Tennessee
Teen pregnancy and STI rates show Tennessee has a sex ed health crisis
If more schools participated in teaching medically accurate information about these topics, Tennessee would reduce teen pregnancies and sexually-trasmitted infections.
Supporters advocate for fact-based sex education for MA youth
Jaclyn Friedman of the Healthy Youth Act Coalition, exhorts supporters to urge state representatives to pass the bill, already passed by the Senate
Kinga Borondy, wickedlocal.com
Sex education is not mandated in Tennessee public schools, and if schools decide to provide education, the curriculum is not required to be comprehensive.
The only exception is for schools located in counties where the pregnancy rate exceeds 19.5/1,000 for females aged 15-17, which by 2018 data, includes at least 20 counties in our state.
These schools are only required to teach a family life education program, which must promote topics like abstinence and reserving the expression of sexual activity for marriage. Despite being a harm reduction method, contraceptive options such as condoms and oral contraceptive pills are not required to be taught. Instead, schools are required to inform students about the process and benefits of adoption.
Additionally, in these counties, parents and guardians have the option to remove their children from any type of sexual education curriculum, and as of 2021 this includes LGBTQ-related instruction.
Tennessee ranks near the bottom of state on key indicators
Teen sexual health in Tennessee lags behind other states. In Tennessee, only 32.2% of high schools taught students all 20 critical sexual health education topics outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as compared to 33% of schools in Georgia and 65.9% of schools in California.
Tennessee is ranked 44th out of the 50 states in rates of teen pregnancy at 21.5 per thousand, with the national average being 13.5 per thousand. Georgia is not far behind at 36th and California is ranked 12th.
Increased rates of teen pregnancy are strongly correlated with higher rates of unemployment, leaving school before completion of a high school degree, and poverty. Teen pregnancies are also associated with worse maternal health outcomes including increased risk for maternal depression and intimate partner violence in the pregnancy periods.
The harms of inadequate sexual education for teens are not limited to unplanned pregnancies. One in six high school-aged females reported intimate partner violence in 2019, which is the highest across the U.S. and is nearly double the national average.
As of 2021, the average number of teens ages 15-17 who were diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis, all sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), was 16.6 per 1,000. These adverse events associated with poor teen sexual health education demonstrate the need for a more robust education approach in Tennessee.
Why holistic sex education benefits young people
Comprehensive sex education is associated with numerous health benefits for teenagers. According to a study conducted at New York University, increased federal funding for more comprehensive sex education led to a 3% reduction in teen pregnancies at the county level.
Furthermore, a landmark CDC study investigated the relationship between comprehensive risk reduction programs, abstinence education programs, and risk of adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and STI’s.
The study found that comprehensive risk reduction programs were effective in reducing both teen pregnancy rates and the acquisition of STIs.
A number of other studies have also shown that abstinence-only programs are ineffective at reducing both teen pregnancy and STI risk.
Thus, even if sexual education curricula are not required by state law, more schools that participate in teaching medically accurate information about these topics will reduce teen pregnancies and STIs.
Nikita Bastin, Avery Bogart, Zoe Finer, Jeewoo Kim and Jessie Sims are medical students in Nashville. The views expressed by the authors are personal in nature and are not intended to represent the views of their institution.
Tennessee
Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig
The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the main teams when it comes to producing talent and sending talent to the NFL, which is something that has often been discovered as a standard for the football program. This is something that has been going on for quite some time and isn’t anything new to the news cycle, as the Vols have been able to produce plenty of talented prospects.
Tennessee is the home of many stars, including some of the best defensive players in SEC history. Guys like Eric Berry have found their way through the Tennessee program and onto the NFL, where they would have legendary careers. However, the defensive side of the football is the only side that has produced plenty of talent, as Tennessee has produced a lot of offensive talent as well. With the likes of Peyton Manning and company, the Vols have shown a great track record in getting talent drafted.
