sex education

[BriGy86]

i think we should teach safe sex but let kids know abstinence is the best method (cause we all know they're not going to do exactly what we tell them)

what do you all think and why?

 

[dornick]

I voted teach both but I think there's a problem inherent in that. Because if you say "don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" you're really saying "it's okay to have sex as long as you use the condom"

 

[BriGy86]

i supose i see your point, but then on the other hand if you don't teach safe sex they go and do it anyway with no protection against STD's or child birth (so thats one reason to teach safe sex)

but on the other hand abstinence IS the best method to not get STD's or pregnant

i think thats why this is such a tough subject

 

[jhu]

i think denial is the best way to go. if you don't hear about it, then it's not happening.

 

[dornick]

Originally posted by: BriGy86

i think thats why this is such a tough subject

i agree. the real problem is that the reason kids are going to have sex is not their education, but our society, where you see sex everywhere

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: dornick

Originally posted by: BriGy86

i think thats why this is such a tough subject

i agree. the real problem is that the reason kids are going to have sex is not their education, but our society, where you see sex everywhere

I hate to break it to you guys, but 'kids' were having sex long before any concept of a society existed, and continued having sex as societies progressed, long before the concept of mass media that 'portrayed sex everywhere.' Just an FYI.

 

[Forsythe]

Originally posted by: dornick
I voted teach both but I think there's a problem inherent in that. Because if you say "don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" you're really saying "it's okay to have sex as long as you use the condom"

And it's not okay to have sex?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: jhu
i think denial is the best way to go. if you don't hear about it, then it's not happening.

That's the Republican plan and it clearly does not work.

 

[bamacre]

If parents would do their jobs, schools wouldn't need to teach either.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: Forsythe

Originally posted by: dornick
I voted teach both but I think there's a problem inherent in that. Because if you say "don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" you're really saying "it's okay to have sex as long as you use the condom"

And it's not okay to have sex?

Not in the USA, apparently.

 

[biostud]

I voted both. If you wan't to have sex go ahead but make it safe. If they don't feel like doing before they get married or later in your life it's also fine, they shouldn't feel pushed into something they don't feel like. I think it's pretty important to state that sex only is fun if you feel like it and not because it's cool amongst your friends not to be a virgin anymore.

 

[Byers]

Originally posted by: dornick
I voted teach both but I think there's a problem inherent in that. Because if you say "don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" you're really saying "it's okay to have sex as long as you use the condom"

I don't see how the statement "Don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" is contradictory. Since the topic is sex education it implies that you're talking to people under 18. The smart thing, i would argue, is to try and teach a teenager why they shouldn't want to rush into having sex at such a young age but to show them that if they decided to anyway then they should be as safe as possible. Sex isn't a bad thing and it shouldn't be taught as such. I think the problem is these programs that talk about abstinence only and maintaining abstinence until marriage, in which case it seems more like the goal of such thinking is to get people married up and less about public health and letting people know they can have healthy sexual relationships (Not to mention that there is a whole lotta life outside some nutball religion )

Many people (If not most) grow up and have many relationships before marriage, if they even choose to get married, and certainly are having sex, which I think most would agree is not only fine, but normal. So why then wouldn't you teach people the safe sex methods they should be using when you teach them other things in school?

 

[dornick]

Originally posted by: beer

I hate to break it to you guys, but 'kids' were having sex long before any concept of a society existed, and continued having sex as societies progressed, long before the concept of mass media that 'portrayed sex everywhere.' Just an FYI.

True. But ours is the first society to openly embrace the idea of sex without consequences. And that's a problem (date rape, teen pregnancy, abortion, etc...)

 

[dornick]

Originally posted by: Forsythe
And it's not okay to have sex?

No, I don't think it's okay for kids younger than 18 to be screwing each other. It tends to do a lot more harm than good (See above).

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: dornick

Originally posted by: Forsythe
And it's not okay to have sex?

No, I don't think it's okay for kids younger than 18 to be screwing each other. It tends to do a lot more harm than good (See above).

As is why they should be teached to trust their own feelings and that's ok to say no if you don't feel like doing it, instead of categorial NO.

