Many people believe that sex education programs are needed in schools, but all these programs are doing is encouraging people to try sex using some kind of protection against pregnancy. These sex education programs shouldn’t be in schools. A better solution to a sex education program would be an abstinence only program because rather than teaching about how to have safe sex with protection, teach them how to wait to marriage. Also abstinence programs would show teens how to build healthy relationships, increase self worth and, set appropriate boundaries in order to achieve future goals (Huber 1).
Abstinence programs have been proven effective. In Georgia, for example, teen pregnancy rates have been cut in half, dropping for eleven straight years since the state mandated abstinence education (Huber 1). Also the current sex education programs have not been doing a good enough job. Each year, more than 3 million teenagers contract a sexually transmitted disease. In addition to the threat of disease and pregnancy, sexually active teens are three times more likely than teens that are not sexually active to become depressed and attempt suicide (Rector 1).
Others who support the idea of sex education programs rather than abstinence only programs argue that promoting marriage and discouraging premarital sex through fear and false information remains a benchmark of abstinence only education (Buggink 1). With the number of sexually transmitted diseases raising at the current rate, and with there being about 822,000 teen pregnancies from the ages of 15 to 19 in which most of them are unintended, there should be a much more positive emphasis on abstinence programs. And maybe we should be putting a little fear into teens because one bad decision in their life can change it forever and they will not be able to take back what they did. Also others who are in opposition to the abstinence programs may argue that, “Those who pledge to remain virgins until marriage are just as likely to have premarital sex as those who do not promise abstinence and are significantly less likely to use condoms and other forms of birth control when they do.” Said by Rob Stein who is a Washington post staff writer. But in Sex-Ed for Dummies the author, Lynn Vincent, argues that comprehensive sex education programs omit the teaching of values and imply “that casual teen sex has no lasting consequences as long as the teens use a condom.”
In the end the best option for a young teen is abstinence, and the best way for them to find out about that is by taking an abstinence only program rather than a sex education program. The abstinence only programs will show teens how to maintain a healthy life and make better decisions.
Bibliography
Rector, Robert. "Why Push Safe Sex Over Abstinence?" Sex Ed: Should the Bedroom Enter the Classroom? 12 June 2005. 20 Mar. 2009.
Briggink, Heide. "Miseducation: The Lockdown on Abstinence-only Programs." Jan. & feb. 2007. 20 Mar. 2009.
Stein, Rob. "Teenagers Who Make Such Promises Are Just as Likely to Have Sex, And Less Likely to Use Protection, the Data Indicate." Premarital Abstinence Pledges ineffective, Study Finds. 28 Dec.. 2008. 20 Mar. 2009.
Huber, Valerie. "Abstinence works." SIRS. 30 July 2007. 20 Mar. 2009.
Vincent, Lynn. "Sex-Ed For Dummies." SIRS. 28 Apr. 2007. 20 Mar. 2009.
username: tunafish09
16 comments:
What ever Nebraska is doing surely isn't working...We should try an abstinence program. After all, what do we have to lose?
my only beef is that it never really says why we shouldn't wait until marriage. Some kids need to be convinced not to have sex while others just need to be told not to. However, an abstinence only program would abandon those kids who need just a little bit of work, abstinence only is sorta like the easy way out.
Well we can lose our rights basically. It sounds to me like abstinence is just pressing a religion upon people. You're telling them that this is the RIGHT way to do things, and it isn't. I'm sure theres people out there that are smart about having sex, they do it under a controlled environment, using protection and whatnot.
Plus, you're probably a teen, and you've probaably felt a desire of some sorts to just go insane. I think that will take priority over an old guy saying "sex is bad, wait until marriage, it'll make it all better." Or maybe I'm just weird. That could be it.
I definately have to agree with Happy Gilmore on this issue. With what Nebraska is doing, it isn't very good at all. Abstinence is the best idea that is really left out there to try. You can't find out if it works until you actually try it.
I think that Abstinence programs work. I mean, its not like we're handing out protection and encouraging teen sex, we're letting teenagers know about the dangers of sex.
