Abstinence only? ... might work

Mott the Hoople said:
What I don't understand is the condescending false paradigm here. Why can't they be taught both abstinence and birth control? Isn't providing people (including kids) with as much usefull information as possible always the best approach?
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Have you ever considered the fact that only one type of birth control (condoms) prevent transmission of STDs, that several types of STD can still be transmitted even when condoms are correctly used, or that viral STDs are incurable, leaving them carriers (or worse) the rest of their lives?

There are more reasons for abstinence education than prevention of unplanned pregnancies.
 
leaningright said:
Of course all of you will know ahead of time that I am an advocate for abstinence only programs but you might not know that I am an advocate for them only if taught in conjunction with being safe... Have a looksee:

"An abstinence-only education program is more effective than other initiatives at keeping sixth- and seventh-graders from having sex within a two-year period,..."

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/02/abstinence.study/index.html?hpt=Sbin&hpt=T2
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Wasn't there also a concerted effort to get the parents informed and involved as well?

Bottom line: I like the approach of getting the kids involved in learning rather than just preaching down to them. Now, as they get older, this program should start including the ups and downs, ins and outs of safe sex.
 
Onceler said:
I still can't believe that kids have sex in 6th friggin' grade.

Or 7th friggin' grade, for that matter...
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When I was in 7th grade we had a girl who was pregnant already. It was a big deal around here though and made it on the local news.
 
There's always the outliers. Frankly, I'd be surprised if you put thousands of middle schoolers together for years on end and literally none of them had sex. It's obviously not a common pattern though.
 
We were pretty horny when we hit middle school. The social setting was pretty intoxicating with leaving youth (K-6 years) behind and enjoying the new things life had to offer. In some ways, it was like arriving at college.
 
leaningright said:
Read the article....it is more effective at discouraging early sex than all of the others.
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I read the article and agree that this is a good way to promote abstinence but wonder if the results are representative of all pre-teens, due to the sample. Those are pretty narrow parameters. What say you?

"The study looked at 662 African-American sixth- and seventh-graders recruited from four public middle schools that serve low-income communities in an unidentified city in the northeastern United States."
 
The attitude about sex in our culture is harmfull. People should wake up and realize that sex is a good thing, as long as done responsably.

Its like driving a car, sure there are dangers, but the benefit is great if done responsabily.
 
christiefan915 said:
I read the article and agree that this is a good way to promote abstinence but wonder if the results are representative of all pre-teens, due to the sample. Those are pretty narrow parameters. What say you?
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I say that this is the only study done so far so we have to take what we can get. I know of medication tested on smaller reference groups that got FDA approval. But all of that aside, I think most of us are on the same page here...the program is a good way to promote abstinence, it seems to be working (from what we can glean from this study). I also think most of us would like to see a program like this coupled with safety information as well. It isn't clear whether this one is but probably not with the word "only" at the end.
 
The deal behind abstnance only is that it comes from religen. Religen tells people to deny sexuality until marriage. Marriage that at the time was controled by the Church.

Almost every basic human need, sex included, was in some way or another controled by the Church. If you were not in good with the Church, you were denied that basic need, at least in the eyes of there God and were sentenced to eternal damnation.

Now the relic of fear of sex still exists and we have silly rules that are unrelated to any bases in reality. Sex is great, it can and should be enjoyed responsabily, its a gift from God. To say that you should be denied that gift until the Church (a human institution) ordanes a relationship is pittafull.
 
I can agree with your first two paragraphs but have to disagree with everything in the last one except the second sentence.
 
From what I read in the study it would be best to take a two tiered approach. Younger kids get the abstinence only, a couple years later they get information on how to avoid disease and pregnancy. Much like driving (used in an earlier analogy) we can realize that different ages may need a different approach, we mandate abstinence from driving because younger kids are often irresponsible...
 
Damocles said:
From what I read in the study it would be best to take a two tiered approach. Younger kids get the abstinence only, a couple years later they get information on how to avoid disease and pregnancy. Much like driving (used in an earlier analogy) we can realize that different ages may need a different approach, we mandate abstinence from driving because younger kids are often irresponsible...
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That makes sense. I can go with that... I dont belive that is what is being promoted by the religous right.
 
Jarod said:
So you dont belive people should have sex until the Church says its okay?
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I don't believe people should have sex until the bible says it is OK. Big difference to me there. And the bible says to wait until marriage...and to not do so is sinful. That is what I believe. It is not what I think should be taught in these type programs but should be (and will be) taught at my home and in the church where I preach.
 
leaningright said:
I don't believe people should have sex until the bible says it is OK. Big difference to me there. And the bible says to wait until marriage...and to not do so is sinful. That is what I believe. It is not what I think should be taught in these type programs but should be (and will be) taught at my home and in the church where I preach.
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You definitely have every right to hold those views, and teach them in your home & church.

Not to be derogatory about them, but I just think the idea of waiting until marriage is losing its place in the current era. Let's face it - with a near 50% divorce rate, marriage as an institution is basically under siege, anyway. I think it's reasonable to question the logic of waiting for "the one," if that person doesn't really turn out to be "the one" half the time.

This is purely anecdotal, but the people I have known who have waited until marriage have generally come to regret that decision (I'm sure there are exceptions).

Moreover, sexual compatibility is one of the key components to most marriages. If you don't know until your honeymoon that there are issues, that's a recipe for disaster.

I don't know what the passages of the Bible are that indicate that premarital sex is a sin, but I've gotta believe that's a bad translation or something. It just doesn't make logical sense to me...
 
The 50% divorce rate is a play with numbers. 75% of first marriages do not end in divorce, that rate of all marriages is increased because those who have had a divorce are more likely to get another.
 
Damocles said:
The 50% divorce rate is a play with numbers. 75% of first marriages do not end in divorce, that rate of all marriages is increased because those who have had a divorce are more likely to get another.
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I believe that another factor that figures in, is the "it's all about me" generation.
Seems like more and more couples are unwilling to work through problems and just want to split up.
 
leaningright said:
We have definitely raised a more selfish generation, IMO.
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I think that to many people get married for all the wrong reasons.
They don't take the time to really get to know the other person. Their habits, behaviors, family, likes and dislikes, etc.

It's all about "He's hot" or "She's a fox".
To many people are so superficial.
 
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