House Approves Abortion Education Bill, Sends It Back to Senate
The two parties dispute the scientific basis for including abortion as a cause of later preterm birth, which can lead to development complications and death. Opponents argued calling abortion a “cause” goes too far when the relationship is a correlation at best.
The measure requires educators to teach students in grades seven and higher about a number of risk factors associated with later premature births, including abortion, inadequate prenatal care and smoking.
Rep. Rick Glazier (D-District 44) argued that teaching abortion to children is not age-appropriate and the state’s teachers are not in the position to be able to teach this.
“We aren’t willing to let them learn about condoms, but we are sure willing to let them learn about abortions,” Glazier said. “This is opening Pandora’s Box. It’s unfair to schools, unfair to children, unfair to families.”