Abstract This paper looks at abstinence programs and the distribution of condoms in schools as ways to prevent teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. It looks at various opinions on both sides of the argument and comes out in favor of condom distribution because abstinence-only programs do not work.
From the Paper "There is an ongoing debate about what to teach in sex education in schools and whether to promote abstinence or to distribute condoms. Part of the debate centers around who should be responsible for such decisions, the parents or the teachers. Opinions vary greatly from state to state and from school to school within states. This lack of consensus of opinion makes it harder on students because they do not know whose advice to follow when they hear conflicting sides of the story. The one thing both ... "
Abstract This paper discusses the topic of abstinence-only sex education and presents arguments against this approach to sex education. The paper points out that one argument in favor of abstinence-only sex education is that the most reliable and effective means of preventing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease is by postponing sexual activity until marriage. The paper then discusses the underlying premise of this approach and points out its fundamental problems and flaws. The paper concludes that, in comparison to traditional sexual education programs, abstinence-only sex education provides absolutely no benefit, and conceivably causes additional harm attributable to the deliberate withholding of invaluable information about STD transmission and unwanted pregnancy.
Outline:
Introduction
Evaluating the Comparative Effectiveness of Abstinence-Only Sexual Education
Analysis of a Flawed Concept
Comprehensive Sexual Education - A Preferable Approach
Conclusion
From the Paper "Abstinence-only sexual education is based on the belief that the most reliable and effective means of preventing teenage pregnancy and incidence of sexually transmitted disease (STD) is the promotion of the concept of postponing sexual activity until marriage. Unlike traditional approaches to sexual education that incorporate information about safer sex such as responsible choices, monogamous sexual relationships, and strict condom use, abstinence-only education programs provide absolutely no such information at all.
"The underlying philosophy of abstinence-only programs is that the only truly safe sex is no sex at all. Specifically, according to its proponents, relationships that are supposed to be sexually monogamous are susceptible to infidelity and condoms are too unreliable to prevent teenage pregnancy and STD transmission because they may be used
improperly or break during intercourse."
Abstract This paper explains that 81 percent of parents and guardians polled favor sex education programs that teach all aspects of sex and sexuality, which include how to use birth control and how to protect against STDs, instead of the widespread abstinence-only and dangers of sex program. The author stresses that, even with most schools teaching abstinence-only programs, the approach isn?t working very well; teenagers are not abstaining from sex. The paper concludes that teaching teens about the dangers of STDs and the consequences and responsibility that surrounds sexual relationships may actually be reinforcing abstinence as the safest way.
From the Paper ?In 1996, a companion bill was put onto the Welfare Reform Act. This bill budgeted $440 million over the span of five years to support abstinence-only sex education. In order for school districts to receive funding, they are required to tell the kids that "sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects" and that ?a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity.? The kids are not to be told about condoms, birth control, or any other protection methods except to highlight their failure rates. Right now, every state except California accepts this funding. In recent news, the Bush administration is attempting to put forth an initiative to increase the funding for this abstinence-only policy."
Abstract This paper explains that sex education became a popular mode of addressing the problem of teenage pregnancy when the issue turned into a pressing and alarming concern. The writer argues that abstinence is found to be the only real and substantial approach to handling the problem, as it is clear that other approaches have failed to produce the desired result. The writer maintains that that abstinence-based programs have been far more effective and successful in bringing down the rate of teenage pregnancies than sex education programs. The writer concludes that abstinence is rightly considered the more effective approach and is thus being implemented in a large number of schools across the country.
From the Paper "The reason traditional sex education is criticized is because teaching students about safe sex makes them believe that as long as they are using contraceptive, engaging in sexual activity is acceptable and safe. But that sadly is not the truth. There is medical evidence indicating that abstinence and not safe sex is the only reliable method of avoiding pregnancies. One article compared the effectiveness of sex-education programs in schools and found that schools with abstinence-based program had better results. These programs were more effective in preventing teenage sexual activity and pregnancies. Khouzem The Teen-Aid abstinence education curriculum has been widely used in Washington's city of Edinburgh for 5 years."
Abstract This paper takes a look at sex education programs, in particularly to the abstinence-only program. The author argues that although the Welfare Reform Act which allocated millions of federal funds towards abstinence-only sex education programs had benevolent intentions, the country has not seen a dip in teenage pregnancy and STD contraction rates. This, the author explains, shows the inefficacy of such programs. The paper criticizes abstinence-only programs as flawed and notes that they teach behavior that is in consistent with the highly sexualized American culture. The author advocates that knowledge is power and that smarter sex education programs should be based solely on what is best for our youth and what is most likely to stymie risky behavior instead of being influenced by political pressuring from lobbyist organizations, funding and religious beliefs.
