Michael, mating is instinctual behavior in sexually mature individuals, and fifteen-year-olds are physically mature. To believe that educating them about what their choices are, instead of keeping them ignorant, will prevent pregnancy is illogical to me when you are trying to circumvent strong instincts.
Sex education grapples with ignorance--of pregnancy and AIDS. Did you know that a significant number of teenage girls in America who were interviewed, believe you cannot get pregnant the first time you have sex? I would much rather take my chances with my own child knowing the facts, and then making hopefully educated decisions. And if she does decide to become sexually active, the chances of her dying some sort of grisly death from AIDS are much less reduced.
In California, parents definitely sign a waiver if they want their children not to have sex education in school. And I know that in California, much of the sex edcuation curriculum is focused on saying no effectively, and on teaching self-respect so that girls feel comfortable saying no. I have a hard time believing sex education is mandatory in other states. Can anyone answer this question?
Actually, handing out condoms does prevent teenage pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases as well.
You said "I want to pretend that the young adults from the Bible belts don't also have this problem." I think pretending that keeping children ignorant is going to keep them abstinent is just that--pretending. I don't believe that in this situation, ignorance is anything but ignorance. And for the children who are not lucky enough to have strong family moral guidance, sex edcuation may be their only hope of knowing enough to make good decisions in their lives.
Who are you to deprive children of this?
Christine |
