May 13, 2005

Girls in Mission, TX made "Toothpaste," a film about teen pregnancy. (The link above goes to a description and link to the film. To see the film, you need Quicktime.) Mission, TX has one of the highest teen pregnancy and STD rates in the US, yet they only receive information about abstinence in their schools. Here's the AP story on the film.

The girls who made the film (with the help of Scenerio USA, a group that helps young people create social change) hope the film will combat abstinence-only education. Schools can buy the film, and Showtime has agreed to air it.

posted by meredithea 18 years ago
  • Abstinence only education doesn't work. Good for these girls for trying to make a difference.
  • Too bad the 'view film' links seem not to be working. Unfortunately, this will be viewed as 'left-wing smut peddling propaganda' by the abstinence crowd instead of the wake up call that it should be.
  • The broadband/modem links worked for me using explorer but not firefox. The idea of teaming the winning teen script writers with big-time movie makers is a cool one. It was interesting to see (in the "behind the scenes" film) the town's support and participation in the film especially given that the msnbc article mentions cultural taboos against discussion of sex for that region. Overall, an improvement (and shorter) than anything I ever watched in the high school gym on the topic. The alternating bedroom scenes had a Goofus/Gallant feel to them.
  • Amazing, that teenagers have to do something that their elders are failing to do. Appears they have more sense then some elected officials.