancy rate, I urge you to take the necessary steps to ensure that all New York City high schools provide comprehensive sex education." The teen pregnancy rate for New York City is much higher than the national rate: nearly one in ten females age 15 to 19 became pregnant in 2005.
The full letter to Chancellor Klein is included below:
October 15, 2007
Chancellor Joel I. Klein
NYC Department of Education
52 Chambers Street
New York, New York 10007
Via Facsimile and U.S. Mail
Dear Chancellor Klein:
It is my understanding that, because sex education is not mandated by either New York State or New York City, the majority of New York City high school students do not receive this important instruction. Given the city’s high teen pregnancy rate, I urge you to take the necessary steps to ensure that all New York City high schools provide comprehensive sex education.
According to an August 2007 report by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, nearly half of New York City youth (48 percent) reported having had sex, and approximately one in three reported being sexually active. The teen pregnancy rate for New York City is much higher than the national rate: nearly one in ten females age 15 to 19 became pregnant in 2005.
Encouraging teens to delay sex and teaching them how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), if sexually active, requires comprehensive sex education. Comprehensive sex education has been shown to be effective in helping teens make healthy choices and protect themselves against unintended pregnancy and STIs. Numerous studies have shown that comprehensive sex education, which also supports abstinence, encourages teens to delay sexual activity, reduces risky behaviors, and significantly decreases teen pregnancy rates.
The lack of comprehensive sex education profoundly affects the lives of thousands of adolescents in New York City. I urge you to take the necessary steps to ensure that all students in city high schools get the education they need to make informed, healthy choices.
Sincerely,
Betsy Gotbaum
cc: Director Lori Rose Benson, Department of Education, Office of Fitness and Health
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