Sex education US-style: don't do it

[CShine]

Sex education in US schools has taken on new meaning. Teachers at institutions that accept government money must advocate abstinence until marriage as the only certain way to prevent unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Teachers must also avoid any mention of contraception, except to point out the failure rates of various methods.

But experts who have spent decades studying teenage sexual activity have gathered ample evidence to refute the basic premise of abstinence-only sex education. They say it is not adequate to protect youngsters from unwanted pregnancies and disease.

"There is nothing in any peer-reviewed scientific journal to suggest that teaching abstinence-only is effective in getting teens to delay sexual activity," said Cynthia Dailard, a lawyer at the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit organisation devoted to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In contrast, she said, evidence shows that sex education promoting abstinence, but also giving contraception information for those who do not remain abstinent, does delay the start of sexual activity and reduces teenage pregnancies and disease. If teenagers are given no information about birth control, or only negative information, the studies indicate they are less likely to use any method of protection, and are more likely to become pregnant or get a sexual disease than are teenagers who are well informed about condoms and other contraceptive options.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/01/1086058854941.html?from=storylhs

[HEyHEY]

1. Saw this earlier

Seriously...do people forget why they stopped teaching it that way in the first palce? IT DIDN'T FUCKING WORK

[specter]

2. What part

of bama are u from?? Im from Foley

[Democat]

3. Bush is trying to send Americans back to the dark ages

The people don't need knowledge, Americans are better off stupid in Bush's view of the world.

[booksenkatz]

4. Huh?

...marriage as the only certain way to prevent unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases...

SINCE WHEN??? I had no idea that a piece of paper issued by the government could do that! All this time I thought that married people could contract STD's and experience unwanted pregnancies, but obviously I was wrong. I'm married and I don't want to have any more children, so heck, I guess I'll stop buying contraceptives! Now I'll be able to afford gasoline.
:wtf: