Abstinence Education is Mis-Named
First it is necessary to clear up the misnomer of "abstinence -- only" education. There is no such thing; programs teaching abstinence until marriage teach many important life skills. The following list is a sample of what is in one of the first and most complete abstinence programs for public schools.
The Teen-Aid curriculum is a skill based approach to abstinence education. The following set of relationship skills are taught in the middle or senior high programs, personal reflection, goal setting, life planning, knowledge about self (emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually), fetal development information, ways to show caring in the family and community, friendship making and keeping, avoiding gossip, non verbal communications, different models of communication, group problem solving, brainstorming, assertiveness skills, refusal techniques, conflict resolution, sexual harassment avoidance, decision making, avoiding dangerous situation, reporting sexual abuse, identifying media and peer pressure, communication with parents, setting boundaries for physical intimacy, practicing behavior change habits across risk factors and daily living situations.
After reading this list, can you honestly say that this abstinence program is teaching only abstinence?
Most abstinence until marriage programs are taught to students under the age of legal consent for sexual activity. Rarely are students over the age of 15 included in programs discussing sexuality, much less teaching abstinence.
Opponents of abstinence, often cite that abstinence materials are not age-appropriate, but age appropriateness must consider more than exposure to sexualized materials. Age appropriateness must recognize the level of brain development for understanding consequences and the minimum of understanding must be the legality of a behavior, which is not taught in comprehensive programs. For students to make informed decisions they must also understand the personal emotional, societal and financial consequences of sexual activity and childbearing. Children under the age of 18 do not have the capacity to independently support a child. Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of out-of-wedlock pregnancies occur among teens aged 18 to 24. (Yes, 18, 19 and up until the 20th birthday are counted in the teen pregnancy statistics even the married one.) However, the fathers are often five to 20 years older than the young pregnant teen mothers. Will equipping these under age teens with contraception assist them in avoiding predatory behavior when those dispensing contraception refuse, as Planned Parenthood has, to report the age of the father in what are obviously statutory rape cases.
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The Teen-Aid curriculum, if it is not misrepresented here, might give teenagers a dossier of information useful to avoiding sexual activity, provided it is presented in a relevant and appealing manner. The problem that crops up from abstinence-only curriculums is what will happen when teenagers ignore the advice of these programs. Yes, some might successfully employ abstinence, the best form of protection, but some won’t—how many depends on what study you invent—and we must increase our effectiveness towards these people. They, unlike their wise counterparts, will ignore the lessons or conveniently forget them when love, romance, and sex barge into the room. In other words, they have that teenage tendency to think irrationally. Some of these irrational teenagers, however, might do a cost analysis. The end result will always include sex. If they were instructed on how to use contraceptives, they might use them to GREATLY reduce the chance of pregnancy and most STD’s. If an abstinence-only program left them in the dark on these devices, then the teenager will have sex anyway.
Of course, a curriculum that teaches about contraceptives should do more than just hand them out. Abstinence is better than safe sex; such a course can give students the information and skills to avoid sex and predators. All that contraceptives do is plug the holes in the abstinence curriculum. Those who can grasp the concepts of abstinence in the heat of passion will not be lured into licentiousness by contraceptives. Those who cannot understand abstinence will have the next best thing we can give them, a comprehensive knowledge of contraceptives that effectively reduce pregnancy.
All the things listed under what is taught in 'abstinence-only' sex-ed seems to have nothing to do with sex? I mean I see how they might relate but thats not really sex-ed. It is true that a child under 18 doesnt have the capacity to raise a child *while some might*, but this is why they need to be taught how to not get pregunant.
You are exactly right. All of the subjects listed seemed more like self help book titles than something that had to do with sex-ed. Yes, they all have at least some tiny relation to sexual behavior but do not educate students about sex in any way, shape, or form. Also, those listed are all very subjective. You can't be taught about love, and similar emotions...you just can't. Emotions cannot be taught and relationship guidelines should not be taught either. Those topics belong either in church or between parents and children. The school should in no way teach students about love and relationships, other than how to keep themselves safe.