Why are we funding abstinence-only programs in schools when these programs don't prevent teen pregnancy?
965909
Right now the religious conservatives, unfortunately, have more political pull especially among the southern and mid-western "bible-belt" states. They set up policies that threaten to pull educational funding if anything other than an "Abstinence-Only" program is taught in school. The rest of us pay to fund education, but the policies and political hacks are the ones that redirect the money into these religious-based programs.\n\nAbstinence-Only programs should not be in public schools. The purpose of public schools are to teach an educate students with knowledge, not feed them partial and erronious information to keep them ignorant. Public schools should teach proper sex education information on puberty changes, venarial diseases, pregnancy, and safe sex (INCLUDING the abstinence option) so that students have a decent knowledge of what's really out there. The course should be voluntary and parents that don't want their child in a sex ed class should opt-out rather than trying to keep everyone else's kids ignorant. The only school that should have an Abstinence-only program is a private school or religious school.\n\nPublic schools are meant to provide knowledge that will allow students to become potentially productive members of society. How that knowledge is used is determined by the student's personality the same education could be a stepping stone to become a doctor, engineer, police officer, criminal mastermind, or terrorist. \n\nTeenagers are going to have sex or abstain from sex depending on the relationship with thier parents, not what the school teaches them. If a student has taken a sex ed class at least they will be prepared when the time comes, but a student that has only an "Abstinence-Only" course will never be prepared no matter how old they get.
317900
Being a recently graduated high school senior, I can tell you that the sex ed classes are pitiful. They definitely do need to be better, to teach kids more about STDs and the risks of them and how to protect yourself sexually. Teaching kids about abstinence isn't going to work, because they are going to have sex and they need to be safe when they do it.
1089161
Because sexual activity outside of marital bounds is more widely accepted and practiced. The younger the person, generally the less is known about safe sex practices. Nor are contraceptives as easily accessable at such young ages.
722333
I wouldn't put it past them. When you are in the death business, you have to keep them coming back so you wouldn't want abstinence taught in sex ed.\n\nA 1996 study on Project Reality’s use of choosing the best curriculum, indicated a 54% decrease in sexual activity after teens were exposed to the abstinence curriculum.\n\nFrom 1971 they change sex ed in schools from abstinence to safe sex. The philosophy was it's OK to have sex with anybody you want as long as you wear a condom.\nWell, since they turned away from abstinence the number of girls who became pregnant while using contraceptives rose 266%. There was also a 107% increase in those who had abortions and a 93% increase to those who contracted STDs
431745
Nope! There is no federal regulation on teaching parenting. There may be some state regulations on a state-by-state basis. Health/sex-ed classes may have pieces on this but it is by no means a requirement.\n\nLocal schools will not receive federal funding if they do not teach abstence in sex-education classes, though.
697025
the schools have a wussed-out, abstinence only sex ed program, which no parent will actuall allow their kid to go to, but they still neglect to tell them anything either!
745623
All of the previous answers are correct! But did you know that through the 1970's teachers could not marry if they were in the same schools? They discouraged husbands and wives teams within a district and certainly didn't approve of them in the same school building. Relationships were kept secret. Also, I remember not telling anyone I was pregnant in the late 70's with my first and second child until I began to "SHOW"! The principals would harass you until you would eventually go on leave! Also, many districts would not grant maternity health benefits as only the husband had health insurance. It took us almost two years to pay the bill for our first child.
313343
I am in Michigan, and in our small town they do not do that here. It's funny that you asked this, because my daughter is going to middle school next year and I had a meeting with a couple of teachers about the sex ed program at the middle school. One of the teachers was from the middle school and I asked about the sex ed. I wanted to know if they address abstinence or birth control. In my home we stress abstinence, for the biggest reason because of our Christianity, but the next biggest reason, for their health and safety. I think it is every parents duty to teach their children before the school does so that the parents values are instilled first. I agree schools need to respect what parents teach in their homes. If a school is teaching about birth control and it is in opposition to what a parent is teaching then the child should not be part of that one part in teaching kids about unwanted pregnancies and diseases prevention.
