Preview

Why Are Abstinence Programs In Schools Effective

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1835 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Are Abstinence Programs In Schools Effective
Running head: Abstinence Programs in Schools are Ineffective

Abstinence Programs in Schools are Ineffective

Abstinence Programs in Schools are Ineffective
The issue of sex education in schools has been a debate among parents, school administrators, health officials, and religious organizations for years. We all know that the safest sex is no sex at all, yet we continue to engage in that activity. If we are not, then we are thinking about it, planning on doing so in the future, or being bombarded by it in the media. Abstinence-only sex education persuades teens to wait until marriage before having sex, but totally ignores all other aspects of comprehensive sexual education, like safe sex and the use of contraceptives and birth control ("Truth About Abstinence-Only Programs," n.d.). Abstinence-only programs are not effective at delaying sexual activity, preventing unwanted pregnancy, or reducing Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STD’s).
According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SEICUS), since 1981 the federal government has funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, even though scientific research has shown that …show more content…
Researchers also found that receiving information about birth control in formal sex education was associated with a 50% lower risk of teen pregnancy when compared to receiving information only on abstinence (“National Data Shows Comprehensive Sex Education Better at Reducing Teen Pregnancy than Abstinence-Only Programs”, 2008). It also confirmed that talking to young people about birth control does not lead to increased sexual activity or higher STD rates as many critics of comprehensive sexuality education continue to
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    LUT1 Speech Outline
    • 974 Words
    • 4 Pages

    LUT1 Speech Outline

    B. Thesis statement: Research suggests that comprehensive sex education programs should be implemented in public schools because they decrease sexual risk behaviors in adolescents as well as the rate of unplanned teen pregnancies.…

    • 974 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence Rhetorical Analysis
    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Abstinence Rhetorical Analysis

    Marilyn Keefe, director of reproductive health and rights at the nonprofit National Partnership for Women and Families, stated that “Abstinence-only programs are ideology driven and not a good use of our public-health dollars.” Another example of a reliable source Kotz uses in her article is that she gets some answers from public-health experts that blame a three percent increase in teen birthrates after a decrease for fourteen years on sex education programs that taught only abstinence. Kotz used statistics from the American Journal of public health which vouched for a reliable source that was accurate. The most dependable person Kotz used in her article was Sarah Brown. Brown is the chief executive officer of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. She helps with the studies of sex education and studies the outcomes of each one. I believe Kotz did a great job of using credibility to help convince her audience about most effective teachings of early sex…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sex Education Dbq
    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sex Education Dbq

    Sex instruction is critical, however numerous amounts of students complete sex education classes with a mutilated perspective of sexuality and without a decent comprehension of contraception and safe-sex practices. Schools without sex education, leave children confused and often misguided. Students are left to learn through their parents about sex, who could, in turn, be misinformed themselves by never having taken a course in sexual education. Without sexual education classes, little is accomplished leaving a defective and contorted, one-sided point of view of safe sex such as abstinence. The lack of knowledge also can lead to an increase in teen pregnancy, and the spread of sexually transmitted disease, Sexual education should be taught to…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Comprehensive Vs. Abstinence-Only
    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Comprehensive Vs. Abstinence-Only

    Chammas, Danielle. (2004, April 29). Abstinence-only programs: Has sexual education failed our nations young women? The Stanford Daily, Retrieved May 2, 2004, http://daily.stanford.edu/daily/servlet/tempo?page=content&id=13982&repository=0001_article…

    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence-Only Education
    • 1464 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Abstinence-Only Education

    The two authors gathered all available state information about abstinence only programs in the year 2005 and came to the conclusion that: “…abstinence only education does not reduce and likely increases teen pregnancy rates across states” (2). The article provides different types of charts that create a visual of the data collected. The use of the visual aids helps the reader interpret the research in a manner that is easy to understand and seems more tangible. The authors also examined whether certain factors, such as socio-economics, educational attainment, ethnic composition, and Medicaid waivers for family planning influenced the data collected, played a part in determining data results. Their research did find that these factors had an impact of the information collected and the results were published in the article with the other…

