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Van Hoang
Schroeter
English 1010
7 January 2016
Sexual Education in Utah
When told to think of an uptight, conservative, backwards state, one is most likely to
think of a state like Mississippi; the state where their conservative beliefs and political views
keep them the poorest state in the country, with a poverty rate of 21% (These Are Americas
Richest & Poorest States All About America). However, Mississippi would not be the only
state in the U.S. that has backwards, fitting-of-the-last-century laws. Utahs sexual education
policies would fit that category.
The root of the problem is that Utahs sexual education policy requires health teachers to
only teach abstinence in the classroom. It is in the Utah legislature, under law R277-474, which
states that the following may not be taught in Utah schools; " ... the advocacy of homosexuality;
... the advocacy or encouragement of the use of contraceptive methods or devices; or the
advocacy of sexual activity outside of marriage" (UT Admin Code R277-474. School Instruction
and Human Sexuality).
Carolyn Janecek, a former West High School student passionate about Utahs seuxal
education laws, brings up the issues with each main point that is stated in Utah law R277-474 in
her opinion editorial submitted to and published by The Salt Lake Tribune on April 11, 2015.
Written as a school seniors address, it discusses the most important issues with the Utah sexual
education policy. Janecek first focuses on the banning of the advocacy of homosexuality ,
mentioning that this ban sounds very similar to a Russian propaganda, referring to the Russian

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LGBT Propaganda law signed by Vladimir Putin in 2013 (Russia passes anti-gay law). This
portion of the administrative code is clearly outdated and perpetuates the idea that somehow
children will turn gay if they are exposed to any information regarding homosexuality (Op-ed:
Utah's Sex-ed Policy Is Doing More Harm than Good).
This shows the first issue with the law; the fact that it makes students insecure about their
own sexuality. If a student feels as though they may be homosexual, bisexual, or any other
sexuality, they would not feel comfortable in their school and probably their community because
of this law. Banning the advocacy of homosexuality doesnt allow students to be taught that gay
is okay. This can cause students to become insecure, depressed, unsure of themselves, and
embarrassed of who they are. Is it not more important to teach students to be themselves, even if
it means being different from what conservative adults are used to? If we want to create a better
community, We have to embrace individuality and the fact that we are not all the same. We as a
whole have to let go of ideals that hold us back.
In her article, the next thing that Janecek addresses is abstinence only education. She
states that
[s]tudies show that roughly 60 percent of adolescents ages 18-19 know about condoms
and only 25 percent know about the birth control pill. It is highly unlikely students will
learn anything about intrauterine devices (IUDs), patches, or progestin-only pills (which
are safer for diabetics more than regular birth control) [and that] Government
mandated studies reveal abstinence-only programs heighten instances of sexually risky
behavior; students who take a pledge of virginity only delay their sexual activity 18
months longer than their non-pledging counterparts and are one-third less likely to use
protection (Op-ed: Utah's Sex-ed Policy Is Doing More Harm than Good).

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It is easy to assume that a large number of 18 and 19 year olds are having sex, but it is alarming
to discover that as few as 25 percent know about oral birth control and 60 percent about
condoms. Thats 40 percent of young adults that are out of high school who have no knowledge
of contraception and how to have safe sex. This leads one to infer that these young adults are
having unprotected sex, and are most likely using the famous pull-out method, where the male
will remove his genitals before coming to orgasm. This information is also frightening because it
is inclusive to people who are homosexual, bisexual, transgender, etc. Not only are these
numbers bad for preventing pregnancy, but 40 percent of these young adults are unaware of
condoms, which means 40 percent are at very high risk for acquiring a sexually transmitted
infection (STI) during sex. In fact, Janecek mentions STIs, and how 1 in 4 teenage girls will
contract an STI. (Op-ed: Utah's Sex-ed Policy Is Doing More Harm than Good). These results
show that abstinence only programs increase risky sexual behavior, and dont aid adolescents at
all, which in turn forces the question; if this policy is so negative, why is it being enforced?
It is important to first look at the sexual education policies of other states along with
Utah. The Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit organization that seeks to advance sexual and
reproductive health through research, policy analysis, and policy education released new
information about sexual education in different states on December 1, 2015. These results show
that 19 states require that instruction on the importance of engaging in sexual activity only
within marriage be provided. (State Policies In Brief: Sex and HIV Education) This means that
19 states in the U.S. are required to teach abstinence until marriage, the states; Alabama, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah to name a few (State Policies In Brief: Sex and HIV
Education).