117112
A long term solution to reducing teenage abortions (and regardless of how one feels about the legality of abortion, I think everyone agrees there should be fewer abortions) must involve a reduction in the number of teenage pregnancies.  And a big part of that is to rethink practices and policies, like certain welfare rules, or our biased family court system, that force fathers out of their children's lives.  Girls with fathers involved in their lives are far less likely to get pregnant as teenagers.
821658
It means that you should go to a clinic. Depending on your age, they might need to talk to your parents. You could also go to your school counselor or school nurse. Between your parents, the clinic and your school councelor/nurse, they would be able to talk to you better. Having sex without a condom leaves you open to pregnancy and STDs. You need to get checked. You shouldn't be having unprotected sex if you are not aware of what to do to protect yourself and the consequences you face when you don't protect yourself.
1086197
Children at the upper primary school level should be taught. But there is a difference between sex education and sexuality education. Also, it depends on the values that the society wants to advocate. Abstinence? Or Safe Sex?
116722
I think that it is an ethical issue. How can we support the murder of our own young? Why is it so hard for people to take responsibility for themselves and know that one of the natural outcomes of sex can be pregnancy. I wish that people who didn't want to have kids would either use birth control correctly and consistantly, or quit having sex.
565851
Are you talking about sex? Okay, we have restrictions so young people don't go and get pregnant at 14 and throw away the rest of their life taking care of a baby. So they can find out about the dangers of STD's and have an opportunity to finish school before they destroy their future with an unplanned baby while in High School.\n\nBut if you want to do it go ahead and be like most kids these days.(I'm not advising you either way, your probably grown up enough)
187476
I think a lot of them come from families where parents don't care or the parents care *too* much. You wouldn't believe the amount of parents I've seen that are so protective of their daughters that they don't even want them to *see* the word sex because they think it's inappropriate. We're talking about 12 year old girls here. A good parent would talk to their daughters around this age and let them know what's appropriate and what's not appropriate. Some of you may say, "12 is too young to have sex" and I agree, but never telling your children about it is wrong. Not telling a 12-year-old girl, at the brink of puberty about sex can set her up for problems later on. How would a child this age know if she was being molested if she had no idea what was taking place? Knowledge is power and parents should be giving their children that gift. Just because you talk to your kids about it doesn't mean you're condoning it (do parents that talk to their kids about cigarettes encourage them to smoke?). Parents should be taking a realistic approach and teach their kids to wait until they're absolutely ready to have sex (as "don't have sex" just doesn't seem to be cutting it anymore) and if they are going to have sex, to use protection. Kids should be aware of the consequences that sex involves. If parents try to shelter their children to the point where they get none of this information, I guarantee that those kids are going to be 14-year-old mothers, all the while the parents asking, "What did I do wrong?"
233769
Why not promote family planning to countries that are experiencing high growth rates?  Promoting newer renewable  energy resources?  Promote and fix education systems?  \n\nI think everyone is trying to already.
912555
no.  it is a laughable idea--don't teach them how to be careful, just tell them not to do it, and pretend that they will listen.  we all know teenagers have sex.  not all of them, but enough of them to warrant an actual sex education program.  teaching abstinence is no more sex ed than saying "just don't drive" constitutes driver's ed.  it's ridiculous and dangerous.  it is also completely out of touch, not to mention out of line.  schools are supposed to be teaching facts, not pushing morals.  it is up to the family to discuss when and if a teenager should have sex, not the school.  they should either teach safe practices and tell about the consequences of unsafe practices, or they should just drop the sex ed altogether.  pushing abstinence is puritanical and, to me at least, toes the line on teaching religious ideals in public schools.
107741
Usually it is a matter of instant gratification. A great example is teen pregnancy. They'd rather have sex right then, when the opportunity presents itself, than go buy a condom and wait a week for another opportunity. Many of my moronic friends did exactly that in high school. People who are more disciplined however do not seek instant gratification, as they have learned it is short lived and has consequences.