Abstinence In Schools

Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the U.S. in the early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-only until marriage is the best method while others believe that a more comprehensive approach, which includes abstinence promotion as well as contraceptive information, is necessary. Abstinence-only program curriculums disregard

The Texas abstinence-only approach in school systems has failed to give information required to educate teenagers to what can happen to their life and future by engaging in sexual activity.

Abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education follow vary different outlines in methods of teaching and the goals they hope to achieve. Controversy surrounding this topic focuses on what is being taught and how this relates to values favoring abstinence, with the belief that education on birth control encourages sexual activity (Abstinence Only Education, 2005). Planned Parenthood states the following: “Abstinence-only programs (also called abstinence-only until marriage programs) promote abstinence from sexual behavior” (Planned Parenthood: Implementing Sex Education, n.d.) Abstinence-only programs only teach abstinence, as per their name, and in fact, they purposely exclude information on “birth control, safer sex and sex orientation” (Planned

The controversial topic of whether or not sex education curriculum should teach contraceptive use or abstinence-only is heavily debated. In 2013, the U.S. totaled 273,105 babies born by teenagers, ages from 15 to 19 (“About Teen Pregnancy”). This raises the question: why is the number of pregnancies so high? Is the reason for that unsettling high, number because abstinence-only is being taught or contraceptive use is being taught? Students who are taught abstinence-only are more likely to wait to have sex, which results in the lowering of teen pregnancy. The abstinence-only curriculum also reduces students sexual activity.The sex education curriculum in the U.S. should consist of abstinence-only education.

Five seventh grade students in a New Orleans middle school were asked how to prevent HIV/AIDS and pregnancy. They believe, eating a hot pepper after sex will prevent STD's and unwanted pregnancy. These students attended an abstinence-only education school where they are prohibited to discuss condoms and other contraceptives to prevent STD and pregnancy (Woebse, 709-710). Since 2014 the U.S teen pregnancy birth rate dropped to 24.2 per 1000 women, 9% lower than 2013(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). With abstinence-only education being taught, could abstinence-only education be credited for the decline? Does the thought of eating hot peppers after engaging in a sexual act scare teens enough to be abstinent? Or are teens learning

Studies show that teenagers who’ve had sex later regret it. Abstinence only education should be the only education taught in schools instead of comprehensive education. The most popular ways of teaching about sex are abstinence teachings and comprehensive education. Abstinence education is a better option than comprehensive because it is the only effective way to avoid pregnancy, protects against sexually transmitted diseases, and proves the partner is interested for more than sex; comprehensive education teaches that there is a way for safe sex if students choose that path but teenage sex should not be an option. “…encouraging teens to just say no to sex may be the most effective at delaying early sexual activity”

If you have lived through the experience of being a teenager in the United States then you have probably been subjected to a sex education course at some point in your life. I, like the majority, attended an abstinence-only program in high school and most of what I remember from that experience is being uncomfortable. In fact, the clearest memories I have of the program taught at my school, or Worth the Wait, is of a video of a woman who creates a pancake in the shape of a vagina for her daughter and a montage of dozens of girls saying “No!” to emphasize what my response should be to sex. But, now that I am an adult woman and am close to the age where I might start thinking about motherhood I can see why these abstinence-only programs

For my whole life I've been a devout Christian and I believed that the bible was the word of God and used it to form my opinions. So naturally I was against sex before marriage and pro abstinence only education and thought it was the best way to lower the teen birth rate,STD, discourage sex before marriage and promote Christian values.

Imagine you’re sitting in your OBGYN office and they recommend putting you on birth control due to your periods being bad and you panic because you have little idea as to what they are putting you on because no one has talked to you about it. You understand that it will help with your periods and from what you can infer you also know that it will help preventing unwanted pregnancies, however you still sit there and wonder how it prevents pregnancy, how it will help with your periods, and all the side effects that could go along with it. This is what happens when there is only abstinence only education offered. Abstinence only sex education does not lower teen pregnancy, it highers the practice of unsafe sex, and it changes the way women view

I’ve never heard of the abstinence-only before marriage programs. I graduated high school in 1990 and there was no sex education at my school. There was a small section of the health class that talked about sexual reproduction and it was extremely brief. STD’s was never mentioned however teen pregnancy was a topic that was ok to discuss openly. It seems odd to have people sign a vow of abstinence during school. When people get into trouble they have nowhere to turn for help or support. I’m not for promoting sex is school, but it seems the better educated they are about negative aspects the more effective they would be at promoting abstinence. The military has mandatory STD training, which was nothing, but gross pictures and it worked

There are a lot of schools nationwide that do not offer a sex education course to early high school students. Schools that do offer the course tend to focus entirely on abstinence. However, the reality of it all is that sexual intercourse is a natural part of life. There are many students that take abstinence-only classes and leave the class with only the knowledge of not taking part in intercourse. Many young students miss out on important information that they should be informed of. All students should take a Sex Education class in their early high school years to protect them and build a responsible mindset.

Abstinence prevents pregnancy. Why are tax payers always expected to pay for other people's habits and mistakes? Maybe instead of the indigent expecting a handout from me, they should take some responsibility. The government does not have the authority to use my tax dollars for birth control. Or abortions. Or employment education. Or job placement programs. Or welfare. There are hundreds to thousands of businesses hiring in every city of this country. Go get a damned job. All this is is a self feeding system of creating dependent classes of people who will faithfully vote for the politicians responsible for the creation of these programs. What happens when you run out of other people's money or the system becomes so bloated it collapses under

Self control is a very important skill in life. This skill is especially important in face to face interaction. It is important to teach responsibility not abstinence because abstinence is only attained through successful responsibility. The cell phones being taken away in the classroom does not teach responsibility with technology, or how to use it wisely and have self control with it. “We didn’t ban pens in our schools because students can pass notes during class. The pencils have also survived even though you could poke someone in the eye” (Ormiston 5). The classroom is a great place for young students to learn about cell phone etiquette and how to learn to not only stay safe, but also how to use the cell phones when you can easily be distracted

Today's teens are exposed to sexual content and behavior regularly that affect their behavior. Many schools teach abstinence as a full proof way to stop the promiscuous behavior and potential diseases. Despite these teachings, teens don’t care and practice unprotected sex anyway and risk getting sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies. By providing teens with free condoms on campus these risks will greatly decrease. For this to happen school administrations and parents must stop being so gullible and realize teens are having sex. If teens are positively informed about the use of condoms, given confidentiality agreements by a staff member and trusted to make positive decisions teens will be more comfortable engaging in sexual activities. The time has come for change schools need to implement policies now to help teens and stop avoiding real issues that are affecting them.

Controversy is rampant regarding the sexual education of grade school children. Some insist that it is prudent to educate children on this subject beginning as early as kindergarten. Others strongly disagree that earlier education has any effect at all on teen sex and pregnancy and, therefore, abstinence should be the focus. Lastly, we have those who believe advocating abstinence is appropriate, but agree that a more in depth sexual education is also necessary for those who are going to have sex anyway despite our best efforts to teach them otherwise.