Healthy kids—isn’t that what everyone wants?  Don’t we all want our children and young people to grow up strong and healthy in every way—emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually?  

Of course we all want that.  Unfortunately, different people have different understandings of what brings about healthy kids.  We have learned the hard way here in Wisconsin that there are people who believe that encouraging promiscuity among our young people will actually make them healthy. 

That was and is the contention of those who developed and fought for the so-called “Healthy Youth Act” that the state legislature passed and then-Governor Doyle signed into law last year.  We called it the “Un-Healthy Youth Act” or the “Promoting Promiscuity Act.” This “Un-Healthy Youth Act” was designed by Planned Parenthood who continues to promote promiscuity and passed by Madison liberal elites who believe, above all, that they know what is best for all the children of Wisconsin—yours included.

As a result of this mentality, current law regarding sex ed in Wisconsin’s public schools, or as state law calls it Human Growth and Development programs, requires every school district in the state that wants to teach sex ed to teach comprehensive sex ed, which includes proper use of contraception and barrier methods. 

Local school districts, prior to the enacting of the “Un-Healthy Youth Act,” used to have a choice.  If they wanted an abstinence-centered program because that type of program best reflects their community’s values and what they believe will lead to kids being healthy, then they could have one.  If a school district thought comprehensive sex ed best reflected that community’s values, then they could implement such a program, which districts such as Madison and Milwaukee have done.  Not anymore.  Every school district that wants to have any type of human growth and development program must have one that is essentially like Madison;s or Milwaukee’s.  And isn’t that just what every school district wants to be—just like Madison and Milwaukee?  Last time I checked Milwaukee still has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the country, and new evidence shows that most of these babies born to 15-17 year-olds were fathered by men 20 or over.  Frankly, that is statutory rape according to Wisconsin’s law. 

I can think of many school districts who want little to nothing to do with a program championed by Milwaukee because they don’t want the same outcomes.

Fortunately, help is on the way.  A group of organizations and individuals have been working with Senator Mary Lazich and Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt to get a bill introduced that will undo the decidedly “Un-Healthy Youth Act”

Senate Bill 237, the “Strong Communities…Healthy Kids Act” will restore local control to Wisconsin’s school districts.  This bill will allow school districts to work with members of the community and with parents to design a human growth and development program that promotes the well-being and optimal health of the students.

Instead of mandating what must be taught, the “Strong Communities…Healthy Kids Act” makes recommendations to districts—recommendations that, if taken, will definitely help keep their children healthy. 

In keeping with the idea of the well being and optimal health of children, the bill does require that if a school district implements any type of human growth and development program, then it must also do several things.  It must present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior for unmarried students; emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; provide instruction in parental responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage; explain pregnancy, prenatal development and childbirth; explain the criminal penalties for engaging in sexual activities involving a minor; and explain the sex offender registration requirements.

Senate Bill 237, the “Strong Communities…Healthy Kids Act” is based on the idea that strong communities will make the best choices on behalf of their kids. 

This bill will have a hearing in the Senate Education committee this week, and we anticipate that it could be on the senate floor yet this fall.  It’s time that the heavy foot of Madison liberal elites be removed from school districts so that every community can make the best choices possible to have truly healthy kids. 

This is Julaine Appling for Wisconsin Family Council reminding you the Prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”