Ignorance Only

[Rem Nightfall]

I know the title is odd, but you'll understand why I put that down. (I don't like my when my thread titles are changed, I mean as a metaphor for what I am about to talk about.) I've noticed so many people only wanted to teach children abstinence only programs for sex education. And personally I find abstinence only programs ignorance only programs. Our species was bred for sex. What we should be doing is teaching children about sex and the options we have for sexual lives. And we need to teach them better safety. Not that they can't have sex. We have to realize children don't listen and will have sex. I see no problem with sexual activity as long as it is performed safely. Just like I don't see anything wrong with masturbation. What are your thoughts on abstinence only education? What are your thoughts on teens masturbating and performing in sexual behaviors? Why do we feel the need to stop people from having sex rather then embracing it and educating about it?

[_Freddie_]

I'm going to assume by "children" you mean teens, and I assume teens whom have hit puberty, because children should NOT have sex.

Anyways, what programs are you talking about? Christian youth programs? I mean, every other program will tell you that if you do have sex, you should use a condom.

[Eris]

Given that willpower arguably breaks more often than condoms*, condoms are safer.

* See obesity epidemic.

I'm going to assume by "children" you mean teens, and I assume teens whom have hit puberty, because children should NOT have sex.

Prepubescent children technically can't have sex. They don't have the equipment in working order.

[Rem Nightfall]

I'm going to assume by "children" you mean teens, and I assume teens whom have hit puberty, because children should NOT have sex.

Anyways, what programs are you talking about? Christian youth programs? I mean, every other program will tell you that if you do have sex, you should use a condom.

There aren't technical Christian youth programs. They have some belief. But it's more on telling kids that the answer is no and that not having sex is the best option. Mostly just abstinence programs, not Christian abstinence programs, but regular abstinence programs.

[rf switch]

I was always taught more than abstinence in school (Hooray public school!). I got to learn how to put a condom on a banana. That was pretty much all in the early 90's though. I don't have kids yet, so I really have no idea what all they teach in sex-ed now.

Maybe it's the "crazy commie liberal" in me that thinks the bible is a bunch of folk tales. But I do feel it should all be taught.

[Eris]

There aren't technical Christian youth programs. They have some belief. But it's more on telling kids that the answer is no and that not having sex is the best option. Mostly just abstinence programs, not Christian abstinence programs, but regular abstinence programs.

99.7% of all "regular abstinence programs" are christian abstinence programs in disguise. There really is no secular basis for abstinence.

[Rem Nightfall]

99.7% of all "regular abstinence programs" are christian abstinence programs in disguise. There really is no secular basis for abstinence.

Well recently in a school I went to. The school district was a regular school that only taught abstinence. They didn't put any faith into the program. Just the thought that they couldn't have sex.

[_Freddie_]

99.7% of all "regular abstinence programs" are christian abstinence programs in disguise. There really is no secular basis for abstinence.

Thanks for the back-up. I owe you one.

[rf switch]

Well recently in a school I went to. The school district was a regular school that only taught abstinence. They didn't put any faith into the program. Just the thought that they couldn't have sex.

Do you live in a heavy Christian area? Like the town in Footloose?

[Eris]

Well recently in a school I went to. The school district was a regular school that only taught abstinence. They didn't put any faith into the program. Just the thought that they couldn't have sex.

Ah, but then the bug in the ointment is political. Probably some catholic kooks that put pressure on the school.

[Rem Nightfall]

Do you live in a heavy Christian area? Like the town in Footloose?

Nope. I live in California. Sacramento.

[_Freddie_]

Another thing you've got to consider is that teens shouldn't learn everything about sex from "programs". If you're a responsible parent you'll teach your own kids the do's and don't's of sex. Seriously, programs won't be in they're best interest, their either religious or political agenda's.

[High Risk]

Our high school taught us about sex in this manner:

Abstinence is the only way to avoid becoming pregnant, but if you still want to have sex you should:

-Always use a condom as well as another form of birth control such as spermicide or the pill.
-Make sure your partner doesn't have std's
-Evaluate the relationship and make sure that you yourself are ready to have sex

The school advocated abstinence, because obviously abstaining from sex will keep you from getting pregnant, but for sex they never told us NO YOU SHOULD NOT DO THAT AT ALL. Rather, they taught us about all the options and how to protect ourselves.