The Vols have produced someone who could be considered as one of the best players to play the Tide end position, as the Knoxville, Tennessee program is the home to Dallas Cowboys legend, Jason Witten. Witten is someone who made the most of his career and has been viewed as a top player at the Tide in position, and someone who is often referred to as a legend for the Cowboys, along with being a legend in the game of football as a whole.
Jason Witten Accepts TE Coach Position For Oklahoma
Witten is now taking a new gig, which has him in a huge role inside the Southeastern Conference. The Vols legend is now the tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have had some success out of their tight ends in the past, but the sky is the limit with a guy like Witten coaching up the players. Witten has the opportunity to do really well, as coaching tight ends won’t be an issue, and you have to imagine that he will be able to recruit very well, considering he has a huge name around him, as this is something that we have seen from positional coaches as well as head coaches who have done great work in the league. You have to imagine that the Vols will now have stiff competition for his son, Cooper, who is a five-star recruit for the upcoming 2027 class at the linebacker position.
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Tennessee
Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival
The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to land many of the nation’s best players in the transfer portal to replace the players who have already announced they are transferring away from Tennessee. One of the players they lost very early on to the portal, and his plans of entering the portal is Boo Carter.
Carter is someone who has quickly made a name for himself, as he played for the Vols as a freshman. He also played for the Tennessee Vols this past season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Carter entered the portal and left an announcement on his X page for those interested. Here is what was said.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!-Boo Carter”
Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt
Now that the portal is here, he has started to hear from many teams, including a team many anticipated to be in the picture. The Vols DB heard from the Vanderbilt staff and is now reportedly visiting them. This is a school where many of his friends go currently, and a school that has been doing well, but it is no secret that this is one of the Vols’ biggest rivalries.
He is undecided on a possible commitment somewhere, but the reports have started to indicate that the Commodores are a team to watch moving forward. This will be one to watch for the Vols, as there is a good chance they may see Carter next season.
“Dynamic athlete who quickly made an impact on defense and special teams as a true freshman … Earned the starting STAR position and shined while becoming a dangerous weapon as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2024 … Saw action as a slot receiver as well during 2025 spring practices … Early enrollee in January 2024 who participated in Citrus Bowl practices and spring practice before his true freshman season … Has compiled 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception on defense in his career … Dynamic punt returner who averages 16.0 yards per return in his career … Played in 21 career games and made five starts,” the Tennessee Vols athletics website stated.
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Tennessee
Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target
The Tennessee Volunteers have been looking to land the best of the best when it comes to the transfer portal, and they have been targeting the best, but as of recently, all it has been is a bunch of swings and misses.
The Vols have missed yet again, as they have failed to land one of their top targets on their board when it comes to the college football transfer portal at a position that they currently need more than any. That position is the cornerback position, which is one that they need very badly.
The player that they failed to land in this go-around is Troy cornerback Jaquez White. White is one of the better players that the portal has seen at the position, as he was easily named as a top portal target for many. He was seriously looking at Tennessee, and the Vols were ready to bring him in, but instead, he has opted to commit to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have done a decent job in the portal thus far, but their portal class has definitely improved following the addition of White.
Whether this is a money thing or the Vols just couldn’t do enough convincing, the point is that they have missed on guys left and right recently. The vision isn’t clear, but fans are hopeful that it will be soon.
Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.
Jaquez White’s 2025 Season
“Earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors … Ranked third in the league (seventh nationally) with 14 total passes defended and fourth (15th nationally) with 11 pass break ups … Started 12 games and played in all 14 contests … Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s victory over Louisiana; added interceptions against Nicholls and in Sun Belt Championship Game at James Madison … Finished season with 67 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Sack came in Troy’s win over South Alabama; added five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass break up in the game … Season-best seven tackles against Memphis … Broke up four passes in win at ULM and had a pair at Southern Miss … Troy’s top-rated defender per PFF with an 87.6 rating … Played 879 defensive snaps, second most on the team … Third-rated cornerback in the country (min. 700 snaps) per PFF and fourth-rated cover corner … Held opponents to a 54.5 reception percentage (36-of-66).”
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