"abstinence-only" Just what kind of "education" is "ignorance"?!?

Question

"This type of sex education promotes sexual abstinence until marriage and EITHER COMPLETELY AVOIDS any discussion about the use of contraceptives, or only reveals failure rates associated with such use."
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstinence-only )
That's how, GeriGeri.

[oh, emphasis is mine in that quote.]

Answer 1

As a high school teacher, I believe students will abstain from sex if they have good reasons for doing so. It is our job as adults, and that includes parents of course, to educate children about the reasons NOT to have sex.

My students seemed to know all about condoms and birth control pills. What they don't realize is that they send unwanted messages everytime they have random sex. "I'm not trustworthy" "I'm impulsive" "I don't respect myself"

The students who felt comfortable sometimes shared their "virginity status" in class (health and biology). There is an overwhelmingly positive response to students who admit they don't have sex. Peers respect that.

Answer 2

The problem with the way sex education is taught in many places is that it sends a mixed message: "You shouldn't do it, but here's how to do it safely." Children are not dumb, and they can see that people who say things like that are just paying lip service and they really are expected to do it. At least abstinence only education doesn't send a mixed message.

The ideal situation is if parents teach their kids what to do at home, but many people are either not equipped to teach them properly, or are afraid to teach them and put the responsibility off onto the school. Unfortunately this means that the kids get inappropriate information from their friends and don't have good teachings from their parents to fall back on. It's a sad situation.

Answer 3

I think you know, and that's why it's been so unsuccessful.

In fact, where abstinence is taught as the only method of birth-control, pregnancy rates are higher than where responsible methods of sex education and birth-control are taught.

Answer 4

How is teaching abstinence the same thing as allowing ignorance? Your question makes no sense.

Answer 5

I totally agree. I see the results in the classrooms all the time. When I taught health we were restricted in what we could teach.

Answer 6

well the government say ignorance is bliss. I say its better to be ignorant than be stupid. To be ignorant means you still have a chance to learn, whereas to be stupid means you dont want to learn.

Answer 7

It's what the ostrich said to the baby ostrich