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Teaching Sex Ed in Schools

By the time American teens turn 18 years old, 55 percent have had sexual intercourse. And for the first time in 15 years, teen pregnancy rates went up in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Co

Tom Fudge :  t's tough for parents to watch their kids become adults. And the toughest part of all is watching them become sexually aware and sexually active. And a lot of parents have second and third thoughts about the public school teaching their kids about sex. Is it necessary? they ask. And what exactly is the message that we're giving to kids? Those knotty questions have been with us for a few decades and they haven't gone away.

Studies show that most people in America will have had sex before their 18th birthday. Teen pregnancy rates have gone down in recent years. But the concern about it has come up again in the form of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter.

Guest

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  • Ana Tintocolis , KPBS education reporter.