South Carolina is, as this article in The State notes, "as solid a red state as you will ever find." The Bush administration is pushing for abstinence-only education, but the people of South Carolina don't want it:

The 2005 federal budget contains $168 million for abstinence-only education. The theory behind such an approach is that telling kids how to prevent pregnancy will encourage them to have sex.

The theory is debunked by research performed by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, which found that sex education that includes information on abstinence and contraception delays the onset of sexual activity and increases the use of contraception once young people do become sexually active.

You might read that and think, fine, but not in South Carolina, as solid a red state as you will ever find. But it turns out that voters’ attitudes here on teen pregnancy prevention run toward a comprehensive approach.

When the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy surveyed Palmetto State voters about sex education in schools, 81 percent of them answered “yes” to the question, “Do you think that sexuality education which emphasizes abstinence, but also teaches youth about the benefits and importance of contraception, should be taught in South Carolina public schools?” Seven out of 10 of the registered voters also agreed that “comprehensive sex education in the schools decreases rates of pregnancy and disease.” S.C. supports comprehensive approach to stem tide of teen parents

Now, as we'll learn the hard way if we're not careful, you don't always get what you want. Hardline conservatives have been very crafty about implementing programs that the majority of people in an area don't want. They organize, they raise money, they campaign -- we're seeing it right here in Montgomery County.

The State opines:

The approach our state has taken through its laws and policies supports this idea of instruction tailored to the home and the community. It is a rational and reasonable method to work toward the important goal of reducing the number of teenagers who become parents too soon.

Our school board has also taken a "rational and reasonable" approach. Let's support the board in this, and stop the extremist minority now.