The Iowa Consortium for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention has tackled a rather sticky issue, walking a dangerous tightrope while trying to dodge familiar bullets.

The group has been actively promoting its efforts to urge teen-agers to remain abstinent in a time when pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are on the upswing.

The consortium, however, realizing that remaining abstinent is not a very strongly considered option for some, also urges preventative measures to be used when engaging in sexual activity to reduce the chances of pregnancy or disease.

The group also focuses on teens from the “waist up” in an effort to get teens to make good decisions regarding their sexuality and choices they will make that will affect the rest of their lives.

A group of this nature is a welcome sight in Iowa, where the rate of unwed teen-agers having babies has rocketed 70 percent, compared to a 44 percent national increase, between 1985 and 1992.

To get the message out about their program, the consortium has pursued an aggressive advertising campaign, including television and radio spots, posters and brochures.

Unfortunately, the one place where this advertising could be most effective has so far been off-limits.

Although project coordinator Pamela Hovden was told Des Moines high school and junior high schools would be open to the groups advertising efforts, as of now the schools will not allow the group to advertise to its core audience in schools. Des Moines school Superintendent Gary Wegenke said he didn’t think the program fit into the system’s educational plan. So where does sex education fit? One would think in our educational system.