Letter to the Editor: In Support of the Healthy Youth Act
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Did you know when Massachusetts public schools teach sex education, there’s no guarantee they use a curriculum that is age-appropriate or medically accurate?
I’m a member of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts’ Get Real Teen Council (GRTC), which is a peer education program that trains students living in Central Massachusetts and Boston to teach their peers in community and school-based settings about a variety of topics including communication skills, healthy relationships, and sexual health. Through my interaction with my peers, I’ve witnessed firsthand how insufficient education programming leaves young people unprepared to take care of their own health.
May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. Considering Worcester’s teen birth rate is almost twice the state average, it’s a good time to think about how we can do more to support young people like me. A good first step is passing the Healthy Youth Act which would ensure schools electing to teach sex education use a curriculum that is comprehensive, medically accurate, and age-appropriate. When young people have better resources, they are better able to make healthy and informed decisions.
I hope Worcester’s elected officials will support the health and well-being of young people like me and pass the Healthy Youth Act.
Morgaine Payson
Worcester, MA
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