Yes, kids learn about sex early from a variety of sources, but they don't necessarily learn the truth, or how to properly use birth control, identify STDs, etc.
Abstinence sex ed shows promising trends
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Some probably don't, scooterbug44. Many do, however.
My guess is that if a parent nor a school teacher/adult figure ever mentioned condoms, the children/teens would know about this method. I'd be willing to bet that they aren't considering using them for storage devices either.......(sorry, couldn't resist).
If there is something funky down there, they are identifying that something is....well, funky.
My guess is that if a parent nor a school teacher/adult figure ever mentioned condoms, the children/teens would know about this method. I'd be willing to bet that they aren't considering using them for storage devices either.......(sorry, couldn't resist).
If there is something funky down there, they are identifying that something is....well, funky.
A great deal of misinformation exists - virgins can't get pregnant, you won't get pregnant if you're female and on top, you can't catch a STD from someone you know or who is clean, you only have to worry about STDs when having full-on sex etc.
Kids know a ton of innuendo, jokes, slang, where to see porn, but not a lot of basic facts about health and birth control - not surprising when you consider the sources of most of their info.
Kids know a ton of innuendo, jokes, slang, where to see porn, but not a lot of basic facts about health and birth control - not surprising when you consider the sources of most of their info.
Yep - I remember the, "You won't/can't get pregnant the first time!" Then, sweating it out!
The worst STD for us that we considered was the gift that keeps on giving - herpes. Somehow, we knew the bacterial stuff had cures. Then, AIDS surfaced and that scared the be-hayzeus out of us.
None of this stopped us from learning on our own, however. And, I don't mean jumping in unprotected. I mean talking among ourselves and reading. Al Gore had not invented the internet at this time.
What are the demographics of teen pregnancies and STD's? Less urban? Not well-educated from a scholastic perspective?
The worst STD for us that we considered was the gift that keeps on giving - herpes. Somehow, we knew the bacterial stuff had cures. Then, AIDS surfaced and that scared the be-hayzeus out of us.
None of this stopped us from learning on our own, however. And, I don't mean jumping in unprotected. I mean talking among ourselves and reading. Al Gore had not invented the internet at this time.
What are the demographics of teen pregnancies and STD's? Less urban? Not well-educated from a scholastic perspective?
They should just show all the kids pictures of the boys and girls who were once considered the hot, studly, in and sexually active ones from days of yore, pictures of what they look now on Facebook. 
That would probably be enough to keep a majority of youth abstaining.
That would probably be enough to keep a majority of youth abstaining.
They should just show all the kids pictures of the boys and girls who were once considered the hot, studly, in and sexually active ones from days of yore, pictures of what they look now on Facebook.
I'll second that! :shock:
I don't really know exactly what the curriculum looks like now regarding sex education in schools. but I do know if you've waited til highschool to educate, you have waited too long.
I would prefer to have my young child taught the biological aspects of reproduction as part of biology/anatomy/science classes - that does not include the sex ed curriculum. Additionally, I would certainly not oppose having age-appropriate sex education enter into the curriculum in early middle school, or before (omg, these children are so grown by grade 5). Abstinence would certainly be one of the many options and considerations of the curriculum. But abstiinence on its own, or as a central focus? I don't know. in some ways, it seems like the age appropriate thing to teach - as long as they are given all the other facts and info. Children and teens need to know as much as they can be taught, given all the alternatives, and encouraged to open dialog with their parents. Abstinence education seems like a good idea as long as students are given the whole story.
Abstinence is also something our family teaches us, encourages us and expects us to follow. Sometimes it works well for some teens. but far more often than not, not. How do I know? because when I was growing up, we may have had basic sex ed at school, but our parents and churches preached abstinence until marriage. it was the only option given. it was really not all that effective in preventing pregnancy, SDTs or worse.
it was so simple when I was growing up: "if you have sex before marriage you will go to hell..." end of story. but somehow we knew that was a crock.
I would prefer to have my young child taught the biological aspects of reproduction as part of biology/anatomy/science classes - that does not include the sex ed curriculum. Additionally, I would certainly not oppose having age-appropriate sex education enter into the curriculum in early middle school, or before (omg, these children are so grown by grade 5). Abstinence would certainly be one of the many options and considerations of the curriculum. But abstiinence on its own, or as a central focus? I don't know. in some ways, it seems like the age appropriate thing to teach - as long as they are given all the other facts and info. Children and teens need to know as much as they can be taught, given all the alternatives, and encouraged to open dialog with their parents. Abstinence education seems like a good idea as long as students are given the whole story.
Abstinence is also something our family teaches us, encourages us and expects us to follow. Sometimes it works well for some teens. but far more often than not, not. How do I know? because when I was growing up, we may have had basic sex ed at school, but our parents and churches preached abstinence until marriage. it was the only option given. it was really not all that effective in preventing pregnancy, SDTs or worse.
it was so simple when I was growing up: "if you have sex before marriage you will go to hell..." end of story. but somehow we knew that was a crock.
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Has it really gotten to the point where 5th and 6th graders need this kind of education? I can't even imagine getting sex ed in 5th grade, I wasn't even thinking about girls yet as far as I can remember, my 'girlfriend' was just someone I held hands with occasionally during reccess. Amazing if that's changed, maybe it has something to do with all the hormones in our food.
I seem to remember the abstinence thing in church, but I'm sure I wasn't paying attention, to any of it.. I was still a kid, church was boring!
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Puberty is happening earlier and earlier in kids. It's no longer uncommon for a girl to get her first period in 5th grade.
the study on Abstinence Only is interesting. I don't like the implicatations this could have on the health of children and teens if they are taught only abstinence. but at first glance the study looks like the Abstinence Only group actually stayed abstinent significantly longer. so this is important to really look at. it can't be dismissed.
my money is on kids who are well educated on their body from early on in age-appropriate, science and sex ed curriculums.. such that by the time they are teens and are talking about sexual intercourse and everything that happens before, during and after... choices, consequences (burn in hell), it isn't such a big deal because they have always been exposed to science and sex ed.
kidding on the burn in hell consequence.
Should abstinence be part of the curriculum? of course! why wouldn't it be? we all want this for children, right? we all want them to be safe and be able to understand that sexual relationships are for later when our bodies and minds are mature enough to understand all the factors involved, and mature enough to make the right choices for themselves, protecting their health and avoiding unwanted pregancy. Kids/teens need to be armed with all the facts and info they can get - from early on. In this way, I believe abstinence can happen more and longer for mature teens and even young adults.
educated people (kids) make better choices for themselves.
what does the Abstinence Only study mean for schools? hopefully it means that this is one more tool that is effective and should be used in the curriculum. I'm all for it. Heck, we all are, aren't we? but we must also prepare for every other choice which will eventually be explored by our kids. comprehensive is key.
what is the standard out there in schools these days regarding sex ed for any / all grades?
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