Most Favor Sex Ed (California)

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/13555391.htm

Three-quarters of Californians believe it is very important to teach sex education in public schools, including giving students information about getting and using contraceptives, according to a survey to be released today.

The report by the Public Policy Institute of California also found that 36 percent of adults believe local schools are not doing enough when it comes to sex education, while 33 percent said they are doing ''just enough.'' Only 9 percent said they are doing more than enough on the topic.

The results show that despite a public perception that ideological differences are splitting Americans, Californians have similar views on some controversial topics, said Mark Baldassare, the institute's statewide survey director.

"I think that California is pretty unique in that we have differences on fiscal issues, but not on social issues. There tends to be some broad consensus on issues, and sex education and birth control are those two types of issues," Baldassare said. "They tend to be fairly pragmatic and practical about issues, what they think might work" to stem unwanted pregnancies or abortions.

(more)