Sex Education?

[Kitt]

We've discussed this subject in a sort of scattered way and I've, for the most part, stayed out of it. But now I'll tell you what I think before you read this. Abstinence is one thing, but teaching so called "Abstinence Only Education" is dangerous and plays on the fears and guilt of young people. I believe you all should be given the right and consideration to know all that you can on the subject and then have the opportunity to make your own decisions based on that knowledge. Please read this and then share what you think.

The School of Safe Sex

By Liz Langley, Orlando Weekly
October 3, 2002

I love movies and see as many as I can, but there are some I don't mind missing. School movies fall into that last category. I don't miss sitting in a classroom enduring some antique opus that was even more tedious than our usual human presenters.

One school movie I'd be curious to see, though, is one I read about recently in the New York Times. No title to the film was offered, but its dialogue sounded surreal and intriguing. The movie is part of an abstinence program, a trend in public schools to abstain from comprehensively educating kids about sexual safety. Abstinence-only education teaches that abstinence is the only way to prevent STDs or pregnancy and this story said that "by 1999 one third of all public school districts were using abstinence-only curricula."

Interestingly, a report by the Alan Guttmacher Institute says that while abstinence contributed to a quarter of the drop in teen pregnancies recently, improved contraceptive education was responsible for the other three quarters of that decrease.

Failing to give kids enough knowledge of condoms and other protective items is like refusing to teach them to drive even though you know they have enough money for a down payment on a car. I don't know why anyone would want to let their kids dangle out there unsafe and ignorant, but according to Women's Enews, George W. has increased the budget for abstinence-only education by $33 million for 2003.

Anyway, in this school movie, a teen-age boy is said to ask what happens if he wants to have premarital sex and a nurse responds, "Well, I guess you're just going to have to be prepared to die."

I'm a little worried about this boy and would like to address him directly for a moment:

I'm sorry this bitch talked to you that way. First of all, it is not true that people who have sex without being married to each other all die. If they did the earth would look like a supersized Jonestown and would stink like a fish-market dumpster on a summer afternoon. Virgins would have time for nothing except burning the dead who they'd have to tote around everywhere, like "Weekend at Bernies," just to make room to put down their drinks.

Second, you don't really have to be prepared to die; it happens to unsuspecting people all the time. You do have to be prepared to live, though, and to this end you want to protect yourself from the dangers posed by any sex you're going to have, so you can have more and better sex in the future.

And that's something you will want. I have never heard anyone say, "I've had enough sex to last me a lifetime."

It's true that abstinence will protect you 100 percent from pregnancy and STDs, just like never going anywhere will prevent you from getting in a car wreck. God knows there are plenty of adults who aren't getting any -- abstinent by accident. It's not the worst thing that can happen to you.

When you do have sex, though, simply adopt the "You don't know where it's been" rule of using condoms. If you don't know where it's been, keep a barrier between you and it, whatever it is. I know that condoms are a little awkward, but it will be more awkward for if you end up having to ask a doctor to look at your crotch like a jeweler appraising a diamond and have them tell you what strain of cooties you've contracted. Organizations like Planned Parenthood can help you with more detailed information on protection and they will not say things such as "Prepare to die, infidel!" or whatever martial-arts film dialogue that broad in the video offered by way of help.

You may actually not be ready to have sex yet. I know people in their 30s who I don't think are ready. It's something you can't BS yourself about, and, also, it's a thing you can't understand until you've been there, like Europe. Guidebooks are important but nothing can prepare you for the actual trip.

And, like Europe, who you go with makes all the difference in the world. A good guideline that will last anyone through adulthood is a quote from the movie, "Clueless: "You know how picky I am about my shoes and they only go on my feet."

Anyway, I worry about that kid, so it had to be said.

This Times story mentioned another educational approach to teen sexuality, the abstinence-plus approach, "in which teen-agers are discouraged from rushing into sex but also given information about contraception."

That idea seems to have everything: balance, depth and the inference that they are responsible to themselves. It might work one day, when we go back to wanting to give kids a more full education. After all, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but too little knowledge is a helluva lot worse.

