Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 29, 1993 TAG: 9311290038
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
Schools teach driver education, "but when we come to health education, which includes sexuality education, we refuse to teach them that," Elders said on ABC's "This Week with David Brinkley."
"A major cause of children dying is really related to many of the social problems impacting their health, so I really feel we need to have a comprehensive health education program in our schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. This is the equalizer," she said.
Elders said health education must include the entire spectrum of social issues including drugs, alcohol, sex and violence. "It's not going in there and giving them a plumbing lesson. I feel that's a waste of time." She said only 5 percent of public schools now have comprehensive programs.
Elders, who as the former top health official in Arkansas was outspoken on the need to provide condoms to sexually active teen-agers, said that while contraceptives should be made available, "if you don't have the education I could go out and throw condoms up in the air and let them rain."
She noted that 85 percent of children from upper- and middle-income families receive early childhood education, but only 18 percent of children on welfare do.
Charles Murray of the American Enterprise Institute, appearing on the same show, blamed the welfare system for the sharp rise in single mothers. "You lift the economic burden, social stigma goes down," he said.
by CNB