We went over how to use different forms of birth control, including spermicides, female condoms, diaphragms, contraceptive sponges, the pill, birth control patches, shots, and more.

We also had discussions about how to have healthy relationships. How to listen to your partner and cater to their needs without breaking your own personal promises. How to foster a loving relationship. All that sort of stuff.

We did the whole condom on the banana thing as well as some other demos.

I didn't mind my school's program at all. It was actually very informative and scared the crud out of a lot of people because at the end of it we had to watch a video of some woman giving birth. NOT fun. Lol.

[Rem Nightfall]

Our high school taught us about sex in this manner:

Abstinence is the only way to avoid becoming pregnant, but if you still want to have sex you should:

-Always use a condom as well as another form of birth control such as spermicide or the pill.
-Make sure your partner doesn't have std's
-Evaluate the relationship and make sure that you yourself are ready to have sex

The school advocated abstinence, because obviously abstaining from sex will keep you from getting pregnant, but for sex they never told us NO YOU SHOULD NOT DO THAT AT ALL. Rather, they taught us about all the options and how to protect ourselves.

We went over how to use different forms of birth control, including spermicides, female condoms, diaphragms, contraceptive sponges, the pill, birth control patches, shots, and more.

We also had discussions about how to have healthy relationships. How to listen to your partner and cater to their needs without breaking your own personal promises. How to foster a loving relationship. All that sort of stuff.

We did the whole condom on the banana thing as well as some other demos.

I didn't mind my school's program at all. It was actually very informative and scared the crud out of a lot of people because at the end of it we had to watch a video of some woman giving birth. NOT fun. Lol.

Personally, I think sex-ed class is getting less and less informative. The last time I went to a sex ed class[the teacher I knew and she wanted me for assistance] there was no put a condom on a banana. Just watch this video, any questions, here take a condom, bye hope you liked sex-ed class. Wow, that was very informative.
And the video they played too. It was 2006 and they were playing something that came out in 1990. Shouldn't they have more modern films? With more information?

[DaSOCOM]

Abstinence is taught because it is the only guaranteed method to prevent STDs, teen pregnancy, and 35-yo grandmas. Personally, I don't agree with abstinence-only education, because kids will be kids and they will fool around. It has always happened, it always will happen. It's just more well-known now.

I personally think that sex education should be fairly all-encompassing, and taught from a risk management perspective. The lowest risk of catching the HIV or making a new You is through abstinence. But using condoms lowers the risk of those two when compared to just raw-dogging it with every girl (or guy) in town. Then you can get into choosing partners, STD testing, and all that other stuff.

And yeah, the abstinence-only thing has a heavy religious bias to it. But I'm not getting into that ring this morning. Too tired.

Peace,
DaSOCOM

[High Risk]

Personally, I think sex-ed class is getting less and less informative. The last time I went to a sex ed class[the teacher I knew and she wanted me for assistance] there was no put a condom on a banana. Just watch this video, any questions, here take a condom, bye hope you liked sex-ed class. Wow, that was very informative.
And the video they played too. It was 2006 and they were playing something that came out in 1990. Shouldn't they have more modern films? With more information?

I think it has something to do with living in southern California and in a large city. A lot of young girls here get pregnant it seems, and the school knows that if they try to say "ABSTINENCE ONLY, DOWN WITH ALL YOU KIDS SEXING EACH OTHER!" it would only backfire. No one would ever listen to that. So instead they taught us a lot about sex.

We went through 2 weeks of STD talks with some VERY gruesome pictures. Also, like I mentioned before, we had to not only talk about the sexual part of relationships but the mental health parts of relationships - basically how to have a good relationship with your future or current partners.

In 6th grade we were also required to do our first sex ed course. It talked mostly about the parts of the human body and what they do. How sex works, where the penis goes (lol) and all that fun stuff. Then we dealt with condoms and protection as well as protecting yourself from being in situations of molestation. Then in the 8th grade our teachers had to show us how to put condoms on a banana.

I give our sex ed program here an A+. :]

[rf switch]

And the video they played too. It was 2006 and they were playing something that came out in 1990. Shouldn't they have more modern films? With more information?

What? Do you think we didn't have teen pregnancy, STDs, and latex condoms in 1990? Not much has really changed. In fact the trendy styles of late seem to really be resembling that of the late 80's and 1990 and such.