[Jinny Girl]

Kinda funny. our school taught us the STUPIDEST sex ed curriculum. all about STDs and a LITTLE bit about condems and such but everytime she said ANYTHING it was followed with some stupid statistic and she had this activity where it turns out in the end that eevryone in out class would end up dieing of aids or something if ONE person in class had it. thats such a lie. if it was the truth, everyone over the age of 20 would be dieing rite now. all that class did was make me horny for an hour.

[Warm & Fuzzy]

That reminds me... look what I found in the NYtimes today.

"3 Say Brooklyn Principal Sent Sexually Explicit E-Mail"

Some example he's setting for us.

[Georgia's on my Mind]

That's crap...If someone is stupid enough to have sex they deserve STD's and kids....God, Isn't this what seperates us from animals? Having the ability to hold our feelings in even though we may be....ok in Suzanne Words...."Hot and Bothered"God I wouldn't want my tax money going into a condem class....

[Sean Snow]

Originally posted by Georgia's on my Mind
That's crap...If someone is stupid enough to have sex they deserve STD's and kids....God, Isn't this what seperates us from animals? Having the ability to hold our feelings in even though we may be....ok in Suzanne Words...."Hot and Bothered"God I wouldn't want my tax money going into a condem class....

Yet the tax dollars should go to a course that really doesn't teach anything? LOL. They're going to do it anyway, may as well tell them how to protect themselves properly . . . .

[Jinny Girl]

Originally posted by Georgia's on my Mind
That's crap...If someone is stupid enough to have sex they deserve STD's and kids....God, Isn't this what seperates us from animals? Having the ability to hold our feelings in even though we may be....ok in Suzanne Words...."Hot and Bothered"God I wouldn't want my tax money going into a condem class....

stupid enough to have sex.... that the funniest thing ive heard all hour.

[Georgia's on my Mind]

whoops...hah yeah that is funny I meant sex before marriage..................... basically sex before people are ready for it, which to me is when you are ready 2 get married

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Georgia's on my Mind
...If someone is stupid enough to have sex they deserve STD's and kids....

Well aren't we judgemental today. I can think of plenty of people I know- wait let me rephrase that- plenty of people even on this site who are not virgins and not married. And I'll tell you something, a lot of them don't "deserve STD's and kids". I know where your coming from on this, it's that whole "follow the Bible no sex before marriage" stuff. But that doesn't mean that you have to go out and offend half the world who has had sex before. I know that that is your belief and I'm fine with it, but seriously, I did find that comment a little offensive

[Czas na Zywiec]

Originally posted by Kay Scarpetta


Well aren't we judgemental today. I can think of plenty of people I know- wait let me rephrase that- plenty of people even on this site who are not virgins and not married. And I'll tell you something, a lot of them don't "deserve STD's and kids". I know where your coming from on this, it's that whole "follow the Bible no sex before marriage" stuff. But that doesn't mean that you have to go out and offend half the world who has had sex before. I know that that is your belief and I'm fine with it, but seriously, I did find that comment a little offensive

Yea Chris, and what about beofre who are raped or sexually abused? Do they deserve STD's? I follow abstinence, because that's what I persoanlly believe in, but I don't shove it doen everyone's throught. As long as I believe in it, no one can change that.

[Georgia's on my Mind]

I'm really sorry Karly, Now that I reread it it was wrong and I sincerly apologize for that comment, It was wrong of me. I just don't think that having sex can help anything...Idk....It is really hard to come to a right conclusion from everything you hear....But Idk...

[Jinny Girl]

i dont believe in abstinence. so before i say anything else in this post, ill just tell you all that so you will know beforehand where i stand.

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Georgia's on my Mind
I just don't think that having sex can help anything...

Um.... not all people have sex to help things. Many people feel they are ready for sex and want to have it.

[Georgia's on my Mind]

I know, But I mean liek it won't help things if in fact some1 gets pregnant...

[Hollow]

When i got sex ed my mom showed me a video about it all and was nasty like it was showing an animation of the intercourse haaaha it was nasty but it was funny

[vienna waits]

im all for it. without it, a lot of kids would know absolutely nothing about sex. imagine 12 year old boys getting excited and not knowing whats happening and then go running to mom... "MOM WHY IS IT DOING THIS??" or girls when they first get their period.