Abstinence-Only Works; Who'da Thunk...

[WorkingOnIt]

Fantacy Chaser, I really don't mean to put this kid under a microscope, but I would really like to know that answer. It is SO unfair what they are doing to these kdis. They tell them to write an essay on why abstinence is best, then turn around and tell them what to do 'just in case you didn't learn anything from this class'.
Talk about a mixed message! Just what WAS it they were supposed to learn, anyway?
No wonder kdis are so screwed up. Thers's no right nor wrong. There's only what you FEEL.
How about let's go back to teaching them how to THINK!

[Dreamer]

Okay, no 'sex' per se, in "Twilight", but very strong sexual overtones. To quote:

I somehow don't think that's intended to lead the reader to think about math, or washing the car.

HAHAHAHAHA is that actually a quote from it????? That is... I have no words.

Dreamer:
Having enough respect for yourself and others to appreciate that there is a lot more to sex than an orgasm, or bragging rights, or being able to keep a guy, and being able to look at yourself in the mirror the next day. Or maybe better yet, your parents' eyes and still feel good about yourself.

The above would be a good start. Do they at least teach that much?

More or less, yeah.

How do they define "ready"? Really. I'd like to know. (Before I go further, please know that I'm not being sarcastic in any way. My kids have long since graduated h.s., and I'm serious about wanting to know what's being taught these days.) So, to go on... 'Ready' enough to accept the possibility - and responsibility - of bringing a child into the world? 'Ready' to face the possibility of having gonorrhea the rest of your life? 'Ready', as in this is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Or 'you'll just know'?

They don't define ready, as it changes from person to person. Their general message is "You're probably not ready yet, but if you're gonna have sex regardless of what we say, you should learn the consequences of not doing it safely." We had to do presentations on every STD and watch a video about teens with HIV/AIDs talking about how much they regretted being so careless. They definitely don't push premarital sex. They view it as something that will always be there, so they should do their best to give kids options that will let them avoid STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

<sigh> Then why bother with the essay?

Because they know that not everyone is going to abstain, and they think it's important that the kids who aren't going to, understand the risks and the measures of protection they should take.

[WorkingOnIt]

So, in short, it's a useless waste of time. Just as I thought.
"You might could oughta maybe want to start to think about what might could ought maybe happen". What a useless bunch of crock doing a MAJOR disservice to our teens.

And yes, that was an exact quote from "Twilight". I thought you said you'd read the book.

[Fantasy Chaser]

HAHAHAHAHA is that actually a quote from it????? That is... I have no words.

More or less, yeah.

1.They don't define ready, 2.as it changes from person to person. Their general message is "You're probably not ready yet, but if you're gonna have sex regardless of what we say, you should learn the consequences of not doing it safely." We had to do presentations on every STD and watch a video about teens with HIV/AIDs talking about how much they regretted being so careless. They definitely don't push premarital sex. They view it as something that will always be there, so they should do their best to give kids options that will let them avoid STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

3.Because they know that not everyone is going to abstain, and they think it's important that the kids who aren't going to, understand the risks and the measures of protection they should take.

1. Why am I not surprised.
2. How about: "Is there a wedding ring on your finger?"
3. Uhm, abstinence is the protective measure they should take. If they're not married, anything else is a fiasco.

[Fantasy Chaser]

Found this just this evening:

A new report by the International Planned Parenthood Federation is advocating that children as young as 10 be given extensive sex education, including an awareness of sex's pleasures.

The report, "Stand and Deliver," charges that religious groups, specifically Catholics and Muslims, deny their young access to comprehensive sexual programs and education.

"Young people's sexuality is still contentious for many religious institutions. Fundamentalist and other religious groups — the Catholic Church and madrasas (Islamic Schools) for example — have imposed tremendous barriers that prevent young people, particularly, from obtaining information and services related to sex and reproduction. Currently, many religious teachings deny the pleasurable and positive aspects of sex." the report states.

*snip*

"Young people have the right to be informed about sexuality and to have access to contraceptives and other services," Bert Koenders, the Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation, wrote in the foreword to the report. It was his organization that helped fund the report.

Says who?

