Comprehensive Sex Education

[TeePee4Prez]

There is one noticeably disturbing trend in Northeast Philadelphia. The high amount of preganacies in Catholic high school girls compared to their suburban counterparts. The statistics in some of these schools is staggering. Someone at one of the schools told me that 76 Senior girls were prego or have a kid. That is A LOT. My younger sister at her all-girls Catholic school told me the same thing. The reason I think this happens is due to the fact the Catholic Schools themselves teach Abstinence until marriage only. I wonder why people are so dead set against this concept of comprehensive sex ed?

I should also mention that one of my fellow Northeast Dems was canvassing in Mayfair for Tim Kearney. He came across a house with an "Open the Doors to Christ' sign. The woman outright said to my friend she will never vote for a Democrat because they're pro-choice. She further stated she is liek that because her daughter got pregnant at 17 and told her to keep the baby or she would kick her out of the house.

It's amazing why certain people think like this. Any thoughts?  Now Keystone I would like a detailed intelligent answer if you were to give one besides what your Theology teacher told you to regurgitate or the harcore Republican "keep your legs closed or it's her fault" answer. 

[Gabu]

The main problem that I have with abstinence-only sexual "education" is that it blatantly disregards reality in lieu of what the teacher wants to believe reality is.  The reality is that if you tell people not to do something, then that will probably only make them even more likely to do it.  A much more realistic approach to it is what we do here in British Columbia for sexual education: we say that abstinence is the only way to be 100% sure nothing bad will happen, which is true, but since we recognize that that's not very likely, we also tell the students what all of their other options are and then leave it up to them.

Personally, I feel that the abstinence-only approach insults the intelligence of the students receiving the information.  They're old enough to make choices in life; it's silly to just tell them not to have sex because it's bad and then expect them to obey.

[NYGOP]

Public schools teach abstinence as well, so the "private all-girls Catholic school" thing doesn't come into play at all.

[TeePee4Prez]

Public schools teach abstinence as well, so the "private all-girls Catholic school" thing doesn't come into play at all.

You sure?  i think the uses of contraceptives versus tell us it's evil are a HUGE difference.

[Akno21]

I think that in general, all teachers and administrators everywhere in every school need to realize that the students are mature enough to be educated fully on the topic, and that "protecting" them from the knowledge until they are "ready" does not help matters, it only makes students clueless on important issues that effect them more than most other stuff they will learn in school.

[opebo]

The 'abstinence only' movement is just an attempt to assert theocratic control.  It leads, as you point out, to a great deal of suffering.

[NYGOP]

Public schools teach abstinence as well, so the "private all-girls Catholic school" thing doesn't come into play at all.

You sure?  i think the uses of contraceptives versus tell us it's evil are a HUGE difference.

I am sure. I am a teacher. I know the health curriculum at my school is very pro-abstinence.

I think that it's up to the parents to decide whether or not to preach the gospel of condoms, not a matter for schools to deal with.

This is a great example of why the school system in this country should be privatized.

[TeePee4Prez]

Well not all parents have their heads screwed on stragiht as well.

[NYGOP]

Well not all parents have their heads screwed on stragiht as well.

That's not the school's or other children's fault. Many children are definately not ready for sex education in the fifth grade.

[TeePee4Prez]

Well not all parents have their heads screwed on stragiht as well.

That's not the school's or other children's fault. Many children are definately not ready for sex education in the fifth grade.

5th grade is tto early.  I'd say 9th.

[A18]

Sex Ed is stupid. Abolish the whole concept.

[DanielX]

The answer, in my opinion? no sex ed in public schools beyond what you might learn in biology class, save maybe an elective. It's not crucial either way.

My opinion: schools should focus on the basics - a core of Language Arts(Reading and Writing), Math, Hard Science (Physical and natural), and Social Sciences (History and Government), along with electives to allow students to choose what they want, or for their parents to choose (for earlier grades), such as Business/Computer Science, Art and Music, and vocational skills.

Many schools in the US cannot really teach kids how to read, write, or do basic math. Many are unsafe environments to learn in. Those a far more pressing issue than sex ed.