From the Paper "Accordingly, in 1996, legislators in conjunction with then-President Bill Clinton penned the Welfare Reform Act, a bipartisan bill altering the welfare system and deeming that millions of federal funds be allocated annually towards abstinence-only sex education programs. Although the Welfare Reform Act had benevolent intentions, since that period, our country has seen minimal improvement in the teenage pregnancy and STD contraction rates, which illustrates the inefficacy of such programs. This is not surprising since knowledge is one of the most effective weapons in fighting any problem, and because abstinence-only programs deny teenagers of vital information needed to protect themselves, our government should abandon or at least reform such programs immediately."
Abstract This paper looks at two perspectives or programs that are often used to teach adolescents about the risks of sexual activity and how to decrease these risks. These two perspectives are abstinence and making safer choices about sexual behavior, such as wearing condoms or using contraception. It looks at abstinence as well as birth control in a comparison of these solutions to see which one is more effective with adolescents. It concludes that safe sex behaviors prove to be a more effective and popular solution among teens.
Outline
Introduction
Literature Review
From the Paper "As the years have progressed, especially in terms of scientific and technological sophistication in the health field in the last century, new methods of contraception have been increasingly effective and successful. But a large part of effective contraception remains awareness and education regarding how to safely and successfully apply these methods. Effectiveness is an important factor to consider when choosing a method of contraception, but this effectiveness only goes as far as the individual making the choice is educated in terms of the successful and correct application of the method of contraception. With new contraceptive methods becoming available all the time, it is
important to keep up with new advances and learn as much as possible about the most effective and efficient means of contraception."
Abstract This research paper discusses the failure of abstinence-only sex education to lower the rate of adolescent sexual activity, teen pregnancy, and the transmission of STDs. The author provides findings that demonstrate that teen pregnancy rates and transmission of STDs are undermined by abstinence only programs that actually place teens at greater risk for STDs and pregnancy, and that more comprehensive sex education is needed.
From the Paper "The Bush Administration's advocacy of abstinence-only sex education programs is a failure when it comes to preventing teen pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases..."
Tags: sexuality, HIV, AIDS, public education, youth, condoms, adolescents, health, President Bush
This is an argumentative essay written on the side of comprehensive sexuality education in schools verses the traditional abstinence-only sex education.
Abstract Should schools include comprehensive birth control education within the sexuality education curriculum? This paper argues this serious question that needs attention as every year millions of teenagers are making decisions that affect them the rest of their lives. The author feels that a clear effective program should be a major priority for educators and politicians. This paper analyzes articles that were published within the past few years written by those who did research in the field and had their results to prove their point. It argues strongly on behalf of the comprehensive sexuality education. If information is left out, students are left out.
From the Paper "?I lost my virginity at age 16 to my high school sweetheart and he dumped me two months later. Sex was never a big issue in my junior high or high school; I never fully learned everything until I got to college when they gave incoming freshman a test and a presentation. You mostly learn things about sex from friends and sometimes parents.? --JM, (avert.org) This is a submission of a young lady to a website dedicated to educating young adults about what they deserve to know about sexuality. Are websites such as this one necessary? According to young people like JM, they are. Parents would be alarmed to find out that most adolescents learn more about sex from their peers than from parents or school. The same adolescents who cited peers as their principal source of information on sex also had more permissive standards about sexuality than those whose sources were more reliable (Fromme & Emihovich, 1998)."
Examines whether abstinence-only sex education is the cause of the growing rate of teen pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases in the United States.
Abstract This paper demonstrates the fallacies of abstinence-only education. It cites research that shows graduates of these programs are less likely to use proper protection when they do engage in sexual activity, making them more susceptible to pregnancy and STDs. It also compares the U.S. to other countries that use comprehensive sex education programs, showing that their pregnancy/STD rates among teens are a fraction of those in the U.S.
From the Paper "A sexually active teenage girl who has sex without contraception has a 90% chance of becoming pregnant within a year, according to the Kaiser Institute. An equally jarring fact is that during a single act of intercourse with an infected male partner, a female teen has a 3 out of 10 chance of becoming infected with genital herpes, a 1 out of 2 chance of becoming infected with gonorrhea, and a 1 out of 100 chance of becoming infected with the HIV virus (Michael). Nearly half of sexually active women reported having sex with two or more partners in the past year, while an additional twenty percent admitted to having unprotected sex with more than one partner. While rates of sexual activity do not differ between most countries, the rate of unprotected sexual intercourse in the U.S. is more than twice that of any other industrialized nation."
