*04.27.2004 - 8:57 a.m.*

Abstinence Only Education

Ok, question for the masses. How are children supposed to learn about sex? From their parents? From their school? Or through their own invention (i.e. playing doctor, porn, books, etc.)?

Parents are continually becoming more and more absent from children's lives. Either both parents work, or both parents can't stand the idea of a "stay at home" or the parents are divorced. So, lets rule out parents as a source of information.

Schools. Up to now, sex ed in schools has been the way for children to learn about sex. The physical aspects, the possible emotional aspects, etc. I remember being taught in 6th grade about STDs and how not to get them, and what to look for, and what protection is out there.

Thankfully, I've had parents who were around and explained to me "Where babies come from" when I was five, and a school nurse to show me Discovery Channel videos about human reproduction and sexuality when I was in the teens. My questions have always been answered.

What about kids who are still clueless? Kids who are 16 and still don't know that it is possible to get STDs from oral sex? Kids who don't know that oral sex is a form of sex? Where are their questions going to be answered? Here? Or here? Who will answer their questions? The non-existent parents? The school teachers preaching abstinence only under Bush's administration?

Sex happens. It's physiological. It's hard wired into our brains, and it's kicked to life at puberty. Kids are going to experiment. Kids are going to ask questions. If we deny these kids correct inormation, then we are doing more damage then good. Would you send a soldier to war if s/he doesn't know how to fire a weapon? Give the soldier time, and s/he'll learn, if s/he's not killed first. Same deal here. Given time, kids can figure things out for themselves, provided they don't get diseased, or raped, or violated, or subjected to any one of the many sexual perversion that exist today (pet sex and necrophillia immediately spring to mind).

To Bush I say this: I appreciate your intentions, but in a society where sex sells and it is prevalent in everything around us, abstinence only education is idealistic at best. Abstinence is good, it is the most certain way to avoid STDs and pregnancy. However, in a world where sex is everywhere, sex will happen. Married or not. Of consenting age or not. Instead of ignoring the problems, make sure that kids have access to answers for their questions. Make sure kids are informed about what is around them.

And on that note, I have a macroecon paper to write.