posts >> nikolai > bradley > publuis > william
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Nikolai
For years there has been a battle between schools and organizations over what type of “Sex E.d.” should be taught in schools if any. They cover both ends of the spectrum challenging the sides of abstinence vs. safe sex. Why can’t we have both? A more comprehensive curriculum is the way our school systems should be teaching about sex. However, abstinence needs to be at the top of the priority list. Not because of religious or moral beliefs, but rather because science has proven that abstinence is the only 100% way to prevent unwanted pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases. The schools that are not teaching this form of abstinence are missing the mark and are robbing our children of the truth in sex education.
When it comes down to it each student is going to decide for themselves whether or not to engage in sexual intercourse while in high school. Parental advice and school curriculum might influence the student but ultimately they will make that decision on their own. Because of this schools should be required to teach how to practice safe sex. Schools should also take more time teaching about sex in the classrooms. Programs can be extremely rushed; spending less than 2 weeks on the subject in some cases. In today’s world sex is becoming more of an issue at an earlier age for our children. It’s time our schools started doing everything in their power to educate their students.
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Bradley
I think (assume) most of us can agree that teaching one viewpoint on a subject can often leave out beneficial bits of information. In the case of sex education in public schools, there is a disservice being done to our nation’s youth. Many schools currently teach the standard sex ed course, and leave it at that, without any mention of something that can prevent hardship later in life. Abstinence is the only way to be sure that you’ll not contract an STD or become pregnant. Why isn’t something that makes so much sense taught more consistently across the U.S.? Seems like a no-brainer right?
Now, of course I’m not saying I want an abstinence only lesson plan, but rather a so called “comprehensive” sex education plan. Basically, it’s the best of both worlds. Students can obtain the knowledge of their physiology and how contraception works, and also be presented with the concept that simply waiting until you’re married can solve a whole host of problems before they happen.
Let’s face this sad reality. Teens are having sex whether or not they receive any sort of sex ed class. In preparation for this post I read a few different research articles and was shocked to read that the age many teens begin their sexual activity at age 15. Some 25% of 15 year old girls have had sex along with about 50% of 17 year old girls. W-O-W.
Now, of course the question of “Where is the parental responsibility?” can and should be asked, but it’s a sort of “Pandora’s Box” question and worthy of its own discussion.
Our teens need to be informed, and they need to know that it is absolutely ok and actually preferred to abstain from sex until marriage.
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Publuis
There are basic truths in life, which bring with them basic responsibilities. For example, sexual intercourse is requisite for reproduction and to, an extent, a romantic relationship with the opposite gender. The responsibility attached to that truth is not as straightforward. Many believe the responsibility of intercourse is waiting until marriage to engage in sex, and to do so with a single partner. Still, others believe the responsibility of intercourse is to have “safe” sex whenever it is you choose to have it.
While abstaining from intercourse until marriage is the only full-proof method to ensure safe sex, it is the least popular method. People as young as 15 are choosing to have sex, and by 17 there are as many people having sex as aren’t.
Another truth is public education teaches sex education. The responsibility attached to that truth in my view is to ensure the highest percentage of students engaging in “safe” sex. Abstinence should not be left out sex ed. programs–as it is the best safe sex method– more energy should be put into educating the already sexually active.
The reality is people are choosing to have intercourse at a young age, the public health risks related are huge. Unwanted teen pregnancies are directly related to abortions, adoptions, and general strain on social services and public health outlets. Statistics on this subject do not bear out much clarity other than students are having sex. Effectiveness of “safe” sex education versus abstinence-only versus comprehensive sex ed. is almost impossible to determine. What is possible is equipping the sexually active with education to have “safe” sex.
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William
The fact of the matter is that abstinence is not a singularly religious doctrine. It is, however, the number one, scientifically proven method to prevent teen pregnancy, HIV infection, and the startling rates of STD’s. I realize that the religious right, mainly conservative, evangelical Christians, have hijacked this issue and helped create outlandish polarization akin to that seen with abortion. In reality, however, it is far more absurd to assert that abstinence has no place in the schools, then to fight for its inclusion among a non-preventative curriculum of sex education.
First of all, do not let anyone sell you on an idea that parents are ultimately responsible and the school has no business teaching abstinence. If that is true, the schools have no business giving sex education – and you might make the same argument about math and science too. We can all agree that there is a problem when 1/4th of 15-year-olds have had sex and by the age of 18 it jumps to 50%. When teen pregnancy endangers future education, life choices, and career choices, the schools have a responsibility to inform students of the risks and the options when it comes to sex; as an educational institution, they have a mandate. Abstinence is a verified option, available to all, religious or not, that may or not be given as an acceptable choice by parents or peers.
Thankfully a majority of schools (60+%) practice comprehensive sex education (a mixture of abstinence education with curriculum aimed at the sexual active). I do not believe abstinence only is a responsible educational choice considering the activity levels of so many young teens. The needs of our current crisis warrant a comprehensive sex education that is truly comprehensive – from curriculum to scope. We aught to talk more often, starting younger, and work especially on educating parents to help them become more positively involved in that aspect of their child’s education and life.
3 Comments
February 29, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I agree totally with what you are saying about abstinence only, but you and the rest of society are missing the mark about how to correct the problem of sex-ed. Based upon the rave reviews my book, “Life Is Sexually Transmitted” has received you would do well to incorporate its ‘hidden secrets’ into the sex-ed curriculum. You can review and order the book on its website: http://www.cleave2.com or contact me at: 386-761-5675 or: newbook@cleave2.com
William A. Cummins, Author, Speaker
March 2, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Ultimately, I believe it is the responsibility of parents to teach their children about sex and the issues surrounding it. However, parents have failed to do this in an adequate manner, so that teens are left to peers and school to figure out this information. And ultimately, though schools can provide information, children have already begun to deeply develop how they see and value themselves as sexual beings. Sexuality is essential to who we are, and parents do a disservice to their children at the very beginning by not giving their children specific and accurate terminology related to their sexuality. By incorporating slang terms into their sexual anatomy vocabulary, sexuality becomes something “secret” (with a sense of shame), not necessarily something “private” (meaning limited access, not with a sense of shame). Children need to be reinforced at an early age that their sexuality is not bad, it is private and they ultimately have control over their bodies. Part of this sense of ownership over your own body comes from using accurate terminology. If children and later teens understand that they ultimately have control over their body, they will be better able to make a conscious decision about sex.
With that foundation of confidence in who you are as a sexual being, you are better able to receive messages about abstinence, which I believe are essential to an educational curriculum. Point being, it has to start with the parents, and if that step has been missed, I believe it is hard to say that any type of school curriculum will change a child’s core ideas about sexuality.
March 25, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Hannah’s got it perfectly here. I really couldn’t add much more… but I will because I have a big mouth and I can type fast!
This goes for so many other things the public school system is now responsible for, some even legally mandated: teaching morals and self esteem, feeding breakfast and lunches, after school programs, multicultural education, etc… etc… Do you see a pattern here?
Parents, for various reasons, have abdicated their own powers and responsibilities to the government. There’s no law that says parents have to provide any of those things I mentioned above.
The Sexual Revolution of the Sixties was basically a failure, intent on freeing people to make their own decisions rather than learning from institutions that really worked.
What did we get from this “revolution”? Mistrust, rebellious and broken children, rampant STD’s, impoverished, under-aged single mothers and the creation of a whole new cycle of destruction.
Schools teaching sexual education is only a Band-Aid on this type of cancer.