Abstract This paper examines how styles of sex education vary widely among schools around the world. It looks at how, in the United States, approximately 35% of sex education programs used in public schools are so-called abstinence-only programs funded by the U. S. government. It explores how studies show that this program gives weaker results than the abstinence-plus program or the medically accurate sexuality education programs and draws upon sex education programs around the world as a comparison.
From the Paper "Australia's program has been met with a degree of success. Research shows that the age of first intercourse is later and unwanted pregnancies are fewer when people had participated in sexual education programs. In general Australian high schools are a positive environment for the teaching of sex education. Each state and territory has its own curriculum and most programs allow teachers to have the freedom to teach students what they want to learn about sexuality. Over the past twenty years, Australia has seen a drop in teen pregnancy rates."
Abstract This paper explains that sex education in the schools has been an area of intense debate, from classrooms to the Supreme Court, in American education for many years. The major area of conflict generally is focused on the abstinence-only education approach, which is heavily supported by federal government funds. The author believes that education on abstinence is the moral solution. Teenagers will make responsible decisions only when they are educated on moral choices and not on the way they choose to prevent pregnancy; there is no safe sex. The paper concludes that, looking at the various statistics on unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teenagers, it is clear that the requirement for a comprehensive sex education program is to teach postponement of sexual involvement and the way to protect themselves, if they choose to indulge in sex, to give maximum protection from the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
From the Paper "Teenagers require the right information to aid in protecting themselves as these statistics given below show. The teenage pregnancy rate in the US is more than double that of any western industrialized country. The number of teenagers becoming pregnant each year is greater than a million. The rate of sexually transmitted diseases is the highest when compared to any age group. One out of every four youngsters contract some form of sexually transmitted diseases before the age of twenty-one. Sexually transmitted diseases have the potential to damage a teenager's health and the ability to reproduce. AIDS has still no cure."
From the Paper "....I have found through other's mistakes, abstinence is the only form of ?safe sex.? Religion is one of the main reasons why adolescents choose abstinence. God created everyone as a sexual being. Through my beliefs, I have chosen not to have sex before marriage. Suddenly, virgin geek is giving way to virgin chic. The fear of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, are not the only reason for saving sex for the marriage bed. Despite the religion and social reasons to not have sex, the consequences alone are reason enough to choose abstinence. People who are sexually active say they have ?safe sex,? they always use protection. Choosing abstinence is the safest and most respected decision anyone can make..... "
Abstract This paper looks at the controversy behind high school sex education. It outlines the arguments of both the supporters and the opponents of high school sex education. It looks at the issue of the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, the teaching of abstinence and the question of whether promiscuity or responsibility is encouraged with this education. It deals with the ineffectiveness of present sex education programs and the suggested improvements on the programs. The paper concludes by giving a synopsis on the debate of sex education in high schools.
From the Paper "The effect of sexual education in high school has been a contentious subject since the widespread inception of sexual education programs. Opponents of sexual education argue that it results in more liberal sexual attitudes, leading to increased promiscuity among teenagers. In contrast, supporters of sexual education note that education promotes sexual responsibility, thus reducing the incidence of both sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancies among teenagers."
Examines abstinence as option in sex education in public schools. Discusses laws, public attitudes, criticism, liberal & conservative views, safe sex and, disease.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 10 sources, 1997, $ 79.95
From the Paper "The teaching of abstinence as an approach to public school sex education will be discussed with regard to the questions what, when, how, and why. Although nine in ten Americans agree that schools should teach kids about sex (Shapiro, 1993, p. 56), concensus ends here. Educators and community leaders must decide how best to answer the above questions if the dialog over sex education is to result in some common ground. If educational leaders cannot agree on how best to approach the abstinence question, the future of sex education as part of a well-rounded health education curriculum is at stake.
States have left the sex education aspect of health education up to local districts in the same manner that the federal government has left it up to the larger community to decide what constitutes pornography. In essence, states have.."
Abstract This paper states that education is the most valid and effective means to fight the spread of the disease. The paper outlines programs to protect against contaminated hypodermic needles. The author believes that sexual abstinence is the first and best defense against sexual transmission of the disease, but often this is simply not a realistic approach.
From the Paper "One way to address the problem is by instituting a needle exchange program. The suggestion has been made that one way to control the spread of AIDS through at least the intravenous (IV) drug using population is to create a program for the exchange of needles, a program that would not be a law enforcement tool but a public health program. IV drug abusers would be given new needles for their muse rather than having to use old needles because of the danger posed by the sharing of needles as far as passing the HIV infection from one person to another. Programs like this have been instituted in several cities with varying results. ... suggest, along with many other researchers, that prevention efforts to reduce the risk of AIDS among IV drug users should be a priority considering the high levels of AIDS risk behavior within this population and the fact that the sexual partners of IV drug users are also at risk. The sharing of needles is the primary risk factor for IV drug users."
