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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Should 'Abstinence-Only' Sex-Ed be Taught in Public Schools?
Abstinence-only not smart
I noticed one of the groups that believed abstinence-only sex-ed would be the correct solution was a religious Christian organization. Not very earth-shattering to see by any means. But the separation of church and state is one of the more important decisions the supreme court decided on in the last century. I'm not either pro or anti abstinence, if someone chooses to wait until marriage to engage in sex, that is certainly their preogative and I respect that. But many of us are not in that mode of thinking and need the education and tools to survive the pangs of adolescence. For me, sex ed was not anything ground breaking, most kids are aware of the anatomy, but actually, it was one of the first times I was told about what unprotected sex could do, how to avoid it, and even social situations with the opposite sex. And not to start a war with the religious groups pro abstinence, but where exactly in the bible does it mention "thou shalt wait till they marriage"?
- Sundevil
July 13, 2008 9:30PM
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The Bible Says "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultry"
For the record, Sundevil had asked the question about where in the Bible it says 'thou shalt wait till marriage". Just to be clear, the commandment is Thou Shalt Not commit Adultry. In Gods eyes sex outside of marriage is considered adultry and thus a sin and something you shouldn't do.
Not that I agree, but you asked the question.
AS for sex ed, I think children should be taught the basics of anantomy in the early grades. I think they should then be taught all the horrific consequences of having sex before they are mature enough. Girls especially are very vunerable and I think schools should really emphasize how important it is to wait until you're older.
Also, kids should see what happens to a person with AIDS, STD's and/or the pain and suffering of having an abortion or giving a baby up. Single teenage moms should not be glorified, (JUNO).
The only problem I have with Sex Ed in schools is, the schools really have a lot of other things they need to be teaching such as Math/English, etc and ultimately it's up to the parents to be the main educators on this issue.
I realize some parents are unwilling or unable so for those kids, there should be something. I have three teenagers myself and my husband and I make a point of talking and explaining to them about sex. Even when they don't want to hear it! 'MOM...you're gross', is something I hear a lot of but I don't care. They'll thank me for it and as of now they're all good kids.
- terio818 September 3, 2008 7:07PM
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In response to "thou Shalt Not Commit Adultry"
You have that messed up. Adultry happens when you step outside of your marriage vows. Before marriage sex is called fornication in the Bible.
- UltraConservative October 23, 2008 9:06AM
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Where in the bible
is sex before marriage called fornication?
- quantummechanik
June 28, 2009 1:09PM
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And the Bible is a load of crap
So don't bring that into the argument.
- bagpiper2005
January 28, 2009 10:58AM
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Acting like a little kid
Evolution is crap, so don't bring that here either.
Doesn't that sound childish? When you decide to grow up, come back and talk.
- jediguru1
March 28, 2009 12:44PM
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At least we have evidence of evolution!!!
Oh well, not that it's in any way related to sex-ed . People need to quit using the Bible to argue secular issues, and that's the point I was trying to make.
- bagpiper2005
March 28, 2009 11:20PM
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This isn't an evo vs bible debate
Look, evolution is as much of a religion as Christianity. They both take a TON of faith to believe them. So, using evolution as a non- religious view is totally preposterous. Depending on how you interpret much of the "evidence" put forward by both sides, it could go either way. Therefore, telling me to leave the Bible out of this is like me telling you to leave science out of this. I don't mean that to imply that science doesn't back creation, because it does just as much as evolution. The difference is, creation has the Bible and science; while evolution has only science. And science goes through a major change every 10 or 20 years, the bible doesn't. Lets leave comments like yours out of here and let people put forward their opinions with no restrictions.
Ok. Now lets get back to the sex-ed discussion.
- jediguru1
March 28, 2009 11:35PM
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You don't know your science well enough.
"Look, evolution is as much of a religion as Christianity. They both take a TON of faith to believe them"
Other than the faith that your senses are not lying to you and to every other person who's around you, science does not require faith. It doesn't require faith to accept things when you have solid repeatable evidence that is reliable. The bible does not have reliable evidence. It's not a credible source.
"I don't mean that to imply that science doesn't back creation, because it does just as much as evolution. The difference is, creation has the Bible and science; while evolution has only science."
Science does not back creation. It shows different dates for the age of the universe for one. It also gives ways that things could have originated in ways that do not require a god at all. The bible is only consistent in two things. It's contradictory constantly switching back and forth between what happened. It's also lacking evidence that jesus even existed as well as getting dates wrong. It was also written a minimum of 50 years after the events it describes. This is exactly why creationism and it's counterpart intelligent design are not allowed to be taught in schools as science.
- sdwerd
June 28, 2009 7:51AM
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parental responsibility
The ultimate responsibility for teaching a child about ethical sex are the parents... schools are in an odd (though needed) place in offering Sex Ed. As such they are obliged to relate ALL options... including that teens are going to have sex (as they always have)...
Abstinence is the best way to prevent the transmission of STD's, and unwanted pregnancies but Abstinence only education , on the assumption that it will prevent a significant number of teens from having sex, is naive at best.
Keep the religious education in the home or the church, leave the schools to teach all the tools that teens will need to make educated, ethical, decisions.
- MrBook
May 14, 2009 6:09AM
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To what scriptural basis
do you use to put sex before marriage under adultery. Sex DURING marriage with a non-spouse, I could get behind. But adultery and sex before marriage are two different things.
- quantummechanik
June 28, 2009 1:08PM
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Jacob, 2:28
"The Lord delights in the chastity of women." Which is why I guess men are allowed to whatever the hell they want. *Sigh*....
- Livvy
January 31, 2009 1:07AM
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