Even the most controversial element of sex education in Mississippi, particularly the classroom demonstration of proper condom use, was in fact supported by a large majority of Mississippians. While 15.2 percent of respondents "strongly oppose" and 7.1 percent "somewhat oppose" classroom demonstrations of condom usage, 53.9 percent "strongly support" it and 17.2 percent "somewhat support" it. That means overall that 71.1 percent of respondents support in-class condom demonstrations, which the state’s sex education law wholly forbids for all schools. ...

Despite the overwhelming support for education about birth control, some Mississippi students will be stuck with their school district’s decision to teach abstinence-only sex education. This is a serious problem. The approach taken has been to deny some kids education, rather than to offer it with an opt-out policy approach.