What risky behaviors do Louisiana’s teen engage in—texting while driving, drinking alcohol, having unprotected sex? Each year the Centers for Disease Control conducts a Youth Risk Behaviors survey, but Louisiana’s kids don’t get asked the questions concerning sex.
“This is an effort to collect basic data to make sure kids know basic things about their body,” Senator J.P. Morrell said, regarding his bill to allow Orleans Parish students to participate in the complete national survey. Morrell’s SB 31 was heard by the full Senate Wednesday afternoon.
“We haven’t seen the survey,” protested Slidell Senator A.G. Crowe.
The full battery of questions for the survey is posted on the CDC’s website. It includes questions about bullying, depression, physical violence, eating habits, being pressured into having sex, and using protection if engaging in intimacy.
“This is real, basic, biological stuff,” Morrell answered Crowe’s objection.
Crowe then fretter the survey would be given to all grade levels of Orleans Parish public school students.
“Why is it that children in first grade, second grade and third grade are subject to answering these questions?” Crowe asked.
Morrell then pointed out that Crowe’s objections were based on a flyer being circulated by opponents of the bill, urging senators to vote against it.
“This inappropriate survey will introduce students to dangerous innocence-destroying topics,” Morrell read from the flyer.
Yet the survey is only given to high school students, and the bill contains a provision allowing parents to opt-out of having their teens fill out the anonymous survey. Morrell noted that survey results would be used to guide sex education instruction.
“There’s no nefarious intent. We are trying to save lives,” Morrell declared.
Crowe aired another worry.
“Once we start in one parish, other parishes could eventually be approached, as well,” Crowe complained.
“Basically you’re saying that ideas are infectious?” Morrell asked, incredulously. “And if we allow this to happen in Orleans, this idea might infect other parishes?”
Morrell certainly hopes so.
“We lead the nation in sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV,” he noted.
The bill was approved 27-10, and next moves to the House.