Sex-ed: Just abstinence?

[Cygnus]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/08/05/texas.textbooks.reut/index.html

Considering that the majority of us here at warboards are mostly teenagers or in their twenties, it's an important issue all of us know about. We've all probably gone through classes in school or atleast have heard talks from our parents or guardians. Although some here haven't had sex, the knowledge one gains about learning about your body and the risks of sexual intercourse help to you have an enjoyable as well as a healthy life.

Should sex-ed books just promote abstinence and not contraceptives? In my opinion that just promoting abstinence until your married or in a stable adult relationship is an alright idea due to the risks involved, but is it really the most realistic choice? From my experience at in Jr. High, I favor my teachers approaches. Teach about the human body, what happens as one goes through puberty, and what the changes are there for. To paraphrase what was the overwhelming opinion on the actual sexual intercourse part: "In a perfect world everyone would abstaine and there would be no teenage pregnancy... but this isn't a perfect world, I know from experience. If one wishes to have sexual intercourse the safest and best way to go about it, is to use contraceptives."

But back onto the idea from the article, do you think that perhaps leaving out or barely mentioning contraceptives in these books is a bad idea? Could they possibly hurt the next generation of teenagers as they experiment and test the limits, just as some of us have?

Thoughts? Ideas?

[TheGreatBrain]

Well, as the usual argument goes, preaching abstinence is all well and good, but the fact is kids are going to have sex no matter what they're being taught in school. That's just the way it happens, and not likely to change anytime soon. It's my view that since at least some are going to have sex, then they might as well know all about contraceptives, their limitations, etc.

[WeekendLazyness]

They taught us all that back in sixth grade, except that the teacher never said "vagina," and never told us the penis was supposed to go into the vagina.

[chibi]

The idea of both abstinence and contraceptive methods should be taught to kids in school today.

I think promoting Abstinence isn't a bad thing as long as it is not over done. Teenagers are extremely curious beings. I would know, I am one. I just think people are going to do what they want, when they want no matter what people say. If someone tells you not to have sex are they looking out for you or simply telling you what to do?

Although preeching abstinence isn't bad, not including education on contraceptives isn't good either. Kids need to know that there is a safer way to express your love for another person without having the chance of a young one comming along.

I just wish that the products were available and also the education. Maybe then we wouldn't have so many teen pregnancies. Another thing however is people need to have a strict state of mind too. You need to realize that if you are ready to take part in the act then you should be ready to suffer the consciquences if you don't take the proper precautions.

[UED77]

Advising teenagers to abstain sounds like a good idea. But would teens really listen?
I know for a fact that teens are curious about sex. They want to know what it's like, they long for the experience. And if added on top of this comes that adults tell them NOT to have sex, they will do it anyway, for double purpose: Because they want to, and because adults tell them not to do it.

In The Netherlands, where light drugs are legal, teenage drug use is not as big of a problem as it is in the US, where they are prohibited. I am afraid the same thing would happen if everyone would preach abstinance to teens.

Another option would be to promote alternative ways of sexual contact, such as oral sex and cunnilingus. They cannot result in pregnancy ;)

Altho the risk of STDs would still be prevalent.

UED77

[Cygnus]

Another option would be to promote alternative ways of sexual contact, such as oral sex and cunnilingus. They cannot result in pregnancy ;)
Of course, but there's still dangers associated with thisl.... but whatever just date clean people right? :p

On a serious note I'm glad too see that we're all realistic. I mean comeon, there are still going to be kids who do things like this even if everyone preaches abstinence. Of course just handing out condoms won't help as we all agree, but the kids atleast to know what the consiquences of their actions and how to avoid unwanted side-affects which might ruin their lives by just wanting to have casual sex with someone.

[Maegtelluma]

I think the most important things that teenagers should be taught in sex ed are the consequences you can face if you are not careful. I think that it is somewhat human nature that if someone tells you not to do something, you are more inclined to do it than you were before. Now, if instead the teachers told us that if you want to do this, use a contraceptive so that you don't have a family at 15,16,17, whatever. I think that a lot of guys wouldn't have sex if they had any idea how much they would have to pay in child support over eighteen years....