Really, public schools with thousands of kids aren't a good way to go about with education. The ideal would be a private-school/home-school hybrid system, with heavy parent involvement with small local schools with maybe 30-50 kids. Unfortunately, it would require a lot of stay-at-home parents, and would not be tenable in very poor neighborhoods, whose educational systems are generally the most screwed up.

[ilikeverin]

Well not all parents have their heads screwed on stragiht as well.

That's not the school's or other children's fault. Many children are definately not ready for sex education in the fifth grade.

5th grade is tto early.  I'd say 9th.

What?  We started in 4th.

Teach abstinence as the only completely, totally, foolproof form of birth control.  That works

[nclib]

Abstinence-only sex-education is wrong for a number of reasons, and doesn't even work.

Comprehensive sexuality would reduce the need for abortions, yet is opposed by most pro-lifers.

[Keystone Phil]

It's amazing why certain people think like this. Any thoughts?  Now Keystone I would like a detailed intelligent answer if you were to give one besides what your Theology teacher told you to regurgitate or the harcore Republican "keep your legs closed or it's her fault" answer. 

This is where you throw the chances of a mature debate out the window. How many times must I say it (or are you just afraid to accept what I believe?) My religion teachers don't define what I believe. I think you have to accept that I believe what I believe or I cannot have a debate with you. Yes, young conservatives do still exist in Northeast Philadelphia and it's not because  their religion teachers "brainwash" them. Get over it!

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

We need to be more sexually open.  Sex isn't a joke, and people need to learn that early, so any decision they make will lead to no harm. 

[opebo]

We need to be more sexually open.  

Right on!  The US is so comically repressed that we're the laughingstock of the civilized world.

[Vincent]

There is one noticeably disturbing trend in Northeast Philadelphia. The high amount of preganacies in Catholic high school girls compared to their suburban counterparts. The statistics in some of these schools is staggering. Someone at one of the schools told me that 76 Senior girls were prego or have a kid. That is A LOT. My younger sister at her all-girls Catholic school told me the same thing. The reason I think this happens is due to the fact the Catholic Schools themselves teach Abstinence until marriage only. I wonder why people are so dead set against this concept of comprehensive sex ed?

I should also mention that one of my fellow Northeast Dems was canvassing in Mayfair for Tim Kearney. He came across a house with an "Open the Doors to Christ' sign. The woman outright said to my friend she will never vote for a Democrat because they're pro-choice. She further stated she is liek that because her daughter got pregnant at 17 and told her to keep the baby or she would kick her out of the house.

It's amazing why certain people think like this. Any thoughts?  Now Keystone I would like a detailed intelligent answer if you were to give one besides what your Theology teacher told you to regurgitate or the harcore Republican "keep your legs closed or it's her fault" answer. 

Ive always wondered about higher pregnancy rates that come with a lack of formalized sex education at school. I know it seems simple enough, teach them and they will know. If you dont teach them they will remain ignorant. However, I Knew about condoms and the pill from OUTSIDE of my sex education classes in school. I just learned about them growing up, by talking to friends and observing the media. So my basic question is.
Do these kids seriously not know about the pill or about condoms? Do they not watch tv or talk about extensively about sex with their friends?
I mean it just seems like common knowledge to me, with or without sex education.

[AuH2O]

Well, I think a lot of factors involved.

For the record, Americans have more sex, younger, than Europeans. It's not even close. I mean, we're talking a gap of a couple YEARS in average age for sexual activity beginning.

So, something is up. The Europeans are more open about sex (in most places) but have a lot less sex.

Japanese people have a whole let less sex than Europeans. I'm not sure how to classify their "openness."

I also think there is a lot of variation within the US based on demographic factors, so it's not so simple as national averages.

[TeePee4Prez]

We need to be more sexually open.  

Right on!  The US is so comically repressed that we're the laughingstock of the civilized world.

I agree with that.

