Shock News: Abstinence-Only Education Doesn't Work

[Aemilius Paulus]

From memory there has been plenty of evidence for this for years, but certain groups of people don't like pesky thing like evidence and facts, so the failure continues.....

Aww, c'mon - everyone hates facts when they do not go their way. Do not blame the Republicans. I am no Republican, but still, there is no need to slander them - they have already screwed up enough without this additional allegation.

But yes, the facts were always there. In that respect, you are correct.

[Meneldil]

It's quite crazy that some US states prefer to teach abstinence rather than how to use a condom and have sex safely. Once again, I'm speechless.

[Aemilius Paulus]

It's quite crazy that some US states prefer to teach abstinence rather than how to use a condom and have sex safely. Once again, I'm speechless.

Then you must be mute , as this is but one of the minor illogical transgressions the human governments decree... Even now, in developed nations such as US.

[KukriKhan]

Raise your hand if you're surprised.

I'm shocked - shocked, I say. We tell teens the bad things that can happen, and they do it anyway?

Next you'll tell me the earth is round.

[Lemur]

Do not blame the Republicans.

Nobody but you has even mentioned them in this thread. Texas, for example, trends Republican, but the Austin are is solidly Dem. Abstinence-only edumucation is a sufficient exercise in stupidity without dragging any political parties into it.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

And for my next thread, I'll talk about global warming and how "certain groups of people hate evidence and facts", without bringing the republicans into it at all.

[Lemur]

Ah, I see what you mean. Fair enough. And I guess it's patently obvious that abstinence-only education was championed by certain elements of the GOP.

I wuz wrong.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Abstinence-only isn't a very bright educational model.

It is valid to teach abstinence as the only method approved by most Christian denominations (actually most of the religions hew to this if I recall correctly) and as a method which virtually guarantees you cannot become pregnant, impregnate someone, or contract a STD.

However, denying other information is simply poor education.

I loathe Marxism and believe it to be moribund intellectually, but wouldn't advocate removing it from the curriculum.


Kadagar:

Your tone with issues in this vein always makes me think that your version of Sex Education would involve instruction and demonstration in proper foreplay techniques etc.

I'm probably reading too much into this.

[Idaho]

The US has a really messed up view of s3x. The biggest producer and consumer of pr0n in the world and yet you tell your children that s3x is bad and dangerous and dirty.

I don't think s3x is bad and dangerous and dirty, so why on earth would I tell my children that?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The US has a really messed up view of s3x. The biggest producer and consumer of pr0n in the world and yet you tell your children that s3x is bad and dangerous and dirty.

I don't think s3x is bad and dangerous and dirty, so why on earth would I tell my children that?

Anything associated with disease is historically considered dirty, we evolved an innate psychological mechanism for such purpose. Soil, feces, urine, spit, vomit. Teaching kids about std's feeds into that.

I'm sure in England there is nothing taboo about it. You all probably chit chat about the details with your grandmother, hmm?

[Idaho]

Kadagar:

Your tone with issues in this vein always makes me think that your version of Sex Education would involve instruction and demonstration in proper foreplay techniques etc.

I'm probably reading too much into this.

Why not? For the right age group, in the right setting. Why not?

[Banquo's Ghost]

It is valid to teach abstinence as the only method approved by most Christian denominations (actually most of the religions hew to this if I recall correctly) and as a method which virtually guarantees you cannot become pregnant, impregnate someone, or contract a STD.

Only a good Catholic could write that in the sure knowledge there is a precedent.

[Kadagar_AV]

Kadagar:

Your tone with issues in this vein always makes me think that your version of Sex Education would involve instruction and demonstration in proper foreplay techniques etc.

I'm probably reading too much into this.

Interesting... What I wrote was:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

maybe if the kids were taught to put on the condoms right instead of abstinence there would be fewer cases [of teenage pregnancies]?

also, in sweden girls start using pills when they are around 15, so teenage pregnancy is rare there.

abstinence never worked, never will (never should).

Yeah, I'd say you might have read too much into what I wrote. It's not like I suggested we'd let a bartender / ski instructor girl (or a gay) show the kids how to properly put on a condom using their mouth only, is it?

You are not all wrong though, proper foreplay techniques is part of European sex education (at least scandinavian ones). Covered in biology classes... Might be good for young boys to know that there are other "buttons" than those found on a keyboard.

Might also be a good thing to explain that girls need some warm up before you go, for it to feel good for her. No. 1 complaint about american males is that they are rubbish at foreplays. This they have together with arabic males, and males from other countries who basicly have no idea how a females body works.

So instruction, yeah. Demonstration though... Dont involve me in your fantasies.

[Azathoth]

Abortion is not a "quick fix" to these things. Most women who go through it are quite traumatised, and it can lead to infertility if done repeatedly, not to mention other complications.

Such things should not be entered into lightly.

My grandma had 3 abortions between 2 kids.

[Gregoshi]

You are not all wrong though, proper foreplay techniques is part of European sex education (at least scandinavian ones)...

Well, in the World's Worst Lovers thread, the Swedes ranked in the bottom 10 due to being "too quick". Seems there is some room for improvement in your sex education program. A quickie course on sex just won't due.