"It is part of an effort to get children to reject traditional values and accept a liberal American-European view," he said. "In many traditional countries — Catholic and Muslim — it won't work and should be seen as cultural imperialism."

Mechmann also charged that Planned Parenthood's report was compromised because it has a financial stake advocating the changes. "The difference between Planned Parenthood and us is that we don't make money off what we teach and say. They do. They make money off contraceptives and abortions," he said.

Full article: Planned Parenthood Pushes Intensive Sex Education for Kids as Young as 10 - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News - FOXNews.com

[Dreamer]

So, in short, it's a useless waste of time. Just as I thought.

I don't think it was a waste of time. When else would we learn so much about the specifics of STDs and the effectiveness of certain birth control measures? Believe me, it's not something the average high school kid spends a whole lot of time researching for fun. So I certainly wouldn't say it's useless.

"You might could oughta maybe want to start to think about what might could ought maybe happen". What a useless bunch of crock doing a MAJOR disservice to our teens.

That's not at all what they say to us. They are just being realistic. Even abstinence-only classes don't completely eliminate premarital sex. Comprehensive sex-ed classes accept that some teens will inevitably have sex, and do their best to make sure we know the correct measures to take to avoid STDs/unwanted pregnancies.

And yes, that was an exact quote from "Twilight". I thought you said you'd read the book.

Yeah, but not to the depth that I would remember specific quotes. I was unimpressed.

3. Uhm, abstinence is the protective measure they should take. If they're not married, anything else is a fiasco.

Why is it a fiasco?

[HebrewHammer]

Okay, no 'sex' per se, in "Twilight", but very strong sexual overtones. To quote:

The first Twilight book is entirely centered on abstinence. Biting is a metaphor for sex.

[WorkingOnIt]

I don't think it was a waste of time. When else would we learn so much about the specifics of STDs and the effectiveness of certain birth control measures? Believe me, it's not something the average high school kid spends a whole lot of time researching for fun. So I certainly wouldn't say it's useless.

Dumb question, but...You don't have parents? You didn't sit around discussing this stuff from time to time? You really, honest to God never had a discussion with your own parents about where babies come from, gohnorrea, herpes, syphilis, etc.? Really???
If that is so, color me stunned and truly sad. Why wouldn't a parent have these discussions with their own children? Embarassed, so they let some public school system do it instead?

That's not at all what they say to us. They are just being realistic. Even abstinence-only classes don't completely eliminate premarital sex. Comprehensive sex-ed classes accept that some teens will inevitably have sex, and do their best to make sure we know the correct measures to take to avoid STDs/unwanted pregnancies.

If how you described sex-ed is so, they most certainly implied it.

Yeah, but not to the depth that I would remember specific quotes. I was unimpressed.

I'd like to hope by that you mean the book.

Why is it a fiasco?

I thought you took sex ed. I guess I was mistaken.

[Dreamer]

Dumb question, but...You don't have parents? You didn't sit around discussing this stuff from time to time? You really, honest to God never had a discussion with your own parents about where babies come from, gohnorrea, herpes, syphilis, etc.? Really???
If that is so, color me stunned and truly sad. Why wouldn't a parent have these discussions with their own children? Embarassed, so they let some public school system do it instead?

No, we certainly discussed where babies come from. But no, we didn't go into the gory details of STDs. You mentioned earlier that you had a son; did you discuss the various statistics of STDs and their symptoms/consequences with him?

If how you described sex-ed is so, they most certainly implied it.

Well, I guess that's your opinion.

I'd like to hope by that you mean the book.

Haha yeah, I did mean the book.

I thought you took sex ed. I guess I was mistaken.

I have. Thanks to sex-ed I see how unprotected sex is a fiasco, and how letting someone pressure you into having sex is a fiasco. But I didn't get the idea that pre-marital sex is a fiasco, no.

[WorkingOnIt]

For the sake of bandwidth, yes, I have a son. A daughter, also. Yes, we discussed the statistics and all the gory details of what syphilis can gain you, the possibility of having a DISEASE (a word I think is highly down-played), such as gonorrhea, the possible side affects, such as impotence, vaginal warts, and the whole nine yards.
I can't imagine a parent not discussing something of such importance with their children.