Teen Pregnancy

I feel the rise in teen pregnancy is due to the erosion of proper Sex Education in schools. I realize that the reason Sex Ed. has eroded is the policy of pushing abstinence first, but I really think at this point it's proven itself unsuccessful. Teens are going to mess around, and the day we start regulating it through figures other than parents is the day we will all wear a khaki one-piece and march in lines to vote for the one candidate on the ballot. A proper Sex. Ed. would teach the consequences of unprotected sex (such as teen pregnancy), and, yes, birth control methods to appropriate aged students. Many teens don't know they can get a prescription for birth control pills, that condoms are more than 90% effective in preventing STD's and pregnancy, and that babies born to teenage mothers are at much higher risks of birth defects. They also don't realize the detrimental effects of being saddled down with a baby at such a young age. The proper message from authority figures shouldn't be, "We don't think you should do it all so we're not even going to mention it." It should be, "We'd prefer you didn't, but we'd rather you be safe about it."