Sex-Abstinence classes innefectual?

[Gilder]

Ah, sex education. Fun times. In fifth grade it was just the biological aspects of it, and in tenth, it was more of the social aspects. Protection, STDs, how to put a condom, the works. Abstinence was mentioned as the #1 way to avoid pregnancy, but the overall theme was really if you're going to do it, use protection.

Of course, none of the girls wanted to have sex after seeing pictures of birth and STDs. Kind of a downer. Ah, they're probably over it now.

 

[Xanikk999]

Sex abstinence classes are a joke here.

Rather then trying to get kids to abstain from sex when they know its not going to work, they should emphasize safe sex.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

It should be left up to the parents rather than the schools to decide which way to indoctrinate the children in this manner.

Rates of abstinence and making the beast with two backs does depend upon the location, the social environment and many other factors. A school class cannot be a panacea; it is wrong to expect full results from either a class preaching abstinence, or a class preaching the use of prophylactics.

The presumption that 'everyone is doing it' does often turn out to be more based on bark than bite, particularly early on.

If we want to stop them getting frisky, then cold showers, single sex schools, bromide in their tea and no biscuits in the dormitaries would be more efficient.

 

[warpus]

It should be left up to the parents rather than the schools to decide which way to indoctrinate the children in this manner.

And how many parents actually sit down with their kids and talk to them about sex, in an educated & efficient manner? Not too many!

The schools should educate, parents should.. *gasp*.. parent and enforce rules.

A school's job should be to educate kids about what sex is, how it works, and what changes they should expect to see in the forseeable future. A parent's job should be to set down rules and attempt to enforce them.

 

[Xanikk999]

As far as i know its already up to the parents in the U.S.

They can sign a form dissallowing thier kid from taking part in sex-ed in school if they wish.

 

[Pokurcz]

Sex-ed with emphasis on safe sex should be mandatory IMO.

That Sex-ed might be bad for you is total nonsense built on the illusion that Victorian era values are the best. The problem of coarse being that they did not exist during the Victorian era and the idea of it is a product of todays society.

 

[Verbose]

It should be left up to the parents rather than the schools to decide which way to indoctrinate the children in this manner.

Rates of abstinence and making the beast with two backs does depend upon the location, the social environment and many other factors. A school class cannot be a panacea; it is wrong to expect full results from either a class preaching abstinence, or a class preaching the use of prophylactics.

The presumption that 'everyone is doing it' does often turn out to be more based on bark than bite, particularly early on.

If we want to stop them getting frisky, then cold showers, single sex schools, bromide in their tea and no biscuits in the dormitaries would be more efficient.

But "Everyone, or next to, will be doing it eventually" is a decent working hypothesis.

The real scary bit is actually how amazingly bloody ignorant people in general, not just kids, were of things like basic anatomy and the mechanism of conception back in the innocent days of like the 1950's.

The sex ed classes are symptoms of more general trends in society anyway.

 

[Guangxi]

when we had our sex-ed classes they seemed more focused on safe sex, but i cant quite remember. when we had the biological side of it in science, i think it was early last year, there was a lot of giggling going on. i dont get whats so damn funny about it all...

 

[Atlas14]

Incorrection, it was not my religious institution that tells me nor taught me that.

I was actualy taught abstanance in High School in a Public School mind you. Years before I became a Religious person.

Everyone is taught abstinence in public high schools. But they also teach you other, more realistic methods of birth control. Abstinence only education would be a waste of everybody's time and money.

 

[Masquerouge]

Time to post one of my fav. articles:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500713.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/health/daily/051606/teensex.html

 

[Shadylookin]

abstinence only education fails because it goes against all normal biological instincts. It has never been unusual for people of high school age to have sex. throughout most of human history it has been the norm.

Of course another problem is that they usually say remain abstinent until marriage. These days the average age for marriage is around 25, and society expects a 25 year old to have a decent amount experience in sexual matters. At some point virginity stops being sweet and innocent and starts making you out to be an oddball.

 

[mdwh]

My big problem with sex-abstinence classes is that it's not no sex, rather, it's no sex until marriage, which is pushing a most likely religious) agenda. And what about if they need to know about contraception when they are married?

