-
Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/sto...0041126TXLJ102
I personally feel that more money needs to be spent on sex education. There are so many young people with no clue about their bodies. I also feel that they should be told that its okay to wait to have sex too. However after watching a documentary on a small town in Texas that only teaches about abstinence in the schools and at the local churches. Basically the teen pregnancy and std rate amoungst teens is ridiculously high that the whole abstinence (only) education is not working.
How do you feel about abstinence education and sex education in high schools ?
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Abstinence is a part of the spectrum, is one of the choices available, and should be treated as such. Abstinence education shouldn't be avoided, nor should it be focused on solely.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
I agree. It should be included in sex education courses as well as safe sex. I find it ridiculous both irresponsible to just teach abstinence only.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Considering the number of adults so willing to completely abdicate their responsibilities as parents with regard to sex, abstinence-only curriculums are counterproductive and counterintuitive.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casual Observer
Considering the number of adults so willing to completely abdicate their responsibilities as parents with regard to sex, abstinence-only curriculums are counterproductive and counterintuitive.
Amen to that ! Parents do need to take a stronger role in the education of their children.. I have talked to my nieces and nephew (who live with me) about sex all the time. I would like for them to wait but, thats not realistic. Since they are the ones who are ultimately in charge of their own bodies.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Quote:
I would like for them to wait but, thats not realistic. Since they are the ones who are ultimately in charge of their own bodies.
It's not unrealistic to expect them to wait; statistically, the more you know about sex, the longer you put it off. And it's not a bad idea...
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casual Observer
It's not unrealistic to expect them to wait; statistically, the more you know about sex, the longer you put it off. And it's not a bad idea...
Agreed.
It's sad but a lot of parents aren't doing their jobs anymore. They are mostly leaving it up to the school system.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casual Observer
It's not unrealistic to expect them to wait; statistically, the more you know about sex, the longer you put it off. And it's not a bad idea...
I second that motion. Guess that means I know plenty about sex, cuz I'm still putting it off ;D
Seriously, why does the Bush Administration think that teaching "abstinence" and "sex" are mutually exclusive? Give kids the information and they'll sort it out for themselves whether or not they're ready for it. (I know that's what the Bible-belters are afraid of, but I'm one of those who think our kids will surprise us - pleasantly - with the level of their decision-making.)
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
this is a great example of one of the many reasons we are leaving the US in a few weeks-- to raise our child away from this kind of retarded fundy policy
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
I'd be willing to make a trade with other side: if they're willing to add sex education to the curriculum and allow us to teach it to the kids from the biological side, i.e., this is what happens, how it works, how diseases are transmitted, how to prevent same, etc., I'll agree to have it be taught with the over-arching message being "abstinence" is a wise choice at their age.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Although I'm for abstinence education, I am also a pragmatist. It should be combined with some no nonsense complete sexual education course with the repurcussions of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
abstinence should be the primary method of BC taught, but the entire range of contraception should be discussed as well, all as part of a larger discussion on sex education. However, I will bow to parents that prefer to not have their children exposed to any discussion of BC, thy should be allowed to have their children be excused from it, and no testing should be done on the subject.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casual Observer
It's not unrealistic to expect them to wait; statistically, the more you know about sex, the longer you put it off. And it's not a bad idea...
That didn't come out like I wanted it to. i am more of a talker and not a typer.
What I should've said is that I hope with the information I have given them they will make the right choices. i tell them the importance of waiting until they are mature ebough to handle the changes that come along with sex. I also tell them about birth control and condoms, etc. We talk about AIDS and STDs and how they are growing dramatically amongst teens.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Oceans
I second that motion. Guess that means I know plenty about sex, cuz I'm still putting it off ;D
Seriously, why does the Bush Administration think that teaching "abstinence" and "sex" are mutually exclusive? Give kids the information and they'll sort it out for themselves whether or not they're ready for it. (I know that's what the Bible-belters are afraid of, but I'm one of those who think our kids will surprise us - pleasantly - with the level of their decision-making.)
Right on Oceans !
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Sex education is sadly getting to be like school prayer, evolution, the Pledge of Allegance, alternative reading lists and a host of other issues that are slowly tearing the public school system apart. Its about the fundamentalist way versus the progressive way. I'm fearful that before long, we're all going to be dividing into our own little camps.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
I feel like there are so many more serious issues that schools need to focus on, like the three Rs, than all of this moralistic crap. Just my humble opinion.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chani_Fremen
I feel like there are so many more serious issues that schools need to focus on, like the three Rs, than all of this moralistic crap.
But remember the less educated people are the easier it is to control them- mind control is the ultimate goal of fundys of any religion. The christian repub rightwing is no different.
Make no mistake there is a method to all this Moral Majority maddness about evolution in science class, abstinence only sex ed, school prayer,the Pledge of Allegance, alternative reading lists
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
That's ridiculous. Teaching abstinanve does not work now, nor will it ever work. It sure didn't work in the "sacred 50's" that these people are so wanting to drag us all back to.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tigerlilly
But remember the less educated people are the easier it is to control them- mind control is the ultimate goal of fundys of any religion. The christian repub rightwing is no different.
:highfive:
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
"I feel like there are so many more serious issues that schools need to focus on, like the three Rs, than all of this moralistic crap. Just my humble opinion."
Excellent observation. Johnny can't read but he can sure put a condom on a banana. Hoo-rah for my tax dollars hard at work.
Sex education is not the domain of the school system. I expect any child in health class to learn about the functions of sexual organs and myriad health-related factoids- nothing more. That is a parent's job and politicizing it is abhorrent. Worse still is wasting our money on it while simultaneously spending valuable classroom time on something that is not general education. This isn't the sole reason we spend more money on education and have abysmal math scores in comparison to even third-world countries - it's merely indicative of the causal mindset.
Slightly tangential but it bears mentioning that European countries haven't our massive shock!gasp!durm and strang over sexual issues and yet have lower rates of teen pregnancy.
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Screw all of this...my little girl will be home-schooled. ;D
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
I'm seeing the "Banjo Boy" from Deliverance playing in on this one.....
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
You'll do a great job, I'm sure, Venus.
Not all home schoolings are so great, unfortunately.
I'm with Lilith that the factual sex aspects are fair game for school, from the mechanics to the results, potential and probable, from abstinence to random promiscuity. The moral/behavioral aspects are meant for the family values (meant in its literal sense, not in the co-opted right-wing sense).
-
Re: Bush Seeks Funds for Abstinence Education
Good post Lilith.
<S> Lilith