    • 1464 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Carnal knowledge
    • 1245 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Carnal knowledge

    Soaring rates of sexually transmitted diseases among teens are adding urgency to the debate over sex education. Conservatives claim the alarming statistics illustrate why abstinence should be the single mantra when it comes to sex ed. Liberals counter that the increase in disease is the strongest case for more detailed information. Caught in the middle are America’s kids, who are more vulnerable than ever to potentially deadly diseases.…

    • 1245 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Abstinence Education
    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Essay On Abstinence Education

    The Affordable Care Act aims to increase the quality and affordability of healthcare and has a goal to improve healthcare both technologically and clinically. One of the improvements includes the restoration of funding of abstinence education in the school system. The abstinence-only education has both pros and cons, but the main goal is to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Now that schools have adopted sex education programs, the next step is to guarantee that these programs remain effective and the pregnancy as well as the infection rates remain…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Does Abstinence-Only Education Decrease Teen Pregnancy?
    • 1196 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Does Abstinence-Only Education Decrease Teen Pregnancy?

    Since 1997 the federal government has invested millions of dollars in Abstinence Only Education programs which have been proven to be ineffective programs. Even though abstinence is the best option for teens not to get pregnant, most teens tend to experiment with sex at young ages. Teens naturally have a sense of curiosity about their bodies and the opposite sex, not to mention that their bodies are going through hormonal changes (puberty). After the Obama Administration created a budget for sex education programs, teen pregnancies have been declining further than with just the contraception movement. As Molly Hennessy-Fiske reported in the Los Angeles Times, “Sex education in schools has helped teens decrease teen pregnancies…

    • 1196 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comprehensive Sexual Education
    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Comprehensive Sexual Education

    Comprehensive Sexual Education What has happened to today’s society that we are opposed to condoms because they might entice sex? When has allowing our youth to practice unsafe sex over safe sex been okay? We often think because we supply kids with condoms, birth control, and talks, that we are giving them permission to have sex, when in fact we are merely trying to protect them from STDs and pregnancy. We do not need to scare kids, but we do need to provide them with information about safe sex practices and what can happen if they do plan to explore their sexual urge. Facts are the most important thing we can offer those select few of youth who wish to engage in sex. Since when has providing information been a bad thing? Shouldn’t the youth know what they are doing and what can happen before they do it? Most schools and education environments that do encourage any sort of sexual education, teach kids to “just say no”. The one main problem with this “abstinence only” education is that it denies those who do say “yes” information, instead of providing other acceptable options other than abstinence. Throughout time, ratings have shown that teaching the abstinence only education doesn’t affect the rates at which teenagers decide to have sex. Though comprehensive sex education doesn’t stop kids from having sex, it does however teach them how to participate in safe sex. Teenagers in today’s society are not stupid. When they are told by teachers that abstinence is the only way that they will not get a STD, they know they are being lied to or misled. Giving teenagers’ information about the risks of different types of sexual behavior can help them make informed decisions about sex. The most effective programs are not the ones that try to divert teens from sex completely but rather the ones that try to steer teens away from dangerous sexual behaviors. Most teens who do not have the correct information on risky sexual behaviors veer away from vaginal intercourse, and…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Sex Ed. Should Not Be Abstinence-Only
    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Sex Ed. Should Not Be Abstinence-Only

    Currently we have schools teaching about abstinence and how it prevents pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. However, many of these sex education programs do not include or want to include teaching about contraception for the adolescents who are not abstinent. Arguing that including contraception education in the program will send the wrong message about sex or that we are giving teenagers and young adults the "okay" to have sex. Not providing education on contraception will put teenagers who are not abstinent at a greater risk for catching sexually transmitted diseases and becoming pregnant at an earlier age. It is why schools should have sex education that supports abstinence but also teaches about contraception and what teenagers can do in case they decide to be sexually active.…

