Charged for Following the Law? What Now?

In Wisconsin school districts have the choice to teach sex education to their pupils, so many schools have good comprehensive sex education programs that in addition to teaching about abstinence, teach students about STIs, contraception, and state sex laws. In fact, starting in 2011 schools that have any type of sex ed program will be required to use a comprehensive curriculum.

That’s a step in the right direction for Wisconsin But of course, whenever progress is made, there are those people who fight back even harder. In this case, it’s a Wisconsin County Prosecutor threatening to bring criminal charges against teachers who follow the law and teach sexual ed.

The age of consent in Wisconsin is 18, so legally minors are not allowed to have sex. The prosecutor, Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth, claims that teaching about contraception and safe sex and not just absitinance encourages youth to have sex. He believes that comprehensive sex education is a “radical program that sexualizes our children as early as kindergarten. This, in turn, will lead to more child sexual assaults."

So when did prosecutors start charging people for following the law? Instead of performing his role as a defender of the law, this DA wants to use his power as a vehicle for his own personal agenda. Southworth puts the schools in a difficult position when they feel threatened following the law and doing what’s right for their students by providing them with important and accurate health information.

These kinds of things happen all the time, all over the place, but I believe it’s important to take time and recognize the battles people are having to fight to do the right thing. Whenever progress is made, there is going to be a backlash against it, and people must stand strong. Keep fighting Wisconsin and don't be bullied!