[Bono]

There is one noticeably disturbing trend in Northeast Philadelphia. The high amount of preganacies in Catholic high school girls compared to their suburban counterparts. The statistics in some of these schools is staggering. Someone at one of the schools told me that 76 Senior girls were prego or have a kid. That is A LOT. My younger sister at her all-girls Catholic school told me the same thing. The reason I think this happens is due to the fact the Catholic Schools themselves teach Abstinence until marriage only. I wonder why people are so dead set against this concept of comprehensive sex ed?

I should also mention that one of my fellow Northeast Dems was canvassing in Mayfair for Tim Kearney. He came across a house with an "Open the Doors to Christ' sign. The woman outright said to my friend she will never vote for a Democrat because they're pro-choice. She further stated she is liek that because her daughter got pregnant at 17 and told her to keep the baby or she would kick her out of the house.

It's amazing why certain people think like this. Any thoughts?  Now Keystone I would like a detailed intelligent answer if you were to give one besides what your Theology teacher told you to regurgitate or the harcore Republican "keep your legs closed or it's her fault" answer. 

Ive always wondered about higher pregnancy rates that come with a lack of formalized sex education at school. I know it seems simple enough, teach them and they will know. If you dont teach them they will remain ignorant. However, I Knew about condoms and the pill from OUTSIDE of my sex education classes in school. I just learned about them growing up, by talking to friends and observing the media. So my basic question is.
Do these kids seriously not know about the pill or about condoms? Do they not watch tv or talk about extensively about sex with their friends?
I mean it just seems like common knowledge to me, with or without sex education.

Post of the day.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

There is one noticeably disturbing trend in Northeast Philadelphia. The high amount of preganacies in Catholic high school girls compared to their suburban counterparts. The statistics in some of these schools is staggering. Someone at one of the schools told me that 76 Senior girls were prego or have a kid. That is A LOT. My younger sister at her all-girls Catholic school told me the same thing. The reason I think this happens is due to the fact the Catholic Schools themselves teach Abstinence until marriage only. I wonder why people are so dead set against this concept of comprehensive sex ed?

I should also mention that one of my fellow Northeast Dems was canvassing in Mayfair for Tim Kearney. He came across a house with an "Open the Doors to Christ' sign. The woman outright said to my friend she will never vote for a Democrat because they're pro-choice. She further stated she is liek that because her daughter got pregnant at 17 and told her to keep the baby or she would kick her out of the house.

It's amazing why certain people think like this. Any thoughts?  Now Keystone I would like a detailed intelligent answer if you were to give one besides what your Theology teacher told you to regurgitate or the harcore Republican "keep your legs closed or it's her fault" answer. 

Ive always wondered about higher pregnancy rates that come with a lack of formalized sex education at school. I know it seems simple enough, teach them and they will know. If you dont teach them they will remain ignorant. However, I Knew about condoms and the pill from OUTSIDE of my sex education classes in school. I just learned about them growing up, by talking to friends and observing the media. So my basic question is.
Do these kids seriously not know about the pill or about condoms? Do they not watch tv or talk about extensively about sex with their friends?
I mean it just seems like common knowledge to me, with or without sex education.

At my school, we've all known about sex since the 5th grade, had sex ed in 7th and 8th grade.  Have bad things happened?  Well, I think 2 pregnancies in our entire school system in the last decade.  Any kind of STD problem?  No, I don't think any more than a few cases , and they weren't that serious.  AIDS?  Hell No.  I think the worst we've had is some people get mono (the kissing disease).  It's obvious, better understanding of sex leaves everyone better off, because despite not being experienced, we know what we're doing!  This country's puritan additude on sex is extremely destructive. 

[Dr. Cynic]

I agree we need to be more open and honest about sex. Like me for example. After a recent physical examination, I was told I'm sterile. My salmon don't swim upstream, LOL. Was that too much info for you people? LOL.

[Vincent]

There is one noticeably disturbing trend in Northeast Philadelphia. The high amount of preganacies in Catholic high school girls compared to their suburban counterparts. The statistics in some of these schools is staggering. Someone at one of the schools told me that 76 Senior girls were prego or have a kid. That is A LOT. My younger sister at her all-girls Catholic school told me the same thing. The reason I think this happens is due to the fact the Catholic Schools themselves teach Abstinence until marriage only. I wonder why people are so dead set against this concept of comprehensive sex ed?

