ACLU targets abstinence-only programs

[Ave Maria]

The American Civil Liberties Union yesterday began a campaign to urge officials in 18 states to reject abstinence-only sex-education programs.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050921-102450-1568r.htm

Once again, I oppose the ACLU.

 

[Law of Loud]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050921-102450-1568r.htm

Once again, I oppose the ACLU.

Simply because a program teaches all methods of birth control (including abstinence) doesn't mean it's some diabolical scheme. The ACLU is trying to pressure these school districts to actually educate their students about all the available methods. Knowing teenage hormones, as I'd expect you do, it's very difficult to keep teenagers from doing things that they probably shouldn't do. Abstinence-only doesn't work, because it defies human nature.

Now, of course my complete sex-ed class in the Soviet Republic of Washington reiterated constantly that abstinence was the only sure method of preventing STDs and pregnancy. But they also taught us about contraceptives in case we weren't going to live up to that.

Abstinence-only is a great way to go, but not every teenager can do that. You can't leave them in the dark about protecting themselves just because you don't believe in contraceptives. That's like handing a kid and his friend a loaded gun, and walking out of the room, wondering what they'll do with it.

 

[Ave Maria]

Simply because a program teaches all methods of birth control (including abstinence) doesn't mean it's some diabolical scheme. The ACLU is trying to pressure these school districts to actually educate their students about all the available methods. Knowing teenage hormones, as I'd expect you do, it's very difficult to keep teenagers from doing things that they probably shouldn't do. Abstinence-only doesn't work, because it defies human nature.

Now, of course my complete sex-ed class in the Soviet Republic of Washington reiterated constantly that abstinence was the only sure method of preventing STDs and pregnancy. But they also taught us about contraceptives in case we weren't going to live up to that.

Abstinence-only is a great way to go, but not every teenager can do that. You can't leave them in the dark about protecting themselves just because you don't believe in contraceptives. That's like handing a kid and his friend a loaded gun, and walking out of the room, wondering what they'll do with it.

First of all, I never said that "comprehensive" sex education was a "diabolical scheme". Second of all, abstinence-only education does work. See the article I just posted in a separate thread in this forum.

 

[Law of Loud]

First of all, I never said that "comprehensive" sex education was a "diabolical scheme".

No? Then what do you think that "comprehensive" sex education is?

Second of all, abstinence-only education does work. See the article I just posted in a separate thread in this forum.

And it has been refuted as good evidence of how not to conduct a survey. Middle-schoolers for good grief. That's not the time frame that's the real problem - the real problem is high school, considering the state of hormones, and the nature of life.

For that matter, it'd be interesting to see how effective a "comprehensive" sex education program would be in that same environment.

 

[notto]

Many abstinence programs contain false or misleading information, discriminate against homosexual youth and promote religion, ACLU leaders said, citing a December report issued by Rep. Henry A. Waxman, California Democrat.

The sad thing is that if this is true, many supporters of abstinence only education will simply say 'we don't care'.

 

[Nightson]

Many abstinence programs contain false or misleading information, discriminate against homosexual youth and promote religion, ACLU leaders said, citing a December report issued by Rep. Henry A. Waxman, California Democrat.


The sad thing is that if this is true, many supporters of abstinence only education will simply say 'we don't care'.

The abstinence only program i went through certainly had all of that, but to be fair, I do go to a Private Chistian school. Nonetheless, abstinence only education doesn't help be in the least, it just increases my risks of something bad happening. I've tried to educate myself as best I can, but who knows if I've missed something. People telling me over and over again not to have sex, didn't make me not want to have sex.

 

[BeamMeUpScotty]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050921-102450-1568r.htm

Once again, I oppose the ACLU.

Just out of curiosity, and I follow up with the relevance of my question after you answer, do you support intelligent design being taught in science classrooms, and why or why not?

 

[ClaireZ]

It seems to me that any program that lies to the students, whether it be a sex-ed program or a drug program is a bad program.

We should make all the information available to our students so that they can best decide what risks they are willing to undertake in thier lives and what the possible outcome will be, and how to mitigate the damages.

 

[Ave Maria]

Just out of curiosity, and I follow up with the relevance of my question after you answer, do you support intelligent design being taught in science classrooms, and why or why not?

I don't even see how this is related to the article at hand but I am opposed to intelligent design beign taught in a science classroom because it is not science.

 

[BeamMeUpScotty]

I don't even see how this is related to the article at hand but I am opposed to intelligent design beign taught in a science classroom because it is not science.

Well, we agree on this. The reason I asked is that many who support id being taught as an "alternative" to evolution in science classrooms oppose "alternatives" such as contraception as an option to abstinence only, or homosexuality being taught as a viable lifestyle. Basically, it's a hypocritical stance to take. I'm glad to see you at least recognize id is not science.

 

[Ave Maria]

Well, we agree on this. The reason I asked is that many who support id being taught as an "alternative" to evolution in science classrooms oppose "alternatives" such as contraception as an option to abstinence only, or homosexuality being taught as a viable lifestyle. Basically, it's a hypocritical stance to take. I'm glad to see you at least recognize id is not science.

Well thank you! As you see, I'm not one of the "many".

 

[BeamMeUpScotty]

Well thank you! As you see, I'm not one of the "many".

You're welcome.

I'm just curious, you say "abortion is always wrong" (which I'm not going to argue cases such as rape/incest), but you don't support teaching sexually mature people, yet often emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually immature people, how to prevent pregnancies if they choose to be sexually active. I have taught in high schools, and believe me, there are sexually active kids who stand a better chance of not having unwanted pregnancies if the schools teach them about how to properly use contraception.
Would you be willing to adopt one of the children produced by a teenage pregnacy? If not how do you think society should deal with them?

 

[MidnightBlue]

Once again, I oppose the ACLU.

According to the article, the ACLU opposes these programs because many of them "contain false or misleading information, discriminate against homosexual youth and promote religion." Why would anyone support those things?

 

[the Colonel]

How many times are going to "discuss" this topic? This is, like, the third or fourth time this week.

Take it over to the Philosophy and Morality forum.

Thanks,

the Colonel
Senior Moderator
Team Peace