Over the past few years there has been discussion and debate about what form of sex education should be taught to our public school students. Should there be an Abstinence only program that only talks about abstinence and nothing else is an option or a Comprehensive Abstinence program that encourages abstinence but also teaches students about protection? In the 70's and 80's the media started to show "sex education" as abstinence only and saving yourself for marriage. The thought of saving yourself for marriage was never really discussed before this. The Abstinence only programs really came of age in the 1990's. It began with the Welfare reform act 1996, which dedicated $50 million in grants to the abstinence only programs annually. 2 The programs could only be based on abstinence until marriage, with no other options. During Bush's term in office the program funding jumped from $50 million to $200 million in 2007 (Congress Budget Office). And people were ok with that, after all the U.S. did have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the
developed world. 2Abstinence only programs focus on teaching students that abstaining from sex until marriage is the best choice to ensure protection against HIV, STDs, STIs, and teen pregnancy. Abstinence is taught as being the best option for greater sexual health. Supporters of this program believe that it is morally wrong for sex before marriage, so morals come into play greatly with this program and are pushed upon by the teachers to relay that message to the students. 1 What is taught in this program? Well here is a closer look into it:
- Abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage (this is the expected standard for all school-age children)
- Abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems
- A mutually faithful, monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of sexual activity
- Sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects
- Bearing children out of wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and society
- How to reject sexual advances and that alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances
- The importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity
(these were given by the Federal Law of the United States) 1
Though recent studies have shown that abstinence only programs and comprehensive abstinence programs have shown no really effect on sexual relationships between teens proponents for abstinence only have looked towards teen pregancies. According the National Survey of Family Growth, "have fallen from 117 births per 1,000 females in 1990 to 76 per 1,000 in 2002." 3
Abstinence only programs are more for a faith based curriculum. The morals of society and what this country was founded on was religion and in almost all religions being represented in the United States promote abstinence until marriage. So ofcourse republicans and conservatives a like will vote and advocate towards abstinence only, even though stats have proven to us that either way teenagers will still have sex (no matter what you tell them, they choose to do what they want with their bodies). The importance of abstinence only programs have grown attention from AIDS/HIV and STD out breaks, the more and more teen parents out there, and how vulgar teenage television has become. Policy makers towards abstince programs try to reduce these numbers of teen outbreaks and provide personal responsibility and enduring marital commitment.
A study done by Pediatrics magazine found that boys, between the ages 12 through 16, that are sexually active are 4 times more likely to smoke and 6 times more likely to use alcohol than are those who describe themselves as virgins. Girls in this same age group, who are sexually active are 7 times more likely to smoke and 10 times more likely to use marijuana than are those who are virgins. That means that not only is sex a risky behavior before marriage but it also can lead into even riskier health behavior. Abstince is the only way to prevent this behavior from forming. 4
more to come...
No comments:
Post a Comment