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In 2008, the Washington Post published an article about a Washington University study
done on teenagers about sexual education. In the article, it says that the researchers found that
teenagers who received a comprehensive sex education were 60 percent less likely to get
pregnant than those who received no sex education (i.e. abstinence only sex education) (Sex Ed
Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy). This explains why the states with the abstinence only
programs (the 19 listed above) are also the ones with the highest pregnancy rates.
So here is what all these states have in common with Utah. They tend to be the most
religious states. 79.11 percent of Utah is religious, with an overwhelming 69.14 percent being of
the prominent Latter Day Saints or LDS church. With such a high percentage of Utahns being
LDS, it is easy to see a connection between law and religion and that it would affect many of
Utahs laws and policies, including those regarding sex education. Chastity is a major point the
church encourages, and therefore something a large part of the Utah state legislature also
follows.
The following quote is taken from the LDS website:
Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of
God for the creation of children and for the expression of love within marriage In the
world today, Satan has led many people to believe that sexual intimacy outside of
marriage is acceptable. But in God's sight, it is a serious sin. It is an abuse of the power
He has given us to create life. The prophet Alma taught that sexual sins are more serious
than any other sins except murder and denying the Holy Ghost (see Alma 39:3-5).
(Chastity | Sexual Purity - Chaste and Morally Clean)
This LDS belief makes it very clear that sex before marriage is a sin worse than any other
(excluding murder and denying the Holy Ghost) and that it is important to stay chaste. This is the

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exact thing that is being taught in Utah high schools; chastity and remaining abstinent until
marriage.
The obvious proof that the biggest reason for the abstinence only teachings required in
Utah high schools is all due to religion brings up an even bigger issue; separation of church and
state. The first amendment clearly states that Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion (About The First Amendment.) Is basing sexual education policies
on the religious beliefs of the majority of people in the state not a clear infringement of the first
amendment? Many people think so.
Jeanne Hamlin, a West High School Health teacher eager to reconstruct the health
curriculum, discusses sexual education in Utah and expresses her views in a personal interview
on November 10, 2015. Mrs. Hamlin advocates for an opt-out health curriculum, rather than an
opt-in. Opt-in requires every student to turn in a permission form signed by a parent and put on
record before teaching the subject, unless the parent declines in having their child participate in
the section . However, in op-out, they automatically assume you have parent permission, unless
the parent actively fills out a form to remove their child from the human sexuality curriculum
(Hamlin). In Mrs. Hamlin's teaching career, it is very rare for a parent to not allow their child to
learn sexual education, and just this semester she only had two students whose parents declined
consensually outright, and that is more than I had in several years. Many parents believe that the
information taught in health class is important and age-appropriate for their child.
The state curriculum is created by a committee consisting of parents, teachers, state
specialists, and district specialists. Every 10 years, the committee looks at the curriculum for
review and potential rewrite on certain aspects of it. Utahs curriculum actually follows the
national curriculum fairly closely, with the exception of the full comprehensive, however

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states rights are kind of whats gonna trump federal rights or federal law. So the feds can kind
of encourage states to choose what they want them by offering like financial reasons (Hamlin).
Each state has jurisdiction over education, and has the right to choose what is allowed in the
curriculum. Utah and many other conservative states choose to teach abstinence with information
only, rather than other liberal states which choose to teach topics that follow the worlds current
issues.
In the interview, Ms. Hamlin explained that she is only given only one semester or 40
class periods to cover the entire health course of study and is not a sufficient amount of time to
basically cover everything nobody wants to talk about. All the social issues out there in the
world get thrown in health class. As a solution, she wishes to see in getting a year long class or
that you have to take more than one section of health...to get more into details on all the topic
and that would include human sexuality
However, the West High School Health teacher does agree with the guidelines that
abstinence should be emphasized because its the only one 100% guarantee that there is no
diseases or babies, but she also understands that abstinence is not going to be the choice for
every student. Which is why she believes abstinence with information is what really should be
taught...they should be made aware of all the choices should they choose to be sexually active.
There has always been a cultural opposition to sex in the Americas, however much of the
divide is because of a few major events. The first of these events occurred in the 1830s when
Sylvester Graham promoted a healthy lifestyle as one with little processed food, meats, or spices,
and a life without alcohol, or masterbation (Sylvester Graham and Antebellum Diet Reform).
Chicago became the first major city to implement a sexual education into their high
schools. Shortly after, it was removed due to the opposition it created. It was not until during

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World War II, when the amount of STIs soldiers were contracting was becoming an issue, that
funds were made available for sexual education for soldiers through the Chamberlain- Kahn act.
After this was put in place, discussions about teaching kids before they enter into the army
began to arise. These discussions led to changes in the 1930s, schools started to incorporate sex
into their studies, curriculum was written, and teachers were trained to educate on sex.
In the 1960s sex education became a truly political topic. Those opposed raised the
argument that the classes were teaching teenagers moral depravity and promoting promiscuity.
Those against the topic were also running on the premise of rumors that had surfaced stating that
teachers were encouraging homosexuality, and giving examples of good sex, which was frowned
upon (A Brief History of Sex Ed in America).
However it was not until the 1980s that HIV and AIDS started to gain attention from the
amount of people contracting them. Those in protest of sex education used the epidemic of these
diseases as an argument to promote the use of the abstinence only education that we have today.

The way we started teaching and the way that we continue to do was not a balanced
decision, but rather a compilation of world events that shaped how we teach the youth on sex,
Sex education has a number of ways to change a persons future if it is not taught to them
correctly, so why do we continue teaching sex education based on the values of the past?
So what can we do? The opt in system clearly favors the personal beliefs of the parents
whereas the opt out system favors education for the students. Simply put, we could make Sex
Ed in Utah better by changing to the opt out system. this could reduce the number of students
that sit out during the unit. As Hamlin suggested, we could also make health a year long class, as
she stated in her interview, there is a lot to cover and very little time to do so. Another idea that

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to be considered is to uncensor subjects like homosexuallity and contraceptives. There is no

reason to censor subjects that reduce pregnancy and STIs when the end goal is to prevent
Pregnancy and STIs.
R277-474, the Utah administrative guideline on school instruction and human sexuality
features exclusions of the intricacies of intercourse, sexual stimulation or erotic behavior,
advocation of any contraceptive device, homosexuality and sexual activity outside of marriage.
"Utah Department of Administrative Services Division of Administrative Rules." UT Admin Code R277474. School Instruction and Human Sexuality. October 1, 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. in recent,

homosexuality and sexual activity outside of marriage are common and generally accepted.
R277-474 is becoming more and more outdated and is beginning to do more harm than good. An
examination and overhaul of this rule should be considered by the state.

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Works Cited
"About The First Amendment." First Amendment Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
<http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about-the-first-amendment>.
A Brief History of Sex Ed in America. Newsweek. N.p., 27 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.newsweek.com/brief-history-sex-ed-america-81001>
"Chastity | Sexual Purity - Chaste and Morally Clean." Chastity | Sexual Purity - Chaste and
Morally
Clean. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
<https://www.lds.org/topics/chastity?lang=eng>.
"Comprehensive Sex Education: Research and Results." Comprehensive Sex Education:
Research and Results. Advocates for Youth, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
<http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/1487>.
Essert, Matt. "The States With the Highest Teenage Birth Rates Have One Thing in Common."
Mic.
MIC, 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
<

http://mic.com/articles/98886/the-states-with-the-highest-teenage-birth-rates-

have-one-thing-i
n-common#.jmKBZ5fFr>.
Janecek, Carolyn. "Op-ed: Utah's Sex-ed Policy Is Doing More Harm than Good." The Salt Lake
Tribune. The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Apr. 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2382827-155/op-ed-utahs-sex-ed-policy-is-doing>.
Jenne, Hamlin. Personal interview. 10 Nov. 2015.
Mekouar, Dora. "These Are Americas Richest & Poorest States All About America." These

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Are Americas Richest & Poorest States All About America. Voices of America, 21
Sept. 2015. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.
<http://blogs.voanews.com/all-about-america/2015/09/21/these-are-americas-richestpoorest-states/>
Press, Associated. "Russia Passes Anti-gay-law." The Guardian. The Guardian, 30 June 2013.
Web. 8
Dec. 2015. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/30/russia-passes-anti-gaylaw>.
"Sex Ed Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 24 Mar.
2008. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032401515.h
tm>.
"State Policies In Brief: Sex and HIV Education." State Policies In Brief: Sex and HIV
Education
(2015): n. pag. Print.
Sylvester Graham and Antebellum Diet Reform. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American
History. History Now, n.d. Web 13 Dec. 2015.
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/first-age-reform/essays/sylvester-grahamand-ante
bellum-diet-reform
"Utah Department of Administrative Services Division of Administrative Rules." UT Admin
Code

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R277-474. School Instruction and Human Sexuality. October 1, 2015. Utah Department
of Administrative Services, 1 Oct. 2015. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.
<http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-474.htm>.
"Utah State Religion." Utah State Religion. Sperling's Best Places, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
<http://www.bestplaces.net/religion/state/utah>.