Should schools teach abstinence-only education?

Should schools teach abstinence-only education?

Proponents of abstinence education argue that teaching abstinence to youth will delay teens’ first sexual encounter and will reduce the number of partners they have, leading to a reduction in rates of teen pregnancy and STIs.

Why abstinence should not be taught in schools?

Two scientific review papers find abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and policies in the United States are ineffective because they do not delay sexual initiation or reduce sexual risk behaviors. These programs simply do not prepare young people to avoid unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases.”

Which states teach abstinence-only education?

Abstinence-Only Education States

• Arizona.
• Arkansas.
• Florida.
• Georgia.
• Indiana.
• Kentucky.
• Louisiana.
• Michigan.

What percentage of public schools teach abstinence-only?

Abstinence-only sex education now comprises 23 percent of sex education in the public schools the United States, up from 2 percent of the total in 1988, according to a survey of 4,000 seventh- to 12th-grade teachers by the Alan Guttmacher Institute survey, a non-profit health research organization in New York City and …

What is abstinence-only education rooted in beliefs )?

Abstinence-Only Education Affronts the Principle of Church-State Separation. Like efforts to discourage the teaching of evolution, abstinence-only education is promoted by religious groups and individuals in an attempt to impose their own beliefs on all students in public schools.

What are the benefits of being abstinent?

What Are the Benefits of Abstinence?

• prevent pregnancy.
• prevent STDs.
• wait until they’re ready for a sexual relationship.
• wait to find the “right” partner.
• have fun with romantic partners without sexual involvement.
• focus on school, career, or extracurricular activities.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of abstinence?

What are the pros and cons?

• The Pros of Abstinence include: Has no side effects or health risks. Prevents pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Free.
• The Cons of Abstinence: Requires willpower and discipline.

Does abstinence only work?

In theory, abstinence is 100% effective at preventing pregnancy and STIs. However, many adolescents who intend to practice abstinence fail to actually do so, and they often fail to use condoms or other forms of contraception when they do have intercourse.

When was abstinence only education introduced?

The Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) was the first of these, created in 1981, followed by the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program, created in 1996 as part of welfare reform legislation, and finally the Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE), the most restrictive of the three, was created in 2000.

What is the failure rate of abstinence?

By studying research on teens who abstained for a period of time, Haignere found that abstinence has a user-failure rate between 26 and 86 percent. This rate is higher than the condom user-failure rate, which is between 12 and 70 percent.

Is abstinence-only education religious?

Introduction: Abstinence-only education is one of the religious right’s greatest victories. But it is only one tactic in a broader, longer-term strategy.

Should abstinence education be taught in public schools?

Abstinence education should be added to sex education programs taught in public schools. Most public schools have a sex education program intended to prepare young people for sex by arming them with the information to make responsible decisions about sex, contraceptives, STDs, and the potential mental and emotional effects.

Do abstinence-only until marriage programs work?

First, almost no abstinence-only-until-marriage program has been shown to have any impact on young people’s behavior. So they don’t work. Actually, sex education programs that include lessons on both abstinence and birth control have a better track record of helping young people wait to have sex.

How has abstinence-only sex education affected sex education?

Abstinence-only-until-marriage approaches have set back sex education, family planning, and HIV-prevention efforts. Between 2002 and 2014, the percentage of schools in the U.S. that require students to learn about human sexuality fell from 67 percent to 48 percent, and requirements for HIV prevention declined from 64 percent to 41 percent.

What does the abstinence-plus curriculum say about gay relationships?

The abstinence-plus curriculum highlights abstinence and encourages young people not to have sex until marriage. Yet, in most states, gay couples are not permitted to marry. The comprehensive sex education program I was taught did not ignore the gay relationship, nor were other forms of intercourse left unexplained.