Is this really how we handle problems we try to alter the ideology. Limit the information distributed to alter the outcome. That is a bit of an over kill the problem with abstinence is that it relies on one’s belief in the sanctity of marriage and not valid logic. The willingness to use religion as a source for morals and teaching excludes those who do not believe. I am sorry, but I see no attempt at displaying the facts in this blog. Sources are meant to back up your opinions with logical evidence or statistics not to collaborate your opinion. All that proves to an audience other than you can find someone who thinks like you. Abstinence is in no way the only teaching we need to be providing young students it can be a part of the curriculum but really the student should be informed of all the options and allowed to choose how to conduct oneself sexually. Lets stop trying to modify and limit the options to make people make better choices because essentially all they are making is fewer choices.
I agree with Dr. Phil. Your attempt at credibility is just finding people who agree with you.
People do what they want and don't do things out of fear of trouble and consequences. If people make those decisions they have to realize the consiquences and that is why we have sexual education programs so that the kids that dont care about the ideals of religion have something to help them.
The things that abstinence only programs accomplish are identical to those accomplished by this article. Like many of my peers have aready pointed out, your information that you have provided only entails those arguments that are congruous with your own...making this post devoid of any argument whatsoever. Like you stated in your article, some kids need a little extra incentive not to have sex, and by excluding pertinent information in regards to this "Why?" aspect you are not addressing the issue at hand; you are merely shoving it off to the side, and hoping that everyone agrees with you. The true pity is that you don't address any of these things making your "argument" a compilation of voices that agree with you and you only, in turn making in all of its entirety mute.
The class name is sex ed. because it is there to educate teens about the realities of sex. One reality surly is the advantages of abstinence, however there are many other topics the course should entail. There is no way we can convince all kids not to have sex and that is why a middle ground education is called for; one that is both full of facts and full of solutions.
Abstinence only programs would be very effective. You would instill the necessary principles of conviction and courage it takes to get through life. If you are convicted to not either getting someone pregnant or getting pregnant before you can adequately care for a child, both financially and emotionally, under the bonds of matrimony, then you will need a strong, constant, inner voice warning you of the dangers in a difficult situation. This will allow you to pick a course that will lead you to happiness and aide you in following that chosen route.
...Wait, what?
You all do understand that abstinence-only education is exactly what Nebraska public schools exclusively provide currently, right?
It's almost like we DID try it out, DID find out what we had to lose, and the only option left is ACTUALLY sex education.
A study by advocatesforyouth.org of FACTS's and WAIT's (Nebraska abstinence programs)impact on students concluded that "Abstinence-only education did not significantly change young adolescents' (7th and 8th grades) values and attitudes about premarital sexual activity, nor did it significantly change their intentions whether or not to engage in premarital sexual activity."
I agree that relationships and consequences should be stressed, but pretending sex isn't happening and shouldn't be prepared for is, as many of you point out, obviously not working.
Tunafish09, in your article you said current sex education classes aren't doing a good enough job. But right now the majority of those classes are abstinence only, especially in Nebraska. So you are saying abstinence only programs aren't working, instead of comprehensive sex education classes. Also, why should teenagers be taught to wait until marriage to have sex. That should be a personal decision and should not be forced onto someone.
I like the idea. But what if we offered both programs? I mean if we offer just abstinence programs then those who don't care about it won't learn anything. And obviously there are plenty of people who don't believe in abstinence. This may be an easy way out, but it is a plan that could make people with both opinions happy.
okay. first sex ed classes teach teens to be safe because not everyone believes abstinance is the way to go. Everyone has differnt opinions on sex and teens will still be doing it no matter what. Sex-ed classes do not encourage sex with condoms, they are just informing students about what they can do.Those who have sex and result in consequences will just have to live with tht fact. Make the best of what they can of the situation. Yes there are raging hormones but teens still have a chance to think before they act.
Although i do believe abstinence is key.. i do believe there should still be sex education programs. young adults still need to know the facts about how to be safe. when you're in a relationship or whatever the case may be things can change in a matter of moments and its better to know how to be safe and be prepared than not know at all.
abstinense is the key, The Bible clearly states that no man shall have a women that has not been married. Abstinece helps teen pregnancy, STD's, abortion, and domestic violence.
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