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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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Abstinence Education Works
Only One Side of the Story
Abstinence Only education is a fallacy because it only expresses one side of the argument. This article cites in the that "both abstinence and contraception contributed to the decline in teen pregnancy rates between 1991 and 2001" showing that there is indeed another side to the argument, and it is apparently a very in depth side according to another statistic that is presented. The article states "The study attributes the majority of the decline in teen pregnancy rates (53 percent) among 15- to 17-year-olds to abstinence and 47 percent to contraceptive use," that is not a very large difference in the effectiveness of the two sides, and the age range is not very wide. Depending on the individuals polled, it would likely be found that several people both younger and older have had sex. This is an important fact because abstinence promotes no sex until marriage. What age do most people get married today? There can be a wide range of answers. This statistic includes only a small group in order to prove a point that will support the argument of abstinence education works.
Sex is all over the media, and not often presented as a taboo. If someone wants to have sex, there is not much that can stop them, and signing a pledge card is definitely an example of something that will not always work. Only teaching abstinence will leave a large group of young people uneducated about factors and consequences of sex. Assuming people either won't have sex, or that they will get quality information about it is dangerous. Teaching the consequences of sex helps insure that people know what they are getting themselves into, and that they are getting good information, not lies or misconceptions that they may have heard from other sources.
Presenting both sides of the argument will be more effective because young people will know the facts, no matter the decision they make. Information can be very powerful, and a lack of information can be equally as dangerous. People will make their own individual choices, so they should be encouraged to make the most informed choices possible.
- StriveforYourDreams
February 16, 2009 12:31PM
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Side: No
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