• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Education / Changes to sex ed pass through Senate

Changes to sex ed pass through Senate

November 3, 2011 By Jackie Johnson

Republicans in the Senate approve a bill that would require schools to promote abstinence in sex education classes as the best way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Democrats call the measure irresponsible. The bill essentially repeals the so-called “Healthy Youth Act” signed into law last year when Democrats had the majority in the legislature. That legislation mandates “age-appropriate comprehensive sex education.”

Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) opposes the Republican changes. “This is such a 19th Century mentality piece of legislation. We should be walking around in the Victorian Age with legislation like this. It’s embarrassing.” He says kids know a lot more than most adults these days. Fred Risser (D-Madison) calls the bill “extremely shortsighted.” He describes it as “stick-your-end-in-the-sand” legislation.

State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) says her bill gives schools more leeway; it allows school districts, with an advisory committee, to design their own curriculum. Lazich says it is “small government at its best,” saying “This is about local control. This bill does not prohibit any teaching at all as it relates to human growth and development or comprehensive sex ed or abstinence sex ed.”

Lazich’s bill eliminates a state mandate on specifics, and allows districts to decide for themselves. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) doesn’t like that inconsistency. “This bill is gonna move us in a direction of teaching children one thing in one part of the state and another thing in another part of the state.”

Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) says the question is whether kids will learn about sex from school or from “a Google search” or “a Kim Kardashian reality TV show.”

The bill promotes the benefits of marriage and emphasizes abstinence to prevent pregnancy and disease. It passed 17-15 along party lines and now goes to the Assembly.

AUDIO: Senator Dave Hansen :10
AUDIO: Senator Chris Larsen :23

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Education, News, Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC