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Wis. Official Threatens Prosecution Over Lessons on Sex Education

By The Associated Press — April 20, 2010 1 min read
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A local district attorney in Wisconsin has sent a letter to area school districts warning that health teachers who tell students how to put on a condom or take birth-control pills could face criminal charges.

Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth took issue with a law Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle signed in February requiring schools that teach sexual education to adopt a comprehensive approach. Mr. Southworth warned that teaching a student how to properly use contraceptives would be contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Wisconsin schools aren’t required to teach sex education. But under the new law, which was backed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, schools that do must teach a range of topics, including the benefits of abstinence, the proper use of contraceptives, how to make responsible decisions, and the criminal penalties for underage sex. Parents can choose to keep their children out of the classes.

A version of this article appeared in the April 21, 2010 edition of Education Week as Wis. Official Threatens Prosecution Over Lessons on Sex Education

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