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OUR VIEW: Kern sex ed curriculum deserves a state audit

The Bakersfield Californian

It's time to get serious about sex education in our schools. We owe it to the thousands of teens in Kern County whose lives have been derailed by pregnancy. We owe it to the babies of those teen parents, who are more likely to have health problems and grow up in poverty. And we owe it to our taxpayers, who foot the bill for teen births -- which is nearly $50 million annually in Kern County.

To that end, we call on the state Department of Education to come to Kern County and audit the sex education programs taught in our middle and high schools. There's strong evidence to question the quality of sex ed being taught in our schools. A state audit of McFarland High School's sex ed program five months ago found serious issues with the curriculum. And by the Kern High School District's own admission, its policies on teaching pregnancy prevention omit certain types of contraception that the state requires to be taught. It's not just a Kern County problem, either. Parents in the city of Clovis, in Fresno County, recently asked the state to intervene when they discovered their schools' sex ed program taught kids that HIV and sexual infections could be spread by French kissing and sharing earrings -- myths that were debunked years ago.

STACEY SHEPARD: Why Latinas demand a different conversation about teen pregnancy

The Bakersfield Californian

Trying to pinpoint the cause of Kern County's notoriously high teen birthrate isn't easy. Some blame high rates of poverty or low educational attainment, while others point to pop culture, risky behavior or parents who are unwilling to discuss the birds and the bees.

But one glaring statistic can't be ignored. While nationwide, three out of 10 teen girls will become pregnant, for Hispanic teens, the chances are a full 50 percent. More than half of Hispanic women have their first child before the age of 20. And in Kern County, Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the population: Between 2000 and 2010, the local Hispanic population grew 63 percent, according to U.S. census figures.

SOUNDING BOARD: Apply tough love: Cut benefits to teen mothers

The Bakersfield Californian

The safest and most efficient way to reduce teen births is to reduce teen pregnancies. The million-dollar question: How do we realistically reduce the number of teen pregnancies? That's the question we asked members of The Californian's Sounding Board. Here are some of their responses:

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SOUNDING BOARD: Instill girls with sense of value at early age

The Bakersfield Californian

Kern County's teen birthrate, the highest in California, is not a new problem. It reflects a social cycle that drags us all down, economically and otherwise.

The safest and most efficient way to reduce teen births is to reduce teen pregnancies. The million-dollar question: How do we realistically reduce the number of teen pregnancies? That's the question we asked members of The Californian's Sounding Board. Here are some of their responses.

SOUNDING BOARD: Sadly, abstinence-only ed won't cut it

The Bakersfield Californian

Kern County has the highest teen birthrate in California. And it's not a new problem. We've been at or near the top of the list since people have been tracking those statistics.

The teen birthrate reflects a social cycle that drags us all down, economically and otherwise. Children born to teen mothers are more likely to become teen parents themselves, and their children are more likely to drop out of school, tap into public assistance and go to jail.

SOUNDING BOARD: Loneliness may drive some to pregnancy

The Bakersfield Californian

Kern County's teen birthrate, the highest in California, is not a new problem. It reflects a social cycle that drags us all down, economically and otherwise.

The safest and most efficient way to reduce teen births is to reduce teen pregnancies. The million-dollar question: How do we realistically reduce the number of teen pregnancies? That's the question we asked members of The Californian's Sounding Board. Here are some of their responses.

BILL PHELPS: Avenues for prevention

The Bakersfield Californian

While it is nearly impossible to include everything that may have contributed to addressing teen pregnancy and the burdens of adolescent parenthood, several efforts have helped address this issue over the past 20 to 25 years. Most are offered in public schools, community-based settings or through home visits.

Primary prevention programs cover a variety of strategies, including abstinence-only education; comprehensive reproductive health education; teaching decision-making skills; helping youth deal with peer pressure; improving self-esteem through positive adult relationships; educating youth on sexually transmitted diseases; birth control options and their effectiveness; and finally, understanding the responsibilities and sacrifices of parenthood. There is also a legal strategy through the District Attorney's Office that has been in operation since the mid-1990s that focuses on the prosecution of unlawful intercourse -- statutory rape.

SOUNDING BOARD: How do we reduce teen pregnancy rate?

The Bakersfield Californian

The safest and most efficient way to reduce teen births is to reduce teen pregnancies. The million-dollar question: How do we realistically reduce the number of teen pregnancies? We asked members of The Californian's Sounding Board.

ERICA VARGAS: Still just a kid, but a mother, too

The Bakersfield Californian

A perfect life with a white picket fence -- the "American dream" -- is all I ever wanted. I did not plan my pregnancy, but I remember feeling excited when I found out; I was 13 years old.

I knew I could get pregnant and I was on the pill, but did not realize the reality of raising a child. So if I missed a pill here or there, who cares? I was with a person who was supposed to love me and everything was supposed to be perfect.

RHONDA DUGAN: Pop culture influences have come a long way, baby

The Bakersfield Californian

When I was asked to write about the images of teen motherhood in popular culture/media, I had already been making some observations about this emerging trend. I have this habit (as many of you may have) of skimming through entertainment magazines in strategically placed grocery-store checkout lines. A few weeks ago, while waiting in line, I noticed that some of the teenage mothers featured in televisions shows like "16 and Pregnant," "Teen Mom" and "Teen Mom 2" were gracing the glossy covers of Us Weekly, In Touch and People -- competing for headline space with the Kardashian sisters, Brangelina and Hollywood's best dressed at the Oscars.

It is quite surprising to me how the popular view of teenage motherhood has shifted from a private family matter to an openly public one. For the teenage motherhood reality stars, their pregnancies have become entertainment and has led them to, dare I suggest it, celebrity status.

CARRIE EVELAND: Like it or not, taxpayers footing the bill for this

The Bakersfield Californian

Sometimes being a conservative in a liberal-dominated field like teen pregnancy prevention education has been an exercise in biting my tongue. I'll admit I have some left-leaning opinions -- some quite strong -- but in most ways, I'm a lifelong conservative.

Every former student I see at the mall or the grocery store who says, "I probably would have been a teen parent if you hadn't come into my class" is heartwarming for the left-leaning side of me -- one more teen who made it and one less baby to be abandoned, neglected or abused. The fact that the former student is spending money they've earned and helping our economy instead of being a burden on taxpayers is sweet victory for the right-wing side of me. Prevention equals money in our pockets. Prevention means taxpayers will not be expected to support the unplanned, unwanted or unwise pregnancies of the people who are least likely to afford them -- teens.