You can really ruin yourself if you're not careful. Now I know that if i was enough of an idiot to do that and get stuck with child support, my parents would help me out and I'd be able to come up with the money. But if I wasn't on a great relation with parents, or I didn't have an income, this could really be a problem. You can screw up your life for eighteen years or more for maybe half an hour of "fun".

And since a lot of teenagers would completely ignore this, I think that teaching contraceptives is very important. In our sex ed program they preach this a lot. Mostly because they know that anyone who was going to have sex before the lesson probably would anyway no matter what they said, so you might as well hope that they use birth control. We don't really have a problem at our school with people dropping out for this kind of stuff, but it definitely happens. Definitely one of the top situations I would never want to be in, so no worries for me :)

[OboeGuru]

The worst part of Absitnence-only Education is that it completely glazes over and denies the research that contraceptives work, and quite often leaves the student with no understanding of them, so they never think about using a contraceptive if/when they decide to have sex.

Your school district is a smart one, Maegtelluma. Most schools in the nation have caved in to the 1996 Abstinence-Only Curriculum Welfare Reform Act that allotted $50 million anually for 5 year to states for abstinence-only programs.

Even with no evidence of effectiveness behind it, abstinence-only education is the "new wave" in federal policy on sexuality education. Since the early 1980s, Congress has devoted large sums of federal funding toward abstinence-only-until marriage education. Combined with state matching dollars, funding for abstinence-only education increased by nearly 3000% from 1996 to 2001.

In fiscal year 2002, federal appropriations for promoting abstinence-only education reached $102 million: $12 million through the Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) ($10 million is earmarked for abstinence-only programs while $2 million is earmarked for abstinence-based programs), $50 million through the welfare reform legislation and $40 million through the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance–Community-Based Abstinence Education (SPRANS-CBAE) grant program. President Bush recently proposed a $33 million increase in abstinence-only sexuality education for the FY 2003 budget, which would bring the total federal funding level for abstinence programs to $135 million ($12 million through AFLA, $50 million through the Abstinence Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education welfare reform legislation, and $73 million through the SPRANS-CBAE program).
Reason #21653216465132654 why G.W. Bush should lose office this election year. His religious tyranny must end.

[Traveller]

the only way for a kid to go towards abstinence is if the parents teach it. the thing with most of these school problems is that it has to start in the home, not the school.

[GiaDragoness]

Traveller is correct. Pre marital sex is not really right because of teenage pregnancy and STDs. Teaching kids to use condoms wont always be the best, as i was taught in sex-ed, they only work about 55% of the time anyways. It's clear that teaching kids fiirst hand, the consequnces of sex like that so they know how much of a pain in the ass it would be to have a kid while attending school, or trying to live life with AIDs or something. Teach them, but teach them well. That's solved, everyone agrees, next question.


:smash: Smashy Smashy! :smash:

[singo]

so they know how much of a pain in the ass it would be to have a kid while attending school, or trying to live life with AIDs or something.

:smash: Smashy Smashy! :smash:


if they cant work that one out.......*shakes head in despair*

[OboeGuru]

Teaching kids to use condoms wont always be the best, as i was taught in sex-ed, they only work about 55% of the time anyways.
As you were taught under a system most likely funded to support Abstinence-Only.

Those programs, more often than not, misrepresent the stastics associated with contraceptive use. In reality, they work far more than 55% of the time, somewhere in the 90th percentile (that is, around 90% or higher). This just goes to show that you can't trust everything you learn in school, it may be a politically-influenced curriculum you're learning from.

[Cygnus]

the only way for a kid to go towards abstinence is if the parents teach it. the thing with most of these school problems is that it has to start in the home, not the school.True, but abstinence only usually isn't usually the best way to go about trying to teach your offspring the right thing. I for one would like my children to understand the risks of unprotected sex, whether it be pregnancy or sexual diseases as well as ways to avoid those unwanted consequences if they would go about it. I'd perfer them to not do it and wait until they would be older, but you have to be realistic they're human and so are we.

Traveller is correct. Pre marital sex is not really right because of teenage pregnancy and STDs. Premarital sex isn't really wrong, persay, it's more of they must be aware of the consequences. You have the right to use your body in any way you want, sexual freedom is something we all have and have the right to explore. It's just though that we, many of which are about to be 18 or older, and especially those just beginning to experience puberty need to understand the risks involved. I won't deny that sex is amazing experience and can be even more so if you do it with someone who you really care for. You just need to understand the risks and learn how to minimize them to the maximum extent or even eliminate them all together.

