What should public schools teach our children about sex? It can be a complex question, especially when dealing with morals, social norms, pop culture, hormones and health. When students sit down for their sex education, should teachers embrace an abstinence-only policy?
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Less Sex, More Contraception
- From National Campaign
By The National Campaign
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Happy Medium
I'm all for the two-sided program. Once teens start, there is no way to stop them. But helping them stay safe is definitely important. And helping the kids, who haven't started keep from starting or at least know how to protect themselves when they do, is also essential. There has to be a "happy medium" between only abstinence and just sex.
- Emily Barrett
January 25, 2009 6:01PM
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agreed.
I agree with this. Abstinence and protection should be taught at schools. Because some kids will listen to the abstinence message, and some will not. Students should be taught how to take care of themselves if they decide to have sex because in the world we live in more and more kids are deciding not to practice abstinence. Since the teen pregnancy rate has gone down, this teaching seems effective.
- HAYDEN
January 25, 2009 10:47PM
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Also agreed.. Kinda.
I'm also for the two-sided program. Teens need to be informed on the subject as much as possible, but too much information might have the opposite effect. It's like when your mom told you not to do something when you were a kid; it made you want to rebel and do the exact opposite of what you were told not to do. Pushing too much of this info into these teen's minds will also cause them to do the opposite, or so I think. I agree a lot with Happy Medium idea.
- garzafanhc
February 2, 2009 9:18AM
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Mostly agreed
I like the two-sided program. However, I think we should focus more on educating teens about protection and the dangers of engaging in unprotected sex. I think kids today are 'getting older' faster. If that is confusing, what I mean is that they are doing things that kids their age fifteen years ago did not even know about. From a younger sibling, I have heard stories about middle-schoolers doing things no one did when I was that age. It's a problem. But what is causing it? Some say kids today are being educated about sex too early. But how early is too early and how much should we be teaching them? It's a very complicated issue.
It seems that many teens today do not take STD's and STI's seriously enough. Some seem to brush off the idea that their desired sexual partner could have an STD or STI. Then they are dumbfounded when they discover that they have an STD or STI. I think teens should be more educated on how to prevent contracting an STD or STI as well as the symptoms and long-term complications associated with them. I don't really think that teaching abstinence, in high school, is effective. If teens are not being taught to be abstinent at home, many times, they do not take it seriously in school.
- Emar
February 8, 2009 5:03PM
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The world..maybe?
I don't think the reason kids are becomeing more expirenced at a younger age is because they are being taught about sex to early. I think that the media is showing a bigger influence to kids. The media doesn't really seem to care about the innocence of younger kids. For example,PG movies when I was little meant a clean no cussing movie with maybe a little kiss, but now PG movies even have the word "bitch" in with a little more heated make out scenes. This also has to do what the parents allow their kids to watch and listen to.
- HAYDEN
February 12, 2009 10:36AM
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Agree
I totally agree. This way, it covers all areas of teens regarding sex. It covers the teens who are having sex as well as the ones who aren't. I am happy to see someone who is open-minded enough to accept that no matter what we do or say, some teens are flat out just going to have sex. Its a hard fact to face, but let's be real. If abstienence only messages are being pounded into kids heads after they have already engaged in intercourse, it is a complete waste of time and effort. If teens are already having sex, they need to know about how to stay healthy and protected.
- trotterk88
February 11, 2009 10:58PM
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You have proved nothing
What role has culture played in declining teen pregnancy rates? How has fear of HIV infection curbed the hook up culture? How about the chastity movement; this didn't exist when I was single in the 80's, and I could have used the support. I didn't want to betray my Catholic moral code, but the pressure was enormous. If I had a mentor or like minded friends, the loneliness would not have gotten the better of me.
Maybe it's because of cultural influences young people are reinforced in their resolve to wait until marriage for sex. This is just as likely an explanation as your Planned Parenthood talking points.
Young people consistently poll more prolife than their parents, maybe they are more pure as well.
- Leticia Velasquez
July 16, 2009 10:35PM
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rising
If abstinence only education is effective then why are the rates of teen pregnancy on the rise in Texas?
- MrBook
September 2, 2009 4:49PM
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