From The "No Shit" Desk..."Abstinence Only" Doesn't Work

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

http://woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=19E373C6-9A67-411A-BE5E-9EBEB447C53F

Research: Abstinence Only Sex Ed Doesn't Work

Research released at a sex ed and human sexuality conference at St. Mary's University sheds doubt on the effectiveness of 'abstinence only' sex education programs.

"Abstinence only" is the law in Texas and is popular among family values groups which claim that traditional sex ed curriculum, which includes teaching about condoms, encourages young people to become sexually active.

But Dr. David Wiley, a Professor of Health Physical Education and Recreation at Texas State University in San Marcos, and a recognized expert in the field, told the conference that abstinence only doesn't work.

"There have been virtually no abstinence only programs which have been evacuated which have led to behavior change," Wiley told 1200 WOAI's Bob Branson.

In fact, Wiley said sex ed itself is not a factor in determining teen sexuality.

"They don't necessarily cause kids to stop having sex, but then they don't cause kids to start having sex," he said.

Wiley said the entire concern about teen pregnancy is in response to the older ages that people are getting married today compared to previous years.

"Today our average first marriage in the U.S. is between 26 and 27. In our grandparents day teen pregnancy wasn't an issue because they were married at fourteen," he said.

[Clandestino]

how quickly parents forget what they did when they were young...

[MannyIsGod]

:lmao @ from the no shit desk

[JoeChalupa]

I know when I was in HS there were few girls getting pregnant or if they were they were being sent to live with relatives.

No they have freakin' classes for teen moms with day care.

[bigzak25]

yet another issue that belongs at home and has infested the schools....

[MannyIsGod]

I think teaching kids about biology has a place in school.

[bigzak25]

me too....but condoms and abstinence...no.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

me too....but condoms and abstinence...no.

While I would assume that most of us good parents and good children learned about stuff like this from home with a mix of school, there are still a number of kids that probably hear the "Don't fuck..." way of sexuality.

I think if you're going to teach it, don't be half-assed about it.

Teach it all. Teach the kids that by having sex, there are risks such as pregnancy and STD's.

The best way to prevent that is abstinence, but here the ways you can help prevent pregnancy if you're going to engage.

To teach about preventing STDs, you simply show off the effects of the disease and tell everybody to watch where they put there ding-dong and what they let in their hoo-ha.

[JoeChalupa]

I have two daughters...oh the horrah of the thoughts that run through my head. I'm pushing abstinence but in a way that I hope will at least make them think about it. I don't realistically expect them to be virgins but at least be responsible and don't get pregnant when they are not ready.

I think talking about the options does show that you care about them and that you simply want to cover all the bases.

[Spurminator]

Anything "Only" programs rarely work in any situation.

[Nbadan]

everybody to watch where they put there ding-dong and what they let in their hoo-ha.

:lol

[Useruser666]

http://www.easleys.com/ProductImages/adult_costumes/food/DingDong40030.jpg

http://rkostin.com/jscgblog/images/hohos.jpg

[Jekka]

I think teaching kids about biology has a place in school.

Because I went to a high school with no physical education program (we were exempt), I got my health education in a college level biology class, and I think it did more for our sexual health education than any dumb-video-watching health class ever could. Knowing the information behind the problems and having a truly comprehensive program (that we were tested over vigorously) made the prospects of sexual involvement a more serious undertaking, which I think a lot of problems fail in. When you really know the risks of having sex you'll take precautions more seriously - be that waiting to have sex or being smart when you do. I think covering sex ed with a more biological approach would be a good thing to do in many schools.

