Debate: Teaching: Abstinance V. Sex education

[Yllarius]

This has been rolling around for some time now, the debate between sex ed. and abstinence being taught in schools. Some schools teach sex ed. (proper condom use, existence of STDs, pregnancy prevention options, etc), while others teach abstinence. Now, the problem with this is, some people think teaching sex ed. will make kids curious and want to be more sexually active, while others think teaching abstinence leaves kids completely blank on the subject and if they do have sex, they have no means of protection whatsoever.

On this debate, I have to go with teaching sex ed. We're humans. To put it bluntly, its in our nature to get horny and f**k. Its only natural. Trying to impede that with abstinence is, in my opinion, dangerous (to not teach any safe sex options), and just simply against human nature. Many people take sex as a regular part of life, and its better to be taught safe sex. Its like... like a peaceful country. You don't believe in war, you don't fight, have no weapon training what so ever. The day comes when you're village is attacked. To put it simply (with no pun intended) you're boned. Point is, you can still be that peaceful place, just be prepared a bit.

And... debate.

[arianna]

I think both should be taught.
There are problems inherent in teaching just abstinence, or just sex education that could very well be solved if both theories of teaching were to be utilized.
One could see that there are more options available rather than abstaining entirely from sex, yet also see that although there are ways of protecting oneself, refraining altogether would be the safest choice.

Personally, I can see no reason for there to be such an uproar about the whole thing when a simple solution would be best overall for the students.

[Yllarius]

I don't believe in abstinence, but of course I'm a guy. In the end, I think you should be responsible for your actions, and your offspring, regardless of your age. It's a harsh reality, but it's one that's necesarry. If we baby our children, tell them not to have sex, and if they do, take care of there children for them, they leran nothing. And they cannot pass that on to there children.

Wisdom comes from experience, and if we baby people, they no longer gain experience, and lose wisdom, which is why people are 'stupid'.

[arianna]

So we're not supposed to pass on our knowledge to them so that they make mistakes and learn from them so they can pass on their knowledge to their children. *smiles*
I understand what you're saying, but that hit me as a little bit funny. ^^

To me, it does not matter what any one person believes in regard to it, but that students get the chance to learn everything they can in order to make their own choices.
If they learn everything and still make foolish mistakes, then aye, they have to live with it.
But if they do not get the chance to learn everything and make mistakes, it is more the fault of those who refused them the teaching than themselves.

Also, if there are those who do end up facing the consequences of their actions, are we to ignore their plight entirely and shove them out the door?
I do not think that is fair to the foolish one, and even less so to the child that would arise from it.
But neither should the mistaken one be protected from the consequences of his or her action.
*shrugs*
A dilemma with no easy solutions, once you begin to consider the consequences.

[Yllarius]

I think in the end, there actions will not change as drastically as those that teach these classes seem to believe. I don't think they even really listen to these subjects. Most of these classes are boring, and easy to blow off. If we want to teach them, we first have to adress the educational system.

But i believe that teaching them is not a bad thing, it's shelotering them that's the problem. If we keep them locked up, they will never experience life, and it makes it all the worse when they do finally get out there into the real world.

[Bharune]

Pffft, I took sex ed in fifth grade. Trust me, when you're in fifth grade sex ed is the most interesting class in the curriculum. And I think you might be surprised how little normal people might know about the biological mechanics of our bodies. Obviously us geeks know a little more than most of our average peers, but I've been shocked by high-school females who did not know what a clittoris was.

Not that it's necessary to know how the body works, but it's just as important if not more so than many of our other classes, right?