Textbook debate in Texas over sex education

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5469437/

Of the four state high school health textbooks under consideration in Texas this summer, one says teenagers should “get plenty of rest” if they want to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. It also suggests students can help prevent pregnancies by respecting themselves. The book avoids any discussion of condoms.

Abstinence is the preferred practice in two more submitted textbooks, which only vaguely refer to “barrier protection,” but never explain exactly what that term means.

Only one book under review by the Texas State Board of Education references condoms.

However, an initial textbook review committee found that book, Essentials of Health and Wellness by Thomson Delmar Learning, “nonconforming” to state guidelines because the book did not emphasize abstinence enough.

Scary what fundies are doing to the red states! What's the teen pregnancy rate in TX? And STD's? Course this is the bunch who arrested a woman for selling sex toys at a female only house-party.

[fdr_hst_fan]

1. Texas could go back to Mexico

TOMORROW, and I wouldn't shed any tears!

:nopity: :puke:

[redqueen]

5. How about the rest of the south?

Thanks for writing off the home state of Hightower and Ivins and Richards etc. etc. etc.

:eyes:


on edit: I see by some of the sentiments in other posts I need to get the hell off this thread.

:mad:

[RamboLiberal]

10. Hey I'm not writing off your home state of Texas

You got some good sensible people down there. It's just too bad that the fundies are the ones making the noise to get this ridiculous stuff passed in the schools.

I'm suprised the fundies don't all home school.

And this is not a knock on home schooling.

[2Design]

18. a lot of them do....those two women who killed all their children

were fundies and home schooling....good values....god told them to do it

[LittleApple81]

2. I think I have read that is much higher than average. I am glad my

two kids are out of highschool now. Here in my town people want to install a board of education member who wants schools to teach creationism. And we already went through that at the state level... schools pretended they didn't hear because it was ridiculous but it is getting harder and harder.

[DrWeird]

3. That IS scary.

The last thing the world needs is more texans.

[jedicord]

7. Hey Hey Hey!

I'm a Texan, so we're not all that bad (at least I don't think I'm bad). I'm also finding MANY more here as the days progress.

And to tell you the truth, we've got TONS of people here from the North.

[doctorbombeigh]

4. Whoa. These are some scary mutha-cheney-ers

Do they actually think this is reasonable??

Oh nevermind - they're just cheneying insane.

[Wickerman]

6. but, but, well rested teens DO get less STD's - so stop that snickering

its good science - honest. :eyes:

[cap]

8. lobbying against detailed discussion of anatomy is archaic...

people wont know how to take care of their "nether parts". People get all kinds of infections and diseases down their that have nothing to do with sexual intercourse.

[cap]

9. not showing detailed pictures of anatomy is archaic...

people wont know how to take care of their "nether parts". People get all kinds of infections and diseases down their that have nothing to do with sexual intercourse.

[Bandit]

12. Yes don't you remember Newt telling us that is why women couldn't be

in Combat? :crazy:

[izzie]

11. These are the same states so low on the rating, I think?

I guess these teen-ages took to many rests. Their brains have stopped.

[Realityhack]

13. The gov. teen pregnacy figures are...

Here:
http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/state_pregnancy_trends.pdf

Texas is ranked #3 for most pregnacies.

RH

[teach1st]

14. Sure Texas is whacky. The problem is...

That textbook companies have to cater to Texas, California, and Florida. That's where the money is. Whatever those states want, is what the textbook companies print and what the other states get as well.

[teach1st]

15. Religious fundamentalism and sex ed

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

[2Design]

19. exactly...we have fundies against fundies.....but they have

disguised it as other.....but it is as bin laden said...and others...holy war.....our fundies against theirs.....unfortunately our soliders are fighting for the fundies instead of the fundies losing their own children to this ciminal war

[EV1Ltimm]

16. at least women can have back-pockets there now.

i remember back when you could get sent home from school for such acts of indecency.

edit: i splel bda

[ZR2]

17. I would really like to see the true numbers

of students between the age of 13 and 18 that do not know what a condom is and why it is used.

[teach1st]

20. Forgive me if I misunderstand your post..

Are you implying that this doesn't need taught since kids know what condoms are and what they're for?

Most kids know. They may not know HOW to use a condom and may not know how deadly the consequences of unprotected sex are. I've heard teens cite innacurate failure rates for condoms (50%, they thought) and so "they're a hassle and they interrupt the fun, so why should I use one if they don't work."

Kids are very familiar with cars and what they're used for. I wouldn't count on them knowing how to use one without some help.

[Gold Metal Flake]

21. The fundies worked their asses off in the 70's and 80's to get themselves

onto schoolboards and into positions where they could influence education at all levels. They are destroying our public education system from the inside. The best way to defeat them is to do the same. They must be pushed out from below.