 

[dornick]

Originally posted by: Byers

Originally posted by: dornick
I voted teach both but I think there's a problem inherent in that. Because if you say "don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" you're really saying "it's okay to have sex as long as you use the condom"

I don't see how the statement "Don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" is contradictory.

I never said it was contradictory; just that it implicitly condones teen sex. There's no easy way out of the dilemma: if you teach safe sex, you condone it, and if you don't, things are just as bad. IF we wanted to curtail teen sex, I think the only way we could do it would be to change the culture entirely.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Teach abstinence, but if you do, practice safe sex is contradictory?

Teach safe driving, but wear a seatbelt in case you get in a wreck.

Safe sex should be taught in school because many parents will never address it at home. While the value of abstinence as a health issue should be covered as well, abstinence as a moral issue should be discussed in the home.

 

[dornick]

Originally posted by: biostud

Originally posted by: dornick

Originally posted by: Forsythe
And it's not okay to have sex?

No, I don't think it's okay for kids younger than 18 to be screwing each other. It tends to do a lot more harm than good (See above).

As is why they should be teached to trust their own feelings and that's ok to say no if you don't feel like doing it, instead of categorial NO.

The problem is, most teens do not have the level of maturity required to make such decisions. Of course they feel like doing it, does that mean it's instantly a good thing?

 

[aidanjm]

Does the school have the moral right to push abstinence on students, tho?

Or should it limit itself to strictly the facts?

 

[dornick]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
Does the school have the moral right to push abstinence on students, tho?

No. Like I said, it's a dilemma

 

[imported_tss4]

Originally posted by: dornick

Originally posted by: Byers

Originally posted by: dornick
I voted teach both but I think there's a problem inherent in that. Because if you say "don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" you're really saying "it's okay to have sex as long as you use the condom"

I don't see how the statement "Don't have sex, but if you do, use a condom" is contradictory.

I never said it was contradictory; just that it implicitly condones teen sex. There's no easy way out of the dilemma: if you teach safe sex, you condone it, and if you don't, things are just as bad. IF we wanted to curtail teen sex, I think the only way we could do it would be to change the culture entirely.

I see your point but we are talking about a lot more than teen sex here. Most people don't get married till way after they finished being a teenager (I think the average age is like 28 now). I think the message "wait until your older" and at that point use condoms is not contradictory. It teaches both methods and for those kids that are going to have sex as teenagers, they at least learn how to use a condom. But you aren't condoning that behavior when you say wait until your older. Beyond 20, its unrealistic to expect a person to wait till marriage if that would mean 8 more years of abstinance.

 

[Strk]

I think both should be taught.

I mean, the truth is, the best way to avoid diseases is not to engage in any sexual activity. (Remember, people, most STDs aren't orifice specific; this is something people need to know!)

However, I think it has also been proven that people will do it regardless, in which case, they need to know how to be safe. Additionally, if you think about it, if you want to reinforce the idea of abstinence, what's a better way than showing how easily one can get infected?

 

[Sunbird]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
Does the school have the moral right to push abstinence on students, tho?

Or should it limit itself to strictly the facts?

Reply to above quote:
No, but actually schools have a moral obligation to teach about both abstinence and safe sex.

General thoughts:
And you can't punish someone for having sex, what you gonna do, lock em up in solitary?

Humankind has been having sex since at teenage years since we first appeared, and many people I know had teenage sexual experiences (not me though ) and they are none the worse for it.

Often time I hear a person go on about some news article about a 15yo girl having sex and how the world has degraded, I will bet a $100 that what that person was most likely wanting/doing at age 15 was sexually related stuff in some fashion. So that's just hipocritical, but hey, who isn't?

The best you can do is give them the tools to at least do it safely.

 

[BriGy86]

i think its important to know about safe sex these days simply because some of the stuff out there now days can actually kill you

sypholis and HIV are the 2 most common i think

and having a kid when your not ready can desimate your entire life

 

[imported_tss4]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
Does the school have the moral right to push abstinence on students, tho?

Or should it limit itself to strictly the facts?

Its only a moral issue if you teach abstinance only. The fact is that the only 100% safe method is abstinance. That should be taught as part of the curriculum. (I don't see how you can enforce it.)