Being a teenager in the current generation, I have many peers in the same age group who are sexually active. Living in a small town, I am only aware of a handful of teenage girls that are either pregnant or already have children.

Teen pregnancy isn’t something we’re just now hearing about. I remember hearing about the growing “epidemic” a few years back, but never really considered it because no one at my high school was pregnant at the time.

Within the last year, girls in my area announced their startling news. A couple of grades in our high school have never been introduced to sex education in school. I feel that local schools need to take a better handle on this growing problem.

Obviously, we, as teenagers, learn a lot of things from one another, but the public school system should at least provide some sort of solid foundation so teens can get the facts straight, and practice safer, healthier sex.

Risa Fletcher

Naselle, Wash.