For years, high school students have had the same sex education videos, papers and textbooks. By now every high school student who is past ninth grade knows the corny videos about teens and sex and can remember the grueling lessons on all the diseases you can contract.

But those lessons and videos we use to dread, are in part, what make us think twice before jumping in the bed with someone and at times what makes us not do it at all. Soon, students may not be seeing that information in health class anymore.

The new textbooks that the Board of Education is considering for statewide adoption next month focus solely on abstinence. That is an important thing to preach to young people today but let’s be realistic. It would be nice if all minors practiced abstinence but unfortunately they don’t.

It is well known that the teenage pregnancy rate in Texas is among the highest in the nation. Knowing that, I feel it is important to inform students about ways to prevent pregnancy.

Though it may be awkward or anti-conservative, it is important to talk to young people today about sexual issues. If protection can help a teenager be safer in their decisions then they should know about it. By ignoring the truths about underage sex we are only hurting them.

It is true that some parents prefer to inform their children about the issues of sex their own way rather than relegate it to some teacher they have only met at open house. But there are some parents who simply do not have the time, and because of their busy schedule the child shouldn’t be punished. If the educational system is too afraid to address these issues and the parents are too busy then who will inform these teens?

There are many ways to approach this situation but the simplest is this: adopt two textbooks. One can address safe sex and abstinence, much like the old ones, while the other can remain conservative and only address abstinence.

At the beginning of the year, parents can state their preference and their child could be put into a class that suits their wishes. Sure, it would be more expensive, but otherwise, we’re likely to see more pregnancies and sexual diseases and we all know those cost society too. Which price is lower?