JUGGERNAUT Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 I was surprised that some school districts had adopted an abstinence only policy towards sex-ed in the last decade here in IL. IMO that represents an extreme viewpoint. Just as extreme as those districts who feel obligated to give out condoms. Most moderates like myself believe in an abstinence-first policy. That means you still cover most subjects such as (sexual abuse, condom usage, medical information, rape crisis & stds) but you do so in an abstinence context. For example when discussing condom usage you place the emphasis on the fact that they do not guarantee prevention of pregnancy & discuss how the risk rises with improper handling. You also bring into the play the cost of condom usage so that students understand sex is not free from responsibilty. Again with condom usage you emphasis those stds that are small enough to pass thru the membranes of the condom. The net effect is that students will learn nearly all details of condom usage, std's, & medical information but in a context that emphasizes abstinence his best for healthy living. Abstinence only is equivalent to teaching biology w/out evolution. Preposterous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Mar 16, 2005 -> 07:30 PM) I was surprised that some school districts had adopted an abstinence only policy towards sex-ed in the last decade here in IL. IMO that represents an extreme viewpoint. Just as extreme as those districts who feel obligated to give out condoms. Most moderates like myself believe in an abstinence-first policy. That means you still cover most subjects such as (sexual abuse, condom usage, medical information, rape crisis & stds) but you do so in an abstinence context. For example when discussing condom usage you place the emphasis on the fact that they do not guarantee prevention of pregnancy & discuss how the risk rises with improper handling. You also bring into the play the cost of condom usage so that students understand sex is not free from responsibilty. Again with condom usage you emphasis those stds that are small enough to pass thru the membranes of the condom. The net effect is that students will learn nearly all details of condom usage, std's, & medical information but in a context that emphasizes abstinence his best for healthy living. Abstinence only is equivalent to teaching biology w/out evolution. Preposterous. You also have to remember that you're dealing with the "It'll never happen to me" attitude that is prevalent at that age... That's why I am not completely against exaggerating a little when it comes to showing the "gross-out" films and pictures of STIs. You're right; you need to let them know that condoms and such are safer sex, and safe sex is better than unsafe sex, but abstinence is the only 100% option... I do think abstinence should be highly stressed as the best option while also informing about contraceptives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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