In Des Moines, Iowa, an animated fetus named Baby Olivia, featured in a three-minute video, has become a focal point in state-level abortion politics.
Proposed bills in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia aim to mandate public school students to watch a video similar to Baby Olivia, created by the anti-abortion organization Live Action.
Advocates argue that it educates children about human development and fosters an appreciation for life, while critics, including educators and physicians, claim the video is deceptive and unsuitable for a young audience.
Sex Education Video To Be Shiwn to the Students
Live Action, known for its efforts against Planned Parenthood, produced the video with input from medical professionals.
The video describes the implantation and progress of an embryo, using language like "weeks after implantation," which differs from the usual medical standard.
Commentators argue that the video's use of terminologies and references to fetal "heartbeat" are ambiguous and carefully defective.
Physicians and educators in Iowa have expressed concerns about the media's portrayal of fetal development, claiming that it assigns human attributes to the fetus that go beyond scientific evidence.
Some argue that the video's intention is to influence opinions on abortion rather than providing accurate information.
Despite criticism, supporters, like Iowa Representative Luana Stoltenberg, see the video as a valuable educational tool, emphasizing its potential to inform children about their development and influence decisions related to pregnancy.
However, opponents, including abortion rights advocates, argue that the controversy stems from attempts to impose a specific worldview rather than promoting accurate education.
Similar legislation in North Dakota requires the inclusion of a three-minute ultrasound video in health and human sexuality courses.
While the law doesn't mandate showing Baby Olivia, it is referenced as an option. Some North Dakota school districts use the video, while others opt for alternative materials.
Proposed legislation in Iowa, West Virginia, Missouri, and Kentucky seeks to require the showing of the Baby Olivia video in various grades, sparking a broader debate on the content and accuracy of sex education curricula.
Sex Education and Pregnancy: What Does the Schools Teach
Several states are tightening regulations on sex education content and timing.
The main aim of state and federal agencies is to enlighten students with the goal of excessive teen pregnancies and decreasing the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases.
Katie Christensen, the director of Planned Parenthood in North Dakota, emphasizes the importance of incorporating pregnancy and conception education into a comprehensive and medically accurate curriculum.
In North Dakota, a law mandates that health and human sexuality courses include a three-minute ultrasound video and a computer-generated depiction of fetal development.
While the law does not mandate the use of the Baby Olivia video, it is mentioned as an option in the state's department of public instruction.
Among the 12 largest school districts in North Dakota surveyed by The Associated Press, five use the Baby Olivia video, including Fargo Public Schools, which represents about 10% of the state's students. Some districts, like Bismarck, do not utilize Baby Olivia, while West Fargo Public Schools incorporate a "significantly longer" video already part of the curriculum, covering additional information about pregnancy and addressing health standards.
In Iowa, a recently passed proposal necessitates the showing of a video-either Baby Olivia or an equivalent one-beginning in seventh grade.
West Virginia's proposal specifically requires the showing of Baby Olivia to eighth and 10th graders, with expectations of merging it with other bills in the next legislative steps.
Meanwhile, Missouri aims to require the Baby Olivia video by the third grade, and Kentucky's proposal permits any video meeting the standards as early as the sixth grade.
These bills were introduced in January but have not yet undergone hearings.