[cqsallie]

I know this might sound smarmy, but I've had a lot of sex talks with my kids. One theme I've expounded upon is that you do not need to have intercourse to "prove" your love. Another theme with my sons has been about their responsibility for a pregnancy. Sort of, if you don't want to enter into marriage and fatherhood, think before you act.
Of course, this hasn't worked any better than if I had preached abstinence, but I don't have any unwed fathers or mothers in my bunch. I haven't forgotten the heat of the moment, as apparently the abstinence-preachers have, and I do think some sort of preparation for that heat helps. Sorta like, "Mama said there'd be days like these..."
To deny the fact that there will come a time when your kid is going to be thinking with an organ far removed from his/her brain is not preparation for reality. Since the push for abstinence seems to be a Christian imperative, what are we saying to our children? "Christian boys/girls don't feel sexually aroused until they get married?"
Are we pushing our children into sexual activity by recognizing that they will, indeed, be sexually aroused prior to marriage? I don't think so! Responsibility for sexual activity should be right up there with responsibility for all other behavior. Fore-warned is fore-armed...

[Nbadan]

One theme I've expounded upon is that you do not need to have intercourse to "prove" your love.

Nice take. I also think its important to keep an open line of communication with each of your kids, but remember that your a parent and not just a friend, and with parenthood comes certain responsibilities. Like when its time, teaching your son the proper use of condoms, and at the same time, letting them know that you think that sexual intercourse should be shared with only someone who is extremely special and if they chose to engage in this activity, they should be prepared to except the responsibility of caring for a child.

[cqsallie]

Nice take. I also think its important to keep an open line of communication with each of your kids, but remember that your a parent and not just a friend, and with parenthood comes certain responsibilities. Like when its time, teaching your son the proper use of condoms, and at the same time, letting them know that you think that sexual intercourse should be shared with only someone who is extremely special and if they chose to engage in this activity, they should be prepared to except the responsibility of caring for a child.
Exactly! And it goes for both girls and boys. What has amazed me here in San Antonio has been the number of 14-year-old mothers. What's up with this? Where are these girls' parents? Sometimes, the fathers are 15 or 16, but sometimes they're in their twenties and this makes me really mad! I work with what I would regard as little girls who are mothers - of course, not married, but they're totally supported by their mothers to have these babies and then they all appear in a line for medicaid, food stamps, help for rent, etc.
At some point, we just have to ask these people the hard questions: "Do you realize that you are entitled to birth control pills? Do you realize that you do not have to engage in sexual intercourse with your boyfriend? Have your parents talked to you about sex? Have your parents discouraged you from having sex at your age?
Well, you know the tact this thread is taking, so I won't belabor you with more, but I think that you, as I, realize that children have children - and it's probably because somebody somewhere just failed to realize that protecting our children also involves informing our children. We can't just issue edicts based upon our idea of right and wrong.
It's not about a moral right and wrong, it ultimately comes down to what turns out to be pitiful lifestyles for little kid mothers, their children, their zoned-out male partners - and to be honest, the worst of the mix are the parents of the child-mother, who seem to be acting out of pretense rather than commitment.
Oh! This is a whole lot shittier than you could imagine... :depressed

[desflood]

The saddest thing I ever saw working in OB/GYN was a pregnant 14-year-old who came in holding hands with her 13-year-old boyfriend and her social worker. She got sex ed in school just like every other kid. This was at Wilford Hall, mind you, so she was a military dependent. Where are the parents?

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

I know this might sound smarmy, but I've had a lot of sex talks with my kids. One theme I've expounded upon is that you do not need to have intercourse to "prove" your love. Another theme with my sons has been about their responsibility for a pregnancy. Sort of, if you don't want to enter into marriage and fatherhood, think before you act.
Of course, this hasn't worked any better than if I had preached abstinence, but I don't have any unwed fathers or mothers in my bunch. I haven't forgotten the heat of the moment, as apparently the abstinence-preachers have, and I do think some sort of preparation for that heat helps. Sorta like, "Mama said there'd be days like these..."
To deny the fact that there will come a time when your kid is going to be thinking with an organ far removed from his/her brain is not preparation for reality. Since the push for abstinence seems to be a Christian imperative, what are we saying to our children? "Christian boys/girls don't feel sexually aroused until they get married?"
Are we pushing our children into sexual activity by recognizing that they will, indeed, be sexually aroused prior to marriage? I don't think so! Responsibility for sexual activity should be right up there with responsibility for all other behavior. Fore-warned is fore-armed...


I sure as hell don't think that's smarmy at all.

You were teaching responsibility, which is what's sorely lacking in a lot of education these days.