Do students want or need to be taught about sex by the state from a religious perspective?

Question

Unfortunately, that is the only kind of sex education program that the federal government will help fund, indicating that the government has decided that it's the only kind that will work.

Answer 1

Yep, that's the only kind allowed here in Texas, and has been for some time.

By some strange coincidence, my county ALSO leads the nation in teen pregnancies. We were #1 for a long time (woohoo) now we're #2 or #3.

Apparently, the failure rate for abstinence is a LOT higher than it is for condoms. But we're not allowed to mention those.

Answer 2

Where are you getting your information. In our local high school, students are taught about sex in the same way that they are taught about any other biological science...along with some social issues...such as preventing unwanted pregnancies, diseases etc. Yes, the recommendation is abstinance before marriage...but it has nothing to do with religion...it is for health and safety as well as social benefits. Don't you think it is time that young people begin to realize that just because something makes you feel good doesn't mean it is okay to do...whether it be sex, drugs, alcohol, gang activities, driving a hundred miles per hour or whatever? They constantly harp about wanting to be treated as adults...but they behave like selfish children....I want it...therefore I should get it.
Personally, I would like to see the old getting kicked in the behind by the teacher when you smart mouth them like it was when I was young. Today's teachers are terrified of the students and of the administration both. The last time I walked through the halls of our local high school, I saw a half dozen couples making out in the hallway between classes. I may be old fashioned and I know my generation was not perfect either...but I am getting really sick and tired of hearing how abused our younger generation think they are because we ask something of them.
I also know that what I have said does not apply to ALL young people. There are some really responsible kids out there...and they do a lot of good...but unfortunately they are getting fewer and farther between.

Answer 3

I think students should be taught abstinence first and that if you do have sex, use condoms.
However, its the parents responsibility to bring their child up the right way in matters of sex.
Many parents are upset that schools are teaching stuff that their child is not ready for.
Why not compromise, have students get permission from their parents to be taught about sex ed.
That way everybody is a winner.
God Bless

Answer 4

Aside from personal and public health issues (which should be taught in a Health or Biology class) the state should not be teaching about sex. The State should be teaching Reading, Writing, and Arithmatic at the elementary level, along with a second language and a bit of physical acitvity and music/art/shop. With the exception of good citizenship these children should not be burdened with a lot of subjective topics, so religions, sex and political science need not be taught. Requireing children at any age to "volunteer" for credit or a grade is quite a perverse concept, therefore should absolutly be dropped from all curricula.
Critical Thinking in high school should be paramount, taught under the guise of History, Government, Biology and the hard sciences, and any other topic that imparts knowledge along with the ability to think. Areas of subjective content shoud be included, although labled, foot-noted, and disclaimed though-out. Extra-curricular activities should be just that - secondary to academics, therefore limited in number (per student) and time spent. (Fixed bedtime, curfews and home study time should also be required, but that's another discussion.)
Any topic goes in college, although the professors should be unequvilently non-partican and able to leave their religious beliefs at home. Ironically, Universities offer Women's and Black studies programs while requiring all students to take several "diversity" and "multi-culture" classes. While universities should be places of free thought and press and creative expression, professors must be reined in and required to identify statements or studies that are merely subjective (unusally of their own opinion) and in these areas present more than one position. As an aside: aside from mathematics, a professor should not be allowed to require students to buy text books authored by him or her.
So, going back to the original question, my answer is an unequivocal NO for grade-schoolers, because: 1) they have already been exposed to so much "sex" that they are confused about it, 2) it is highly subjective - save for the health issues, 3) most of our public education teachers do not differentiate between personal thoughts/feelings and fact in the classroom, and 4) "sex" is a physical act that should not be separated from "loving" and "family", which I do not believe can be taught academically and must be lived and learned as a portion of family life. (Yes, divorced and single moms can teach the subject.)
Between television and their peers, no teen is unaware of contraception techniques, so I feel they should receive but one or two 40 - 50 minute class sessions (probably at the eighth or ninths-grade level) on contraception, soley to dispell myths about contraception / pregnancy.
No school can instill the values needed to prevent kids from having sex, so it is imperative of the family to teach their girls how to not become pregnant, and their boys also. How the family does so, whether by example and discussion, vigilence, threats or the Bible, is also their right and it alright. It just must be done, apparently more frequently than it has been in the last few decades.
Whatever we do regarding "sex" is just not enough, which is why the state is stepping in. Infants born to single girl- children became an epidemic during the 1990s, where in one year roughly 20% of live births were to females younger than the age of 20, a large percentage of whom were not married. This trend is reversing itself yet has a long way to go. Even if teenage pregnancies get to an acceptable level, who has ever heard of the government getting out of an area thy had only recently claimed? We can only fight for our freedoms.

I earned a bachelor degree when I was 40, am now just one class and one paper from a master degee, so I am deeply aware of public learing institutes and policy. I'm a right-to-lifer, for the most part. I raised two children and have been closely involved in raising neices and their children. I am a Republican precint committe(wo)man, have no church affiliation but do say that my religion is of the Judeo/Christian tradition.
In spite of these credentials, all statements are expressions of my opinions alone.

Good luck tilting at the state, but in the meantime, teach your child(ren) well.

MO 677

Answer 5

I don't think so. Sex education isn't just about the Holy Ramifications of having sex. There's also disease and physical problems and an overcrowded adoption system. You can't tell kids they can't do something, they'll just go do it. If you show them all the negatives, it helps them make an informed decision and if they decide to have sex, at least they'll protect themselves.

Answer 6

It's confusing. I hear all sorts of things. Like schools will not teach abstinence, schools are handing out condoms, schools are teaching homosexuality, then I hear things like this. I think parents should be teaching their own children about sex, not leaving it up to the state. Let's start taking some responsibility back into our hands.

Answer 7

Really? If that's the case - it's completely wrong. Could you please provide a reference for this because I almost can't believe it. If my child was enrolled in public school and that's what their sex ed class consisted of - I would pull my child out of that class, go buy biology textbooks, and teach my child reality myself. Not that I'm saying parents shouldn't do this anyway - but I refuse to allow the public education system dumb down my kids, or my nieces and nephews. If any of them want the truth of sex - I'd tell them what they wanted to know in a heartbeat. I'd rather them be SAFE (contraceptions, STDs) and know about their bodies (ejaculation, menstruation, urges etc...).

Answer 8

I was a teenage mother (pregnant At15). My son is now 12. I think that along with abstinence Birth control should be taught. We also need to teach take it is not what everyone is doing. Seriously we need self esteem motivators to work with our kids.

Answer 9

Nothing in public schools should be taught from a religious perspective. Since the average religious activist who cares about sex education, when asked how much should be taught, would probably say, "As little as possible," I wouldn't want one of them in charge.

Kids need to learn about safe methods and such.

Answer 10

Don't know about your sex ed. But our included all sorts of forms of Birth Control.

Abstinence
Condoms
Pill
Diaphragm
and many others.

All were looked at pro and con as far as contreception as well as help with STD's.

Certainly wouldn't have called it religious, but it was pretty comprehensive.