If you ever get to see a show that was originally from PBS back in 1993 with a bunch of high school kids sitting around in a circle learning about HIV/AIDS from someone whose positive let me know. Because theres a good chance Its the one I was in.

[Rem Nightfall]

What? Do you think we didn't have teen pregnancy, STDs, and latex condoms in 1990? Not much has really changed.

Oh I know you had that back then. It isn't about what you had and what you hadn't. But there have been newer and newer discovery and we should share those newer discoveries as well.


@High Risk: Their sex ed class was only for one day and they never spoke of it again. They didn't do all those activities and they didn't do any of that stuff.

[High Risk]

@High Risk: Their sex ed class was only for one day and they never spoke of it again. They didn't do all those activities and they didn't do any of that stuff.

That's so backward it almost disgusts me. How can anyone expect kids to have safe sex if they aren't taught how to do so?

Oh wait, I forgot. They aren't supposed to be. GO ABSTINENCE!

[Rem Nightfall]

That's so backward it almost disgusts me. How can anyone expect kids to have safe sex if they aren't taught how to do so?

Oh wait, I forgot. They aren't supposed to be. GO ABSTINENCE!

Yeah to bad abstinence doesn't really reach the children.

Off topic: who is that in your avatar and signature?

[High Risk]

Yeah to bad abstinence doesn't really reach the children.

Off topic: who is that in your avatar and signature?

Parents should be thankful for good sex ed programs, otherwise they would have to sit down and have those awkward conversations with their kids about sex.

Also it is from a show called Legend of the Seeker. It's one of the main characters called Kahlan when she goes into an intense blood rage moment. Lol. If you liked Hercules and Xena, you will most likely love this show because it's just like those shows but with better technical quality and is more serious.

[Rem Nightfall]

Parents should be thankful for good sex ed programs, otherwise they would have to sit down and have those awkward conversations with their kids about sex.

Also it is from a show called Legend of the Seeker. It's one of the main characters called Kahlan when she goes into an intense blood rage moment. Lol. If you liked Hercules and Xena, you will most likely love this show because it's just like those shows but with better technical quality and is more serious.

People say it's the parents job to inform their children of sex. But I think that the school should provide them with the education.


And I have seen Legend of Seeker. Let me just say this it makes me laugh and I see it as a comedy. Not my taste. And yet I like the Xena, Hercules, Beast Man, etc.

[High Risk]

People say it's the parents job to inform their children of sex. But I think that the school should provide them with the education.


And I have seen Legend of Seeker. Let me just say this it makes me laugh and I see it as a comedy. Not my taste. And yet I like the Xena, Hercules, Beast Man, etc.

Also I believe that it is both the parent and the school's job to inform children about sex education. A lot of parents (including mine - I have literally never had a sex convo with them but my school's education more than made up for it) don't talk to their kids about sex and having a good universal system in schools for educating kids about this issue doesn't hurt anyone except religious fanatics. Isn't there a thing in Catholicism that says you shouldn't use birth control at all or try to prevent sperm from reaching the egg? Yikes.

Sire note: It has its funny moments but definitely not on the same level that Xena and Hercules had their comedy. I loved those shows as a kid.

[-akichan-]

Here's the thing, abstinence is taught to children because that is part of the lesson of safe sex. Abstinence is taught telling children that is the best way to pervent HIV. It is true that children should be first taught about what sex is, and what makes good sex before hand. Once the children gets what sex is, then it is time to let them know about abstinence or protections. It is important to let them know what it is first, otherwise they wouldn't get anything about abstinence.

As for parents, different cultures affects the way they educate their children at home. Some traditional cultures would not let their children to know anything about sex, because it's a taboo against their culture. Western cultures seems to be more opened in this topic. I have nothing to do with those traditional cultures, but to those cultures where sex is okay for children to learn in school, I think it is still important for parents to talk to the children about sex, because topics between the children and parents can be more personal for the children to gain better knowledge, while school teaches the children within the limit. School teaches important and basics about sex, and parents can talk more personal with the children.

[rf switch]

Well like akichan said different cultures have different views. Sacramento is apparently a fairly diverse city. So perhaps the school just feels its best not to piss off the community by not teaching certain things.