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StopPartisan

- 3 years ago

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Is Abstinence Only irresponsible?

Teens have been finding ways to boff for centuries, and chances are they will continue to do so. If knowledge is power, shouldn't we try to arm them with as large an arsenal of information as possible? Why do we fear exposing teens to even a discussion of sex-ed? And if you think its an open-ended endorsement that can be quashed by Abstinence Only education, I think hormones have been wining the battle for millenia.

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Even at my highschool, which is a liberal haven in the conservative area of west Michigan, we had the "A-Team" come to our school to teach us about abstinence. Luckily they were only there for a day, and one of our science teachers taught the rest of sex ed and was pretty straightforward about it. However, I think we all knew the vast majority of the material being taught. I think sex ed should be taught younger, maybe 6th grade, before kids start having sex. And I definitely don't think abstinence only is effective at all.

Has anyone actually voted 'No' in this debate, ever? Including the people who teach abstinence? We know it's irresponsible. The reason we don't want to teach protection is because that would be admitting what we already know is true. We all know that the facts say that teens are having sex, and we all believe facts... but there's always someone's parent who says, "My little girl isn't a tramp. She's waiting 'till marriage." Well, that's fine, but the problem is that EVERY SINGLE OTHER PARENT is saying the same thing. So wait....... that means, somebody's wrong about their little Sally, aren't they? My conclusion: it's the parents. I've been the head of multiple organizations at my school, and at my younger sister's, and I've dealt with it. Even the smallest of organizations have it. If you don't believe me, ask every other parent out there. Even the top suspects will complain to you about other parents. They all do it, from pre- high school. And it isn't just this subject, it's everything every public school does. (Religious schools are entirely different... don't even bring that up) There are some parents out there that don't like what their child's school is teaching, and the problem with the system is that they're being given the power to change whatever they disagree with. There is no place for parents in a public school system. Period.

The only thing that should be taught in school is fact... not opinion or relgion (unless it's a religious school). Put the facts out there, be honest. One other point- school isn't the only place that kids can learn things... parents are, or atleast they used to be, part of their children's educations. I don't know what happened or why "the talk" is akward but if the school system is flawed or lacking then it's the parent's responsibility to step in and talk to their children. Education doesn't end in the class room.

I wouldn't call it irresponsible. I would say that no sex education would be irresponsible...anti-sex education would be irresponsible, but abstinence remains the only way to avoid STDs, unwanted pregnancy and so on. I wouldn't call it irresponsible although it may be shortsighted to leave it at that. I think to avoid abstinence as a responsible choice would be irresponsible. Telling a kid to have sex but know how to use contraceptives is probably not the wisest choice either. Any kid having sex before they're responsible enough to handle the consequences is irresponsible.

I know I'm not contributing anything by answering the question because you all who responded especially, @krillinhazuki have responded with good and thorough answers, but I also wanted to raise another question of my own. With the exception of media playing a heavy role in the lives of todays teenagers, why is there such emphasis on having sex at the age of 17? I'll admit it, I've been often teased by peers, and close friends about still being a virgin, telling me "I'm missing out on stuff". I accept it as harmless teasing, its fine, its all in fun, but how bout' for other teenagers who are still naive about sex? Like drugs and alcohol why is sex such a heavy form of peer pressure. I'm interested in what every one has to say about THIS.

Abstinence Only is irresponsible. Sexual education begins at home, when children are interested in their genitalia, when mommy is pregnant, when mommy and daddy are "discovered" having an intimate moment, when curiosity arises.. There are books written for appropriate age levels to help children understand what these feelings are about and what to do with them. They help parents to open a dialogue that continues into the prepubescent and teen years, and allows children to become comfortable discussing sexual issues with parents or other trusted adults. Why let the television or movies teach your children? Responsible parenting includes giving your children all the available information to make informed decisions so that when the hormones start raging, they are prepared to deal with it and the consequences that arise from it. I raised two sons, and they both felt comfortable talking to me about sex from a very early age. As they got older, some of their questions felt "uncomfortable" to me, but I just kept a straight face and answered forthrightly. Sex education in schools should include all options, birth control information and a strong unit in sexually transmitted diseases.

