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Recently in the media, specifically on the talk show circuit, there is a lot of talk about young people having sex as well as the spread of STDs and prevention. This is a great way to get the conversation started, but the one thing that has not been stressed enough is how to persuade individuals to abstain.
For the high school teenager and the young college age culture, the idea of celibacy and saying no to sex is almost unheard of and sometimes even frowned upon. However, it is the most full proof way of not contracting any type of sexually transmitted disease. There are studies that prove that abstinence is one of the best ways to prevent STDs, but more education is definitely needed to let people know about this safe and viable option. Here is a link to an article on the subject with tips on making the decision not to have sex. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/BG1533.cfm.
There is also an organization formed with the emphasis on teaching young people the benefits of not indulging in dangerous sexual practices. The site also gives them information on making healthy sexual choices that will be in their best interest as they mature. It is called the National Abstinence Education Association. The link is: http://www.abstinenceassociation.org/.
With STDs continuing to grow at such a high rate among youths, more has to be done to protect them from making decisions that can be life threatening. The education needs to be a collective effort at home and in the schools. It is important that both parents and the school system become involved in the safety of out youth. This way, he message can stay in the forefront of their minds.
Add a Comment6 Comments
There really isn't any debate about what Mother Nature provides to protect mankind from destroying itself. Her REPRODUCTIVE program is called "LIFE IS SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED" and is skillfully revealed in the recommended four star rated book by the same title. This book contains the best information available anywhere to prove abstinence works. It jumps all religious and cultural backgrounds as it unravels the Maker's three step design for life revealed in the first two chapters of Genesis. The book should be required reading for all age groups since it resolves every relationship problem known to mankind. See for yourself. It's on the web.
June 10, 2009 - 2:35pmThis Comment
Actually, abstinence education has been PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE. Each of the studies being perpetuated by the media is incredible flawed. Please visit abstinenceworks.org before you make general assumptions based on what you've heard from the biased media. GREAT article, by the way, Judith. It's nice to see that someone else believes in the ability of our youth to choose self-control over random animalistic behavior.
June 10, 2009 - 8:12amThis Comment
That's why Texas (abstinence only) has three times the Teen Pregnancy rate of New York (sex-ed & contraception).
January 16, 2017 - 12:16amThis Comment
I believe there should be education on both of the subjects. I think parents and schools should teach sex education but that should include abstinence as an option. There needs to be something done to let kids know they are not freaks if they decide not to have sex. I personally believe most kids would love to wait for sex but have so much peer pressure on them that they give in to it. I was a rare case. I went through high school and graduated without having sex. I saw friends of mine and my older sister get stuck with a baby in their teens before they were ready and it made me swear off sex until I was older. By the time I did have sex, I went to a doctor, got a physical, got on the pill and made a responsible decision about sex. I was 20 years old and I am glad I waited. I wish kids today knew that sometimes waiting is worth it.
June 10, 2009 - 6:00amThis Comment
Unfortunately, I have to agree that abstinence-only education would be setting our children up for failure. As much as I would love for my child to go through high school without sex-- the odds are against me. The best I can do is have open communication with my son and pray to god that he trusts me enough to talk to me. Going through college without sex is asking a bit much in my opinion. I personally lost my virginity while I was in college but by no means was I promiscuous. Asking my son not to have sex while in college would be hypocritical, what I can teach him are the consequences of promiscuity and unsafe sex. Nothing is 100% guaranteed.
June 10, 2009 - 5:26amThis Comment
Abstinence-only education has been proven to have no effect on school students' celibacy rates.
In fact, most places with abstinence-only education have HIGHER rates of STDs and teen/unwanted pregnancy.
Abstinence as a message is fine, but it is more than foolish to teach it without proper sex education alongside, especially regarding contraception and disease-prevention.
June 10, 2009 - 1:54amThis Comment