A. Sex Education

     Teen-age pregnancies are at all-time highs in some cities, and the incidence of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases is increasing among young men and women. Two-thirds of sexually active adolescents have had two or more sexual partners, up from 39 percent 20 years before.
     Of sexually active women under 20, a third have had four or more sexual partners, and 5 percent reported 10 or more partners.
     The Alan Guttmacher Institute reports that there is a steady trend "toward multiple sexual partners." Its study said this "means we need to be facing the reality of the risks of sexually transmitted diseases. We need to be concerned not only about preventing unintended pregnancy, but about guarding against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and chlamydia and gonorrhea, which can cause infertility."
     Dr. Jacqueline Darroch Forrest, author of the study, said younger women are growing up in "an era of relaxed sexual mores," and this increases their vulnerability.
What is the status of sex education and education on AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in your junior and senior high schools? Is there counseling on birth control, distribution of condoms? Classes in sex education?
     Interview students, teachers, parents. What do they think schools should do in this area?

B. Divorce

     The ratio of divorces to marriages is 3.9 to 7.7. For every two marriages, there is a divorce. This is the highest ratio in hisotry. Obtain data for your city and/or state, and consult local divorces for the past year. Can you detect any patterns? Are the divorcing couples young; or have most been married for some time? Were the couples young—under 21 when they married? Do many of the divorced couples have a history of marriage-divorce?