Come on people. Even St. Augustine said you'd have been damn crazy to try and pry him away from the ladies in his younger years. Let's be reasonable. It's not hard to wear a condom. It's probably marginally harder to take a pill every day. All this stuff is available on budget teens can afford. I don't want a baby or herpes so I wrap it up and that's the end of it. I didn't have sex until I was eightteen so by then I had an understanding of birth control pieced together from friends and movies. I'd have done it earlier but no one was stupid enough to offer lol. Whatever. The points have been made already. I'm not contributing anything vital. Yes it's incredibly irresponsible.

in this day of HIV...damn straight it is. Although I am sick of people saying the public schools need to 'step up' or think about distributing birthcontrol et al. They have enough to do. Teach reproduction, show those lousy film strips I saw in the 70's and have the kids attend a live birth. Make contraception available at clinics with easy access. If parents want to teach "abstinence" have at it. Stopping hormones? Good luck

Oh my, yes.

StopPartisan is spot on. The average age of a teenager losing his or her virginity is roughly, seventeen, in every U.S. state, and mostly every single country with the exception of India, where it's...get ready...nineteen! Teenagers have sex. They do. Abstinence only education DOESN'T work. We can see it especially when there is a higher percentage of sexually active teens in Europe, but yet MORE pregnant teens in the USA. And sex-ed doesn't encourage kids to have sex. Putting seatbelts in a car isn't an invitation to speed. It's just precautionary, and safety. That's all it is. I'm a virgin-till-marriage kind of girl. I am set on my decision but if there was a drastic change of temperature that suddenly changed my brain and religious affiliation and made me a sex addict, I can tell you every single kind of contraception there is and the risk factors for all of them and where to get them because I've been educated. Education is the best policy. That's all.

I think that society's mindset about teenage sexuality creates a cycle that supports misinformation and consequent chaos among families and teens. Many parents still don't know how to talk to their kids about sex, and they blindly assume that their child is not and will not do it. I have seen the downside of this situation many times.. -Many girls in high school would come to me (because I kept myself informed by my mother, personal experience, and research) with incredibly important questions about sex. Parents don't realize what their silence might cost them--STDs, pregnancies, etc. -Many girls my age have wanted to go on birth control (Which I believe is a responsible way to practice safer sex and avoid pregnancy), but couldn't access it because of their age. They didn't ask their mothers because they were afraid of the consequences. Abstinence Only education has been factually proven ineffective, so why are we still practicing it? I remember having teachers tell me, "The best way to avoid [STD/Pregnancy] is to just not do it," and they obviously didn't even support that statement. Sure, that's the logical answer, but since when are most teenagers thinking of logic when in the heat of That Moment? The most logical way to teach teens about sex is to arm them with clear, valid knowledge and offer a forum in which they can ask their questions (SexPancake???). blhab circular argument. Abstinence Only Is Irresponsible.

In my schools sex-ed was banned because parents didn't want it taught. Thankfully I have no real sense of akwardness with my parents and they answered any and all questions I had...even the odd ones. And along with my parents I always had Dr.Drew and Adam on Loveline to fill in any blanks I had on sex and drug addiction. I am very thankful for my parents openess and Loveline being on the air

Yes. We can only stand around with our ears plugged I'm not listening for so long. Times have changed. Mores have changed. Sex has changed. Teens saying they won't have sex before marriage is vastly different from actually following through. And if young adults do wind up having premarital sex, not only will they feel ashamed and guilty, but they probably won't be very prepared (psychologically or physically) for the experience. Also, abstinence-only preaching can lead to early marriages, which also don't do very well statistically. If it fits your personal belief system, great. Go for it. Abstinence is a worthy goal. Just don't force other people to do it, too because God (or whoever) says it's the best way to have sex and all other options are off the table.

Abstinence Only education is proven to be ineffective. In 8th grade they tried to use a scare tactic by spending an hour showing us pictures of genitals mutilated by STDs. Yeah...no 8th grader needs to see that.

@braxtonrob I'll 2nd that :)

@StopPartisan

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Abstinence Only education is proven to be ineffective. In 8th grade they tried to use a scare tactic by spending an hour showing us pictures of genitals mutilated by STDs. Yeah...no 8th grader needs to see that.

StopPartisan

@braxtonrob I'll 2nd that :)

Is Abstinence Only irresponsible?

Oh my, yes.

Abstinence Only education is proven to be ineffective. In 8th grade they tried to use a scare tactic by spending an hour showing us pictures of genitals mutilated by STDs. Yeah...no 8th grader needs to see that.

@braxtonrob I'll 2nd that :)

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