Teaching kids to use condoms wont always be the best, as i was taught in sex-ed, they only work about 55% of the time anyways.Of course teaching kids to just use condoms isn't the smartest idea, but they atleast need to know that they exist and should use them if they want to have casual sex with someone. At the same time I must also point out, like OboeGuru said, condoms usually work in the high 90% range. And if one takes the time to check the condoms... it helps to elimnate the problem of being the 1-2% of people who aren't so lucky. Also if used in conjunction with birth control and other things such as spermicide, the risks of pregnancy are almost non existent as well as transmitting sexual diseases.

Also this is the problem with abstinence-only programs. They sometimes, like it appears yours did, try to tell the people that condoms are also not a safe option... when in reality it is one of the pillars of practicing safe-sex. That's the risk of these abstinence programs. Especially, again like OG said, that political or religious pressure from the people who are funding the schools can warp and scew the facts to fit the beliefs of those who are doing the funding. In the end it only hurts the next generation who never correctly learned how to practice safe-sex.

It's clear that teaching kids fiirst hand, the consequnces of sex like that so they know how much of a pain in the ass it would be to have a kid while attending school, or trying to live life with AIDs or something. Teach them, but teach them well.Of course, but don't warp the facts to say that condoms only work "55%" of the time. Teach them the truth, not the ideas that best fit your beliefs.

[Modred]

Teenagers are extremely curious beings. I would know, I am one.

Go Radlin! ;) j/k

I think Maeg hit a goldmine in sex-ed for promoting contraceptive use and/or abstinence. Show the guys how much money it will cost them. That will get most of their attention. Trust me...it doesn't matter how far gone they may be otherwise from "traditional" values, if they see how much money a kid or STD could cost them...they'll wise up.

As for condom effectiveness.

The ranges for pregnancy prevention range from around 85% to 90%, depending on the survey. Certain STDs are around this range, I believe from the high seventies to the high eigthers. AIDS however is not as easily defended against, given that the HIV retrovirus is much smaller than other STDs and can actually pass between the fibres of the condom. A condom is still better than unprotected sex, but it isn't a guarantee, especially when dealing with HIV.

As for preventing pregnancy. There is a new medical technology that is currently undergoing testing that takes a new approach to contraceptives. Rather than having a woman take a pill or the man wear some sort of protection, a pill has been developed that will make the man sterile for a certain amount of time. Yes, you read correctly, it kills the sperm. No sperm equals no babies. If it is perfected and truly works as well as preliminary tests have indicated, then there could be a 100% guarantee against unwanted pregnancy, at least for those who could affort the pills. I am not sure, but I believe the effects were only temporary.

[Saffyr]

My school doesn't actually teach any kind of abstinence-until-marriage curriculum at all. The only thing that they say about not having sex is that you shouldn't do it unless you are in a stable, loving, long-term relationship, and frankly teenagers are far more likely to wait for that than they are for marriage.

Giving out misinformation or not telling kids stuff is ridiculous, because considering the prevalence of sex in the media it is highly unlikely that kids won't know about it. However, what will happen if they aren't taught about it is that they will attempt what they see in TV and films and will end up getting in a lot of trouble because they didn't use contraception. Teaching abstinence only leads to a "forbidden fruit" effect - teaching caution and sense is much more useful.

[singo]

it may be a politically-influenced curriculum you're learning from.
no really??? (sarcasm...i shouldnt have to point that out but....)

[Shad0]

Condoms, spermicidal, when used correctly, ie not expired, you kept them in the right temperature (not in your wallet), work over 99% of the time in preventing pregnancy and is equally as high with sexually transmitted diseases.

I have been going out with my gf for over a year now, and we have gotten tested together, and I do carry condoms with me. We haven't had sex, and ... we probably won't, but the thing is, everyone should be prepared, and prepared for the consequences.

In the ideal world, no one should have sex until they are ready to have a child with their significant other, but that doesn't always happen, and I think that, is what they should really focus on teaching.