Report finds many state school districts limit topics in sex ed

[moderator]

By Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) - Nearly a third of Washington's school districts do not allow teachers to discuss condoms or any other form of contraception except for abstinence in their sex education classes, according to a new report paid for by a coalition working to reduce pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases among teens.

Two hundred of Washington's 296 school districts responded to the survey for the Healthy Youth Alliance. Although all the districts reported teaching sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention from grades five to 12, what they teach varies widely and not every subject is taught every year.

For rest of article, click here: http://www.komotv.com/news/local/5220751.html

[1039_Slappy]

That's why I persue my own personal sex-education.

This site has helped me a great deal.

[Brandye]

In all of Europe, real sex ed is mandated. Studies have shown that teen sex is equally common in all countried of Europe and N. America. Europe, generally, has a teen pregnancy rate less than half that of the US. Holland is less than one-third that of the US.

Sex ed does help. Slappy, I admire your desire and intent but wouldn't it be nice to have a systematic approach?

[oberon]

Okay, the first three sentences that came into my head, I had to censor because it sounded like I was slamming the mod for posting this story... and that IS NOT what I want to do. I think the politest way I can say it is that this has been an on-going problem for a very long time. It stems from Bush and his regime's morally simplistic and highly inaccurate "Abstinence Only" policy.

Can't discuss condoms? If only that were true. They DO discuss them... they tell kids how useless they are. They quote "statistics" saying that they are only effective about 65% of the time. For some reason they seem to think this means kids won't have sex. No. All it means is that kids won't use condoms... because, why bother, right? The truth in condoms usage is that properly used, they are 100% effective. In a study with divergant couples (where one partner has HIV/AIDS and the other doesn't), the couples who followed strict condom use and procedure never had a case of infection in the uninfected partner. Without condoms, it was near 100% and with poor condom use it was about 60%.

The other little gem from the "Abstinence Only" policy states that at least 60% of gay teens are HIV positive. They aren't really very big on getting the facts. They are more interested in spreading fear and bigotry.

[1039_Slappy]

Originally Posted by Brandye

In all of Europe, real sex ed is mandated. Studies Sex ed does help. Slappy, I admire your desire and intent but wouldn't it be nice to have a systematic approach?

What do you mean ?

[Brandye]

We all learn from those who have gone before, Slappy, and a systematic sex ed program would insure that all the basics are covered. What I read about the US approach, as described by Oberon above, frightens me. The Dutch do an especially good job with reality and most of Europe has decent sex ed in schools. Something explains the difference betwee teen pregnancies in Europe (low) and the US (high). The incidence of teen sexual behaviour is about the same.

[NizeGie]

Originally Posted by Brandye

Something explains the difference betwee teen pregnancies in Europe (low) and the US (high). The incidence of teen sexual behaviour is about the same.

It's more a matter of cultural and social differences. To a large extent, the higher rate of teen preganancies in the US is a reflection of some other social ills. While it might sound odd, a significant number of teen pregnancies are intentional. The US preganancy rate for white, non-Hispanic teens is actually a little lower than the UK rate.

[sera300]

Nizeguy when you say the pregnancies are intentional; I can say the majority I have seen (100's) in young women under the age of 18--they definately were not prevented. Many would come to the ER asking for a pregnancy test, since they woud not go to a store and purchase one. When talking to many of these girls, I would ask them are you trying to get pregnant? Answer was "No", do you or your partner use BC? Answer was "no". Ask them do they understand they will become pregnant (if not already) answer is "yeah". So, they understand the outcome being pregnant without the use of contraception but want to do nothing to change it. Also, many of these kids were not attending school so a sex ed program was not going to help; it appeared to be a generational issue, since the family structure (mother and siblings) all had multiple children at young ages, by different father's. Many appear to just have an indifference towards the pregnancy issue. There were very few women I have met in 20+ years of nursing, who honestly "accidently" became pregnant while using birth control, these ladies were devistated. Sex education is good in school at a fairly early age & again at an older age but I believe it has to be reinforced in the homes. Neither will be effective but in conjunction it may prove to be more beneficial.

[Suki2007]

While I agree with you, Sera, that it really does need to be reinforced at home, it's sad to say that, in Americas society, most families never even talk about sex. Especially those with a "Christian" background. I know that all the things I learned about sex at a young age was through sex ed and my friends. My mom never brang it up. It's just a sad, thing, really. I think a lot of people do know that they can get pregnant and all, but if they were informed about all of their choices and risks, it would be an entirely different story. Of course, I have no answer on how to get that education out there besides the desire to learn for yourself. But, again, in our society sex is considered very hush hush and ppl are embarassed about things they have no reason to be.

[blackrosesred]

I'm a high school student (a product of public schools my whole life) and I can certainly testify to the pathetic-ness of high school sex ed.


My last year's health class (one quarter a year, the other three of which are taken up by 'phys ed' -- basically standing around doing nothing and getting no physical activity done whatsoever) was made up of briefly covering bulimia and then spending the rest of the two months ordering Chinese and watching films -___-;.

It's despicable. I learned from my friends in sixth grade what sex actually is (my mother is an impossibly innocent-minded individual), my boyfriend taught me how to make certain that a condom is turned the right way, and all of my sexual knowledge comes from either personal (limited) experience or my avid interest for reading up on anything medical.




America has been on a dark and winding road for a long time in many respects. It really needs to stop.