Back in 1999, my dad and I visited my step-cousin at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. For those of you not familiar with Baylor, it is the largest Baptist university in the world with an enrollment of about 14,000 students.
In enquiring about my cousin's dating life, he told me that the hypocrisy of the student body kept him from doing much dating. It seemed that while the co-eds prized themselves on guarding their virginity, they limited that definition to vaginal intercourse in what turned out to be the "anything but" rule... or, as he described it, the "including butt" rule. Sorry, there was no way around that pun.
His anecdotal experience has been confirmed empirically in recent years. It seems that young people with abstinence-only sex ed, including those who make abstinence pledges are as likely or more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior.
It makes sense in an odd sort of way: hormones are pumping and in an attempt to remain true to their promise, they find what seem like loophole: oral and anal sex. Meanwhile, their abstinence-only training means that they are largely unaware of the risk inherent in any sort of sexual contact - especially anal sex. The verdict: kids with abstinence-only training and abstinence pledges are indistinguishable from the teen population at large for contracting STDs.
So why not give kids a little credit by giving them honest, forthright sex ed? Why not teach kids about STDs and about respecting themselves and their bodies and trust that with all the options before them, they will make the right decision? Ultimately, they're going to make their own decisions either way.
Or just tell them what Snoop Dogg said in support of condom use, "Ain't no p*ssy good enough to get burned while I'm up in it."
If you feel as passionately as I do about honest sexual dialog, log onto NARAL Pro-Choice America and sign their petition to support the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, legislation that would set up the first-ever federal sex education program.
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2 comments:
I could not disagree more. I have 3 children, 27,24 and 20 who were taught every aspect of sexual behavior from the time they were about 10 years of age. They were also taught abstinence from a Christ centered perspective. They chose to honor and obey God over their desire to have sex.
There may well be alot of holes in every form of sexual education,the most glaring and common being the ineptitude of parents.
Here is where your argument against abstinence is intellectually bankrupt. You easily find a lapse or hole in one form of education while ignoring larger problems with other forms of sex - ed. There is no perfect format of sex-ed when parents are not involved.
Second, no one disagrees that abstinence until marraige is the healtiest form of protection. The fact most people do not abstain should not deter anyone from considering it. Abstinence is not for virgins only. As most mature adults and married people find out, sexual desires are easily managed.
Third, why trust a group like NARAL who intentionally mislead men and women about what abortion is? The Baptists aren't perfect, but they aren't liars who advocate killing healty babies either?
Christspeak, I don't think you're really disagreeing with me. I completely agree that parents should be involved in sex ed and I think your comprehensive approach is the only way for kids to make informed choices.
However, I strongly disagree that NARAL intentionally misleads the public - this is one place you and I will never agree.
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