Reply #15: Religious fundamentalism and sex ed [View All]

[teach1st]

So, we're fighting against religious fundamentalists controlling government in the Middle East, while nurturing it in the United States.

The Bush administration has been quitely removing scientific data and research about abortions and condoms (except to point out their failure rates) on Government health web sites. There are also reports that information about abstinence education has been manipulated on these sites. Some people feel the manipulation of scientific data by government agencies is based on ideological rather than scientific motives.

Quote:
There is significant evidence that the scope and scale of the manipulation, suppression and misrepresentation of science by the Bush administration is unprecedented... There is a well-established pattern of suppression and distortion of scientific findings by high-ranking Bush administration political appointees across numerous federal agencies. These actions have consequences for human health, public safety, and community well-being." (Union of Concerned Scientists, report, Scientific Integrity in Policymaking. 2004.)


The very questionable efficacy of abstinence education aside, I don't mind teaching the benefits of abstinence and helping students combat the pressure they feel from peers and media to have sex. But common sense tells me that kids should also be familiar with contraception and disease prevention in the event they choose to have sex, something a bit more scientific than "get plenty of rest."

Kids in our country are bombarded by sexual messages all the time, (many inappropriate, many conflicting) from the media and their peers. We have done little to counter this. In that light, if we as a nation fail to educate kids completely and correctly about sexual topics, about relationships, and about preventing HIV and pregnancy, we are guilty of of a massive and dangerous case of mass denial.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/index.php?newsid=6453

Quote:
According to a survey of 15,000 kids aged 12-18, a whopping 88% who vowed to abstain from sex before marriage (remain virgins) eventually broke their pledge during their teens. The survey was carried out nationally and included all social classes (a representative sample).

As many of these ‘virgins’ had not been attentive during sex education classes (or had not had them) they tend to have sex without protection more often than other kids.


Parents should have the right to ask that their children not participate in sex education classes that may go against their religious beliefs. Educators have the duty to use as much current and accurate information as they can to teach effectively, regardless of anybody's religious beliefs.


Edit for spelling