by Colbie Fowle

According to the 2010 Metrowest Adolescent Health survey 31% of Hudson High School students have been sexually active in the last 3 months. This is troubling considering the fact that 11 years ago the Health Education position at JFK was eliminated.  Instead of teaching sex education, JFK physical education teachers do a 10 week lesson focused on bullying, conflict resolution, and a violence prevention program. The only sexual education related content they include are a video about HIV and a video called “The Miracle of Life.”

At the high school level recent surveys showed that out of 228 students surveyed, 170 kids in grades 8-12 know someone under the age of 18 years old that is or has been pregnant.

After a brief interview with five eighth grade girls 3 out of 5 of them told me that their parents were the ones to tell them about sex. The other two said they had watched a brief movie about sexual activities.

While sex education is not a focus at the middle school, the eighth graders at Hudson High School get two and a half weeks of sexual education. In the class they go over male and female reproduction, conception, birth, STD’s, and birth control. The unit also includes a guest speaker on abstinence.

At Hudson High School they only have health for about 10 weeks and within those 10 weeks they get through the sex education unit plus a unit on smoking and other drugs. Unfortunately some eighth grade students do not take a health class due to a schedule conflict with other required subjects.

After 8th grade, students are not required to take any other sexual education classes. But, there is one elective for juniors and seniors called Making Healthy Decisions.

Some students rely on their parents for this education. But even when parents are talking to children about sex and how they have the option to wait, it doesn’t mean they are listening to them.

“Kids have to realize that saying “No I want to wait” is still an option. Don’t forget how to say “No”, it’s OK to say it. For those of you who have chosen to be sexually active, protect yourselves, because diseases and pregnancy can appear the first or 170th time you choose to have sex,” says Dee Grassey, a health and physical education teacher at Hudson High School.

Statistics show that 39% of males and 42% of females at Hudson High School have had sex in their lifetime.

Fifty three per cent of sexually active youth report using condoms. This number has decreased from 65% in 2008.

Parents, if you are reading this, start talking to your teens, and teens, if you’re reading this start making smarter choices. Teenage pregnancy is 100% preventable.