Abstinence or Sex Education in Schools?

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Teen pregnancy in the Mid-South is becoming a more societal problem these days with rates rising every year.

According to Planned Parenthood beginning in the 90's the teen pregnancy rate actually declined every year. Then in 2006, it started to rise, and since then, it has risen every year.

Here in the Mid-South, 13% of births in Tennessee were born to teenagers, last year. More than 14.5% of births were to teens in Arkansas and in Mississippi 16.5% percent of births were born to teens.

Right now, the state of Mississippi has the highest teenage birth rate in the country. So the question is how to help prevent teen pregnancy?

Currently, most schools in Mississippi teach abstinence in schools. Over at MCS there's a more "don't ask don't tell" policy. Neither abstinence nor safe sex education is taught, but if a student asks about safe sex, school leaders direct them to the health department.

Felecia Wade from Repairing the Breech Ministries and Memphis City School Board Member Martivus Jones joined FOX13 to talk about the controversial issue. FOX13's Darrell Greene also hit the streets to find out what people think.