Abstinence or Safe-Sex in schools? Your thoughts?

[*Anne*]

What's wrong with sex?

It's a valid question.

Not everybody has a problem with sex.

-Q

Who said there was anything wrong with sex, or that they had a problem with it?

 

[The Neo Nerd]

Well the christians seem to have a problem with it.

As do the catholics and the muslims.

-Q

 

[*Anne*]

Oh, do you mean in terms of teaching something other than abstinence in schools? If so then: Yes, it would seem as if some have a problem with it, though I'm not sure if all do.

I thought you were referring to the choice of abstinence itself.

 

[The Neo Nerd]

I thought you were referring to the choice of abstinence itself.

I was.

What I was getting at here is not everyone is christian/catholic etc. Some are atheists. Some are mind boggling indifferent.

So to preach abstinence is like forcing ones religion on people, which is rude.

I guess some non christian people would support abstinence. However it is not their right to enforce their beliefs on other people.

In a christian school then by all means preach what you want. But in a public school safe sex should be the way.

-Q

 

[*Anne*]

I was.

What I was getting at here is not everyone is christian/catholic etc. Some are atheists. Some are mind boggling indifferent.

So to preach abstinence is like forcing ones religion on people, which is rude.

I guess some non christian people would support abstinence. However it is not their right to enforce their beliefs on other people.

In a christian school then by all means preach what you want. But in a public school safe sex should be the way.

My approach wouldn't be to preach or force. It would be to present abstinence as an equally valid option. I chose abstinence, and it worked really well for me. Religion had nothing to do with it.

 

[Kathryn]

I was.

What I was getting at here is not everyone is christian/catholic etc. Some are atheists. Some are mind boggling indifferent.

So to preach abstinence is like forcing ones religion on people, which is rude.

I guess some non christian people would support abstinence. However it is not their right to enforce their beliefs on other people.

In a christian school then by all means preach what you want. But in a public school safe sex should be the way.

-Q

I haven't seen anyone on this forum saying that abstinence ONLY is the best approach, or even a realistic approach. Not only that, but as a Christian I don't know any Christians who believe that abstinence ONLY should be taught in public schools. I'm sure they're out there, but I don't know any of them - and I know a lot of Christians.

What we're saying is that abstinence should be taught as a viable OPTION, as well as comprehensive sex education. The choice of abstinence should be supported as reasonable and POSSIBLE - and the fact that abstinence (from sexual behavior, not just from sexual intercourse) basically cuts out all reasonable risk of pregnancy and STDs should be brought up when discussing how to PREVENT pregnancy and STDs.

This fact stands alone - independent of religion. Religion should be left out of the classroom.

 

[ZooGirl02]

I believe that safer sex should be taught in schools. There is no such thing as safe sex. Even sex with a condom is somewhat risky. Of course, it is still much safer than using no condom. As far as sex education in general goes, I believe that comprehensive sex education should be taught.

 

[Duck]

Well, I know we're not irl, but I did. My sex ed consisted of "condoms don't work." Other contraceptives weren't included. We did get explanations about the plumbing.

I don't remember anything but the plumbing lectures.

Truthfully, I can't remember if I was taught about condoms or not. I think that I discovered them by finding some in my Dad's glove box when I was 13 or 14 and kind of extrapolating their use. Never occurred to me to ask why my father had condoms in the glove box of a vehicle that I am pretty sure my mother never sat down in, much less rode or "got rode" in, hmmm.

 

[RomCat]

I believe there is no such thing as "safe-sex."

 

[uu_sage]

I believe that age appropriate comprehensive sexual education should be taught in schools including contraception. If they are going to have sex, talk about contraception, encourage them to use it, and teach them apply it. The students should also be taught to respect their partner's wishes and be open about one desires, and they should also know not to mistreat or harm themselves or their partner.

 

[linwood]

There are currently three kinds of sex-ed in American schools.

1:Abstinence only: promoted and encouraged by the Bush admin with fed dollars.
Data shows a drastic increase in teen pregnancy rates and STD`s due to this ideology.

2:Comprehensive Sex Ed: Abstinence is the first and primary method taught along with contraceptive, STD education.This ideology led to an unprecedented 20% drop in teen pregnancies in the 80-90`s.

3:None:

I`ll take door #2.

 

[Kathryn]

Very few US schools teach either option 1 or option 3.

 

[linwood]

Very few US schools teach either option 1 or option 3.

I don`t know the current numbers but not a few years ago more than enough public schools had taken the abstinence only bait for federal dollars.

Enough to evidence correlation to the increase in teen pregnancy and std`s if not causation.

 

[Nerthus]

I don't even really remember the sex education at my school. I remember my science teacher putting a condom on a test tube, and then talking us through abortions.

Sex will still happen, so it's better to prepare teenagers these days.

 

[Kathryn]

I don`t know the current numbers but not a few years ago more than enough public schools had taken the abstinence only bait for federal dollars.

Enough to evidence correlation to the increase in teen pregnancy and std`s if not causation.

Well, there are about 21 million teens ages 15-19 in the United States, and only about 1 million of them are receiving abstinence ONLY sex education. Now I believe that's 1 million too many, but that's a small minority of teens nationwide.

American FactFinder_

New sex education federal funding ends decade of abstinence-only | NOLA.com

By the way, federal funding for abstinence ONLY sex education was repealed by Obama in 2009, only to be resurrected in the Health Care Reform Act, which was authored and pushed through, not by Republicans or conservatives, but by Democrats.

One thing to keep in mind - and a point that is often overlooked in these debates - is this: Programs which teach abstinence as an alternative don't necessarily teach abstinence ONLY. There's nothing wrong with presenting abstinence as a viable option. Also, states which fund programs that teach abstinence ONLY are not prohibited from also funding programs which teach comprehensive sex ed. Each school can then decide which program or programs to offer, based on the desires of their communities.