Yesterday our very own Steven noted that instead of focusing on jobs and our state’s economy, Republicans in Wisconsin’s legislature are busy legislating away comprehensive sex education for Wisconsin’s students, and he noted how studies have shown the abstinence-only sex education Republicans want to implement is an ineffective failure.
While Steven pretty much summed up my thoughts , I’d just like to note that while there’s no denying we still have work to do to reduce the teen pregnancy and STD rates here in Wisconsin, but teaching young people about abstinence and nothing else certainly doesn’t seem likely to do anything but push teen pregnancy and STD rates even higher than they already are.
I think Ani Djaferian, a senior at Wausau East High School, summed up the failures of an abstinence-only policy best:
“Ms. Smith lectures her class filled with approximately 30 14-year-olds about the dangers of sexual intercourse … meanwhile, John in the second row is sexting Jane by the window,” Djaferian said. “Spending 40 minutes a day for a semester telling students not to have sex when clearly they are, or will regardless, will not do anything.”
Meanwhile over at Daily Kos, Asher Heimermann is adding his own perspective, and he’s encouraging anyone who wants to voice their opposition to visit SaveSexEd.org.
Sex education needs to be well-rounded. Abstinence should be encouraged as it is the only way to be sure not to get sexually transmitted diseases or become pregnant before you’re ready. However, the heat of the moment can take over and teens should be aware there are options. Teaching about birth control and sexual responsibility are crucial because as Americans, we have choices and should know how to exercise them without hurting ourselves or others. An abstinence-only approach has proved to be unrealistic and unreliable.