I should also mention that one of my fellow Northeast Dems was canvassing in Mayfair for Tim Kearney. He came across a house with an "Open the Doors to Christ' sign. The woman outright said to my friend she will never vote for a Democrat because they're pro-choice. She further stated she is liek that because her daughter got pregnant at 17 and told her to keep the baby or she would kick her out of the house.

It's amazing why certain people think like this. Any thoughts?  Now Keystone I would like a detailed intelligent answer if you were to give one besides what your Theology teacher told you to regurgitate or the harcore Republican "keep your legs closed or it's her fault" answer. 

Ive always wondered about higher pregnancy rates that come with a lack of formalized sex education at school. I know it seems simple enough, teach them and they will know. If you dont teach them they will remain ignorant. However, I Knew about condoms and the pill from OUTSIDE of my sex education classes in school. I just learned about them growing up, by talking to friends and observing the media. So my basic question is.
Do these kids seriously not know about the pill or about condoms? Do they not watch tv or talk about extensively about sex with their friends?
I mean it just seems like common knowledge to me, with or without sex education.

At my school, we've all known about sex since the 5th grade, had sex ed in 7th and 8th grade.  Have bad things happened?  Well, I think 2 pregnancies in our entire school system in the last decade.  Any kind of STD problem?  No, I don't think any more than a few cases , and they weren't that serious.  AIDS?  Hell No.  I think the worst we've had is some people get mono (the kissing disease).  It's obvious, better understanding of sex leaves everyone better off, because despite not being experienced, we know what we're doing!  This country's puritan additude on sex is extremely destructive. 

Dont get me wrong, I have no objection to sex education. I was just wondering why people wernt learning about it outside of class.

[ilikeverin]

There is one noticeably disturbing trend in Northeast Philadelphia. The high amount of preganacies in Catholic high school girls compared to their suburban counterparts. The statistics in some of these schools is staggering. Someone at one of the schools told me that 76 Senior girls were prego or have a kid. That is A LOT. My younger sister at her all-girls Catholic school told me the same thing. The reason I think this happens is due to the fact the Catholic Schools themselves teach Abstinence until marriage only. I wonder why people are so dead set against this concept of comprehensive sex ed?

I should also mention that one of my fellow Northeast Dems was canvassing in Mayfair for Tim Kearney. He came across a house with an "Open the Doors to Christ' sign. The woman outright said to my friend she will never vote for a Democrat because they're pro-choice. She further stated she is liek that because her daughter got pregnant at 17 and told her to keep the baby or she would kick her out of the house.

It's amazing why certain people think like this. Any thoughts?  Now Keystone I would like a detailed intelligent answer if you were to give one besides what your Theology teacher told you to regurgitate or the harcore Republican "keep your legs closed or it's her fault" answer. 

Ive always wondered about higher pregnancy rates that come with a lack of formalized sex education at school. I know it seems simple enough, teach them and they will know. If you dont teach them they will remain ignorant. However, I Knew about condoms and the pill from OUTSIDE of my sex education classes in school. I just learned about them growing up, by talking to friends and observing the media. So my basic question is.
Do these kids seriously not know about the pill or about condoms? Do they not watch tv or talk about extensively about sex with their friends?
I mean it just seems like common knowledge to me, with or without sex education.

At my school, we've all known about sex since the 5th grade, had sex ed in 7th and 8th grade.  Have bad things happened?  Well, I think 2 pregnancies in our entire school system in the last decade.  Any kind of STD problem?  No, I don't think any more than a few cases , and they weren't that serious.  AIDS?  Hell No.  I think the worst we've had is some people get mono (the kissing disease).  It's obvious, better understanding of sex leaves everyone better off, because despite not being experienced, we know what we're doing!  This country's puritan additude on sex is extremely destructive. 

Dont get me wrong, I have no objection to sex education. I was just wondering why people wernt learning about it outside of class.

Just because you learn about it doesn't mean you actually learn it.