What do they teach in "sexual abstinence classes" anyway? I mean, there's only so many times you can say "If you don't have sex, you won't get pregnant or an STD". What else is there too it?

 

[Atlas14]

What do they teach in "sexual abstinence classes" anyway? I mean, there's only so many times you can say "If you don't have sex, you won't get pregnant or an STD". What else is there too it?

Well bogus crap needs to be reiterated every single day, as we have learned from many other persisting religious beliefs. What else is there to creationism other than "God created it"? There just isn't anything, but determined brainwashing is their only method.

 

[scipian]

Oddly enough, we never had any abstinence or social or really any sex stuff. In 6th grade, we just had a slide show of the body parts and were briefly told how we'd change. She hinted at the process, but was too embarrassed to elaborate past "so the male inserts his penis into the nearest hole." The whole thing took about an hour and that was all we had. Of course, that was in a small, rural Tennessee school.

 

[emzie]

What can you fill "sex-abstinance" classes with? Do you just spend have an hour a week saying "Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it."?

They give demonstrations on why you shouldn't. I went to highschool in southern Ohio (very conservitive). In 9th grade, I saw a lot of gross pictures of STDs... I still can't eat califlour... and was told this is what would happen to me if I had sex before marria... before a commited, life-long relationship.

We even had a lady from a church come in and tell us about how she got herpies, prayed before Jesus, felt her body being cleaned, and never had herpies again

Everyone is taught abstinence in public high schools. But they also teach you other, more realistic methods of birth control. Abstinence only education would be a waste of everybody's time and money.

Ohio does (did) abstinence only, though the school disctricts themselves ultimatly set the adjenda.

 

[Masquerouge]

She hinted at the process, but was too embarrassed to elaborate past "so the male inserts his penis into the nearest hole."

That's actually hilarious. The nearest hole!

 

[scipian]

I should probably clarify it some. She was referring to the nearest hole to the ovary. Not just the hole nearest to you. Still, it was sort of humorous how nervous she was. I played soccer with her son (he was a year younger) and she was the elementary school counselor. Very nice, friendly, devoted Christian. You could tell that she hated this part of her job.

 

[Xanikk999]

I should probably clarify it some. She was referring to the nearest hole to the ovary. Not just the hole nearest to you. Still, it was sort of humorous how nervous she was. I played soccer with her son (he was a year younger) and she was the elementary school counselor. Very nice, friendly, devoted Christian. You could tell that she hated this part of her job.

I can still see some of those kids getting the urethra and vagina confused if they tried to do it after class.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

But "Everyone, or next to, will be doing it eventually" is a decent working hypothesis.

The real scary bit is actually how amazingly bloody ignorant people in general, not just kids, were of things like basic anatomy and the mechanism of conception back in the innocent days of like the 1950's.

The sex ed classes are symptoms of more general trends in society anyway.

Not necessarily, and it should not be an approach to be adopted in any circumstance.

Yet they managed to muddle through anyway; it is somewhat of a misnomer and inaccurate characterization to ascribe innocence to the 1950s.

A statement that really can mean anything. If a subject is important, then its presentation and content should not be subject to the general trends in society.

Warpus:

That does not mean that it is not their role. The schools can supply the biology and stark discussion of pubescent health. The parents can cater to the moral decisions and ethical choices.

Foisting it off on schools allows the waters to become muddied by those with agendas.

Presumably, parents would have some knowledge as to how children are produced. I believe it has something to do with a stork and having plenty of hot meals.

I see nothing wrong at all with encouraging abstinence, both nicely and through the methods outlined. Bobbysoxers and young adults not making the beast with two backs has many positive outcomes, including but not limited to reduction of disease, reduction of the rate of unwanted pregnancy and reduction in the devaluation of the act itself.

The adolescent, whilst physically capable of mating, is not emotionally nor developmentally ready. The more research that is done into the brain, the more compelling reasons emerge.

One of the most unfortunate features of the modern approach, and indeed modern popular culture, is the notion that self control is both impossible and undesirable.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Abstinence is usually for those who can't get any. The moment they can get it, they abandon abstinence (ususally)

Or some of us hold ourselves to a standard, ever think of that?

Not everyone is bound to their practices by rules of other people.