Obama is cutting abstinence-only sex education. Smart or dangerous?
Submitted by vmartir on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 13:49
Obama's new budget cuts most federal funding to abstinence-only sex education programs while increasing comprehensive sex ed programs, saying that funding will now go to programs proven to have delayed sex and increased contraceptive use or reduced teen pregnancy. What do you think? Smart move? Dangerous? What?
I think it is smart. You can't tell somebody not to have sex, espacially children it will make them want to do it more. You can only merely teach them the risks and conscences of thier actions and they have to make a choice.
Its a very smart choice. As a senior in high school, i've been through the traditional health classes that promote abstinence rather then providing methods of having safe sex. When it seems like many parents feel awkard about talking to their kids about options with sex, its harder to know where to turn to for advice. When the personal decision is made, wouldn't you rather your child know how to have "safe" sex?
H Gorski
I find it valid to say that his decision is two-fold. The reason is that for some it might shed light on the fact that there is nothing wrong with waiting until you get married to have sex. But on the other hand if you don't provide true facts about safe sex than young people will not be educated about how to deal with a situation like that when it arises. It is important to be well informed and to know your options - we are a society with free thinkers and I believe that students should be able to learn both sides of the coin not just one. Growing up Christian I knew for myself that I would stay abstinent until I got married and at times that put me as the outcast especially when I was a senior in college and people did not get why I had not had sex yet. It is a testament for me to say that me and my husband waited, but at the same time lets face the facts the majority of teens are experimenting so they need to know the facts from both sides of the spectrum.
Definitely a smart move. People need options, and abstinence-only programs don't provide these. The choice whether to have sex or not lies soley in the individual, and pro-abstinence health classes cannot change that. The fact is that some teens will have sex, regardless of if they have been taught about safe sex practices. By providing comprehensive sex ed programs, people will be more informed and can better protect themselves from rising problems such as STI's and teenage pregnancy.
It migt help because of the high rate of pregnancies not many teens are going to listen to speeches about not haveing sex, more the the truth about it. the facts on STDs and pregnancies. We have to not judge againce but incurage safe sex but only at the right age.
its a great choice!
i'm about to be a sophmore in high school and i took two health classes one that told me abstinence is the key and didn't get into the whole std topic but i still felt like i needed sex or whatever.
but when i took the other class this past year we really got into the std topic and it impacted me alot! i learned that i should wait til i'm ready bcuz there are so many things you could have just by having sex once and always use a condom bcuz if you're gonna do it you would rather be safe then sorry.
i'm still a virgin btw, i probably wouldn't be if i hadn't taken that class this past year:)
abigail.
I personally believe its a wonderful choice. Schools need to teach the facts. so many girls at my high school became pregnant from not using condoms and being uninformed. I believe the new programs will greatly decrease teen pregnancy and sti/stds.
Abstience is the only 100% way to stay safe and not become pregnant or get an STI. Even condoms and the pill are not always going to work. Both programs should be taught. <3
Smart; There are other ways to prevent pregnancies. However, all parts of contraception should be taught.
i think we need to enforce abstinence more that safe sex. its not having an obvious effect because of the media. the media needs to stop sending the message that sex is supposed to be casual and unmeaningful. sex is for married couples. its supposed to be a beautiful thing. not dirty or naughty.♥libbypaige
It is defiantly a smart thing. Of course we would all like to believe that teens and young adults would abstain and that teaching them these things would help, but it doesn't. Research and common sense shows us that. You can't stop how the media portrays sex, nor can you stop teens for having it. So at least help with damage control. Adding REAL sex ed, and not just abstinence-only programs will teach teens what to do if they decide to make this choice, and not just imposing someone else's opinions on them.
So, it might lead to an increase of sexual activity, but I don't see abstinence-only programs doing anything either. At least with these programs, there might be an increase in sexual activity, but a decrease in teen pregnancys and STDs. I would take that any day over what we have now.
We can't stop the media, nor peepr pressure when it comes to sex, so why not give people options?
The bottom line to this all is: Teens are horny, they can and will have sex. Let's provide things like condoms and other forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy and STDs because while abstinence is the only way to 100% avoid those things, it's not realistic.
Abstinence isn't realistic? I disagree. I'm a member of the Catholic church, and we believe that condoms and birth control are not only wrong, they are degrading. Those companies are treating us like animals who have to be spayed and neutered because they let their instincts take over and can't control them. Has anyone else here been to a Jason Evert talk? (I didn't read every single post here yet) If you have, you'll know why I'm so set on staying a virgin.
No matter what your sexual prefernce, if you want to abstain, or not, we need to educate our teens on how to be safe. We need to not just educate safety, but emotional challenges, how to take care of yourself, how to make sure your partner is taking care of him or herself, and we need to have more resources and options for sex education, like Planned Parenthood and Birth Choice.
Abstience is not realistic for most of our teens. I think those who are truly dedicated to abstain, will. But sex education still needs to be discussed across the board, with all choices available for learning and further acknowledging.
A SMART MOVE!. Kids are having sex and we can't stop them and denying them the right to knowledge is like suicide for our generation and those to come. SMART MOVE OBAMA!
I disagree with Obamas plan. I am in an abstinence program and its has taught me a lot more then just not to have sex. Although these programs are centered around abstinence they also teach other valuable life skills. These include how to respect your partner, how to make goals for your life and to set standards for your self. I believe both safe sex and abstinence are important but when i took sex ed in the 9th grade we never were told much about abstinece or how birth control and condoms fail. I also would like to add that cutting funding to these programs and not controlling sex in the media will only make teens wanna have sex more and not want to look for a healthy meaningful relationship for them selves. I think that instead of cutting funding to these groups that they should show these groups are not just for teens who are in certain clicks in school or are a certain religion but instead are for everyon with no discrimination. That way more teens will be impowered to join and relize anyone can wait with the right support. The final thing teens should just remember is Sex does not equal true love and NOT EVERYONE IS DOING IT!!!
Smart. If you teach an abstinence only class, there's still going to be people that have sex. Teaching other ways to prevent pregnancy and STD/STI's isn't saying sex is okay, it's just giving them options on how to be safe if or when they choose to have sex. Yes abstinence is the only 100% way to be completely safe but not everyone is going to choose abstinence, so they need to provide the right information to them to have them educated and know the risks and precautions that should be taken when it comes to sex. Sex ed is a very important topic that everyone should have general knowledge on weither they're haveing sex or not.
Smart. If you teach an abstinence only class, there's still going to be people that have sex. Teaching other ways to prevent pregnancy and STD/STI's isn't saying sex is okay, it's just giving them options on how to be safe if or when they choose to have sex. Yes abstinence is the only 100% way to be completely safe but not everyone is going to choose abstinence, so they need to provide the right information to them to have them educated and know the risks and precautions that should be taken when it comes to sex. Sex ed is a very important topic that everyone should have general knowledge on weither they're haveing sex or not.
It's the best choice someone can make. The more educated people are the more they will understand their own decisions. Contraception must be taught because kids won't all stay abstinent no matter where they live, and if children aren't abstinent, they need to be taught how to avoid STDs and pregnancies. Teaching contraception has never made children have sex more than abstinence-only programs.
I'm not surprised by the idiot's decision...he needs to goooooooooooooooo.....I have thought about how many good things have came out of his election...in an hours time, I can only think of 2...and this ain't one of them...I hate to think what will happen if he's re-elected...:(
i agree with u because abstinence only even though it has helped us improve the situation. is not the truth because other teens still do it and i do think it is best if teens are educated with everything they should know about sex and sexuality to make their choices and have them be smart ones.even if abstinence is not their choice.
i disagree completly. obama is a great prez. bush messed up our government n obamas doin his best. most teens are sexually active anyway and how many ar going to sit and listen to that. Its not the presidents resposibilty its ur parents.
Well i don't believe in the government telling me "i can't have sex" I DO believe in a responsible government telling me that abstinence is the best way, because people... IT IS.
Teens are not mentally prepared to have sex, because sex should occur in a state of peace and maturity that.. Hum all teenagers really don't have.
Besides, sex means so much more than "here have as much condoms as you wish, go out and have fun". Also, condoms are not totally effective, if you're trying to avoid getting pregnant, not even pills are bullet proof. You might think is "safe" sex, but is totally the opposite; you're putting your emotions and your whole being in that one act, and it is not "safe" to put yourself out there 7800 times.
And if you think teens won't agree to this is because you underestimate us, I'm 18 and i practice abstinence.
WE ARE NOT ANIMALS.
Thats what I think =)
I SO agree with you! People keep talking about "education" but really most teens don't get educated in what could be better for them!
I agree with Obama. Us teens need more options than just abstinence because it obviously isn't working. Abstinence works for some people but for the vast majority of American teens may claim the abstinence for sake of their parents not being suspicious. Sex is a part of human nature, whether we want to wait for marriage or not. Teens need to be well educated in both ideas. Abstinence is a great idea few teens actually keep their promise, we should have an option to learn about contraceptives like condoms and birth control. If more teens knew the consequences of not using condoms or birth control then the teen pregnancy rate would probably go down. I'm a senior in Texas and last year there were probably 10 pregnant girls at my school. So obviously teaching abstinence isn't working, if you tell a teen not to do something guess what they're gonna do, they'll go out and do exactly what you told them not to do. That being said they are most likely to not use a condom and are most likely not on birth control since they are being taught abstinence. Which increases the chance of a teen pregnancy.
Is the point not getting pregnant or protecting yourself?? I never hear anyone talk about the emotional effect sex has on a person. It has been proven that sex makes you emotionally closer and might we say "one" with your partner. What happens when your relationship doesn't work out? How do condoms and birth control protect your heart?!?!? Yes, abstinence is hard, but isn't a broken heart harder to cope with?? so I say I don't agree with Obama. Plus, if you've ever been to a high school, you know that you don't have to have someone come tell you about condoms or birth control, you just have to ask the person sitting next to you lol but if you ask them about abstinence, they probably would have no clue what you're taking about.
Well, the problem with asking the person next to you in high school is that.. they don't know. Some people think you have to have sex with a person infected with HIV at least more than once to catch it, or you can't get pregnant if it's your first time, or if your boyfriend masterbates you don't need protection. The government would be doing good to inform people about sex, especially in high school when teens are first starting to have sex.
On the other hand, the government is not responsible for protecting people from "broken hearts." That's just a life lesson and an individual's business.
Abstinence is an option, but definitely not a standard. The great thing is everyone has the right to make the choice. The government shouldn't have an expressed opinion about it, but at the most, inform people of the facts. Family is resonsible to discuss the ethical side of sexual relations. That's a cultural matter and is just as important.
Nobody can teach you how to protect yourself emotionally. Getting you heart broken is just a life lesson that everybody has to experience at least once. What are you going to do - never have sex because you're afraid of getting hurt? Doubtful. Your heart can get broken at any age, not just when you're in school.
The government should be advocating sex education in schools in to teach kids how to protect themselves from diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Of course protection is never 100% - but at least you're greatly raising your chances of preventing these things.
It's been proven that abstinence only education doesn't work. And the states that advocate for it the most, end up with the most teen pregnancies. Look at Sarah Palin who was at adamant about abstinence only education - her own daughter got pregnant.
I defeinitely wouldn't want kids to have sex - but if they're going to do it (and they will do it becasue kids are having sex younger and younger these days) they should know how to protect themselves and their partners.
This is an incredibly smart decision. Telling teens not to have sex at all i think just makes them want to do it even more. Instead of just telling us not to do it we need to learn everything that we can about it. We need to be educated about all of the horrible and deadly diseases that you can get from having sex. In my opinion NO teenager is ready to be a parent! Teenagers need to get their priorities straight and plan their future correctly. They need to realize that having a child or getting and STD could hurt their plan and destroy all of their goals!
I am a teen mom. And my mother talked to me about sex and going through puberty when i was 9. She told me that she will talk to me about things and that she would much rather i tell her if i was going to be sexualy active at a young age (14-15) then secretly doing it behind her back. She let me do what i wanted basically but i have to deal with the consequences now. i think that you can tell people anything and that they will decide whether or not to listen, but if you restrict them from everything they will be more inclined to do it. I also believe that people have a choice and if it is consensual and you are protected and you and your partner have a muatual understanding about pregnancy then it is alright.
SMART MOVE! I think they should have the classes in middle school too. You have no idea how many people lost their v cards in middle school.
I don't want to have sex when I'm in high school, but that's me. That's the point. It's MY decision, and it won't affect you or any other teenager. I'm Catholic, but I believe that birth control should and NEEDS to be taught, because what some people believe is not what should affect other people. Whenever I start to become sexually active, whether it's when I'm married or just an adult, I want to not get STDs or gain an unwanted pregnancy. You should have the knowledge even if you don't plan on using it, because everyone deserves to know what to do if they choose to start having sex. I'm in eighth grade, and later in the year I'll take a health class, where they begin to talk about safe sex. I'm not looking forward to the awkwardness, but we all need to know. Abstinence and contraception are the key.
Ok, rereading that I realize that it's a very long rant. If you read that whole thing, you get a virtual cookie :D!