    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence Vs Sex Education
    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Abstinence Vs Sex Education

    Because of these programs many girls feel as though sex makes them worthless to others if they are no longer virgins. The abstinence-only programs use scare tactics to prevent sexual activity in teen instead of teaching them how to be safe. Programs like this in the public school system should not be created to make students feel worthless. Suicide is already an epidemic among teenagers because they feel as though they are not good enough. How are abstinence-only programs with scare tactics and shaming going to help the students that already feel like they made a huge mistake in the first place? Sex education programs, however, not only teach how to have safe sex, but also the effects sex can have on you mentally and physically. These programs teach stedents “the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity” (DeWitt) so students know that they have to know themselves and be confidence in themselves before taking such a big step at an early…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence In Public Schools
    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Abstinence In Public Schools

    The government and schools must now step in and place more effective abstinence programs to ensure that students are bombarded by information on the negative effects of sex. As Timken High shows us, many states have pitiful curriculums that are currently set. It does not make any logical sense to keep inadequate courses in the schools if they do not work! I thought schools and the government were responsible for teaching students information that would help them succeed in modern society and make smart decisions. By keeping these ineffective programs, it sends an implied message that the educational bodies simply do not care. Instead of working to ensure the achievement of a goal, they are, in some respect, condoning premarital sex. Currently in the state of California, there is a required sexual education class that all high school students must take before graduating. The program in California as well as that in Ohio is relatively similar in many respects. While not yet proven to be ineffective, the situation in Ohio and Timken High should be enough to compel education directors to alter the current curriculum. With schools being such an integral part in students' lives, schools must become a front runner in the battle against high school pregnancies. It is definitely a bold charge, yet essential, for schools' are held accountable for doing what is best for their…

    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Discuss The Links Between Harm Reduction And Risk Taking Behavior.
    • 1261 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Discuss The Links Between Harm Reduction And Risk Taking Behavior.

    If children and adolescents are educated about sex practices at too young of an age it can encourage them to partake in sexual activities prematurely. This can result in teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and negative mental health or low self-esteem. If students are educated about sex with abstinence based program it can reduce the amount of teen pregnancies that occur. For example, Project IMPPACT in New York City “focuses on the importance of abstaining from sexual intercourse” (Lieberman, Gray, Wier, Fiorention, & Maloney, 2000). This program discovered that “Lower rates of adolescent sexual activity are associated with having parents who demonstrate a combination of traditional attitudes toward sexual behavior and effective communication practices” (Lieberman et al, 2000).…

    • 1261 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sex education programs
    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sex education programs

    Surprisingly, more than 8,000 teenagers become infected with a sexually transmitted disease every day and 40 percent of sexually active teens become pregnant. (Elliott) In today’s society, more and more teens are becoming sexually active, whether we want them to or not. Preventing teenagers from having sexual intercourse may be nearly impossible, but providing teens with more options and choices to help protect their future is possible. Therefore, abstinence-only sex education programs are ineffective and changing the programs to acknowledge teenagers on how to protect themselves and providing more choices and options will help teens and better their futures. Teaching teenagers about the various forms of contraceptives that are available, how STDS are spread, and the consequences that come along with sexual activities are ways to improve sex education that are taught to students. Even though, abstinence is the only sure way to prevent STDs and pregnancies, in my opinion, changing sex education programs to teach teenagers all of the precautions and consequences of sexual activities will drastically improve statistics.…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Teen Sex
    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Teen Sex

    Many teenagers are engaging in having sex. A lot of them are doing it just to fit in and some are doing it because of peer pressure. Yes I believe abstinence programs discourage teen sex but a lot of teenagers need an abstinence education as well as a comprehensive sex education. Although some say that Abstinence and comprehensive sex education programs in schools are a bad idea, I think otherwise because some students need help learning about birth control and if they're ready for sex. The government needs to fund teen sex programs that guide teenagers through which sexual direction they want to go in and things they want to learn about such as Comprehensive education, Abstinence education and Pregnancy.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics