Discussion Panel Held On Sex Education In The Digital Age
DENVER (CBS4) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has just released results of a new survey of teen behavior and Colorado's high-schoolers are having less sex.
The survey found the number of Colorado teenagers engaging in sexual activity is about seven percent lower than the national average.
On Friday Sen. Michael Bennet opened a panel discussion with community leaders, parents and students about effective sex education in the digital age. It was held at the Denver School of Science and Technology and CBS4's Gloria Neal was the moderator.
The discussion was sponsored by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, who says it's important to meet youth where they live -- online.
"What scares me the most is that kids will get bad information and make bad choices as a result," Bennet said. "These are choices that once they're made they're really hard to unmake."
Bennet is a former Denver Public Schools superintendent and father of three girls.
"When I finished being super of DPS 3 1/2 years ago there was no such thing as a Tablet, the iPad didn't exist, and now that's where my kids get a lot of the info that they're using to make choices," Bennet said.
Bennet agrees technology has changed many things for the better. However, Facebook, Twitter and texting have provided some new challenges when it comes to "the talk."
Recent high school graduate Stephanie Cisneros is a member of a sexually responsible support group.
"I've had a lot of friends who ask me questions because I already know the answers." Cisneros said. "If I don't know the question, I'll go and ask my group members."
Christine is a parent. She says it's the easy access to that information that scares her the most.
"You don't have the control that you use to have. Before there wasn't access to all this information -- the good information and the not so good information," Christine said.
In Pueblo County for every 1,000 teen girls, just over 300 become pregnant. State Sen. Angela Giron represents Pueblo County. She says it is not uncommon to be a great-great-grandparent at the age of 45.
June is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Awareness Month.
For more information visit the Planned Parenthood website.
