Sex Education in the real world
Two years ago, I went up against Operation Keepsake in our local school district because they wanted to teach our kids sex education with an abstinence only/pro-life agenda. Sure, abstinence is the only fool proof method of birth control. And it's worked... um... in the past 15 centuries, like NEVER! Teenage pregnancy is as story as old as the Pyramids. And the only reason it's such a big problem now is because the population a lot bigger than it was 100 years or so ago and girls don't get married anymore at 13 or 14.
And teaching abstinence only is dangerous. It's like teaching your kids how to drive but not showing them where the brake is, just because they've promised to drive responsibly. And it's not like back when we were teenagers and you mainly worried about pregnancy. You thought about disease, but back then, if it looked icky, you didn't touch it. But now the diseases can kill you. And you don't necessarily get them from just intercourse. There are junior high kids indulging in oral sex (boy recipients only... don't get me started on how that reflects on the current state of female self-esteem in the next generation) and don't seem to get that they can die from that, too. And what smells the most like the Republicans about the whole thing? The No Child Left Behind act requires teaching sex education this way in order for schools to receive their funding.
When I would spout off about this subject to other parents, they would just nod indulgently. But now, there is a high school in Canton that is veering away from the abstinence only program because 14 percent of their female population ended up pregnant due to sheer ignorance. Funniest thing? A reverend is spearheading the movement because his 15 year old parishioner came to him when she got pregnant and told him that her boyfriend had told her she wouldn 't get pregnant the first time and when she did, he accused her of sleeping around and dumped her.
The people from groups like Operation Keepsake believe that if you put birth control into the hands of young people, they will begin having sexual intercourse willy-nilly. Now, I had a comprehensive sex education when I was in ninth grade. I did not run out and have sex with the first boy I could find. I stayed pure until I was nearly 19. The fact that no boy in high school actually wanted to sleep with me may have had something to do with my chastity, but nevertheless, I refrained until I was older and then because I had been educated, I was able to make decisions that kept me safe from pregnancy and disease.
The other thing I object to in regards to the program, is they are pushing a pro-life agenda. In the fifth grade when they explained a baby's life in the womb, they told them that life begins at the moment of conception. Regardless of your personal beliefs, school is a place where children go to receive an unbiased education. Neither a pro-life or pro-choice agenda belong in public schools. And I don't even want to get into how much this program violates the whole separation of church and state doctrine.
If you have a child in middle school or higher, don't hesitate to talk to the school board about how sex education is taught in the schools. I know you can tell them about the birds and the bees at home, but let's face it... how many teenagers listen to their parents? So they need a reliable outside source, like school, to give them the straight (or gay, because there's nothing wrong with that) facts.
THE SUPREME WISDOM OF THE QUEENOSHEBA
You know what they call people who don't discuss sex and it's consequences honestly with their kids? Grandparents.
And teaching abstinence only is dangerous. It's like teaching your kids how to drive but not showing them where the brake is, just because they've promised to drive responsibly. And it's not like back when we were teenagers and you mainly worried about pregnancy. You thought about disease, but back then, if it looked icky, you didn't touch it. But now the diseases can kill you. And you don't necessarily get them from just intercourse. There are junior high kids indulging in oral sex (boy recipients only... don't get me started on how that reflects on the current state of female self-esteem in the next generation) and don't seem to get that they can die from that, too. And what smells the most like the Republicans about the whole thing? The No Child Left Behind act requires teaching sex education this way in order for schools to receive their funding.
When I would spout off about this subject to other parents, they would just nod indulgently. But now, there is a high school in Canton that is veering away from the abstinence only program because 14 percent of their female population ended up pregnant due to sheer ignorance. Funniest thing? A reverend is spearheading the movement because his 15 year old parishioner came to him when she got pregnant and told him that her boyfriend had told her she wouldn 't get pregnant the first time and when she did, he accused her of sleeping around and dumped her.
The people from groups like Operation Keepsake believe that if you put birth control into the hands of young people, they will begin having sexual intercourse willy-nilly. Now, I had a comprehensive sex education when I was in ninth grade. I did not run out and have sex with the first boy I could find. I stayed pure until I was nearly 19. The fact that no boy in high school actually wanted to sleep with me may have had something to do with my chastity, but nevertheless, I refrained until I was older and then because I had been educated, I was able to make decisions that kept me safe from pregnancy and disease.
The other thing I object to in regards to the program, is they are pushing a pro-life agenda. In the fifth grade when they explained a baby's life in the womb, they told them that life begins at the moment of conception. Regardless of your personal beliefs, school is a place where children go to receive an unbiased education. Neither a pro-life or pro-choice agenda belong in public schools. And I don't even want to get into how much this program violates the whole separation of church and state doctrine.
If you have a child in middle school or higher, don't hesitate to talk to the school board about how sex education is taught in the schools. I know you can tell them about the birds and the bees at home, but let's face it... how many teenagers listen to their parents? So they need a reliable outside source, like school, to give them the straight (or gay, because there's nothing wrong with that) facts.
THE SUPREME WISDOM OF THE QUEENOSHEBA
You know what they call people who don't discuss sex and it's consequences honestly with their kids? Grandparents.
posted by Queenosheba @ 8:18 PM
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