The newly moderate Kansas school board has repealed another of the former conservative majority’s standards —“abstinence only” sex education — replacing it with a comprehensive policy that emphasizes abstinence but also provides information on contraception.
It’s a more balanced and educationally sound approach, especially considering a study released last month showing that “abstinence only” programs don’t really change the behavior of teens.
The board also rescinded the standard that parents sign permission slips for their children to attend sex ed classes, instead leaving it up to local school districts to decide.
As always, the changes are advisory and won’t have much of an effect on the Wichita school district, which already emphasizes comprehensive sex ed and parental opt-in, but it’s a welcome shift of focus and sign of the board’s return to mainstream common sense.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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35 Comments
This is good news, I have known far to many incidence of a teen being taught abstinence only that are now dealing with not only the shock and mental problems of having found out of their teen pregnancy. But the feeling of letting down their teen in a real life matter.
Are we seeing the beginning of the end of the Christian Taliban in Kansas??
I think it’s always instructive when liberal journalists label the two sides of an issue as “conservative” on one hand and “moderate” or “mainstream” on the other. The words “moderate” or “mainstream” really mean “agrees with me” in liberal journalese. Just keep an eye on the Eagle’s reporting on lots of issues. When they use this breakdown, “conservative” means “backward and ignorant”, while “moderate” means “agrees with our liberal agenda”. In an editorial piece, of course it is OK for Scholfield or anyone else to express biases, but it happens all the time in the Eagle’s “news” reports too.
Hey! You mean that the abstinence thing did’t work for the christian crazies? I thought that we won the war on drugs by Nancy’s “Just Say No” policy.
Outstanding. Now they need to have condoms and information for the pill available. Once they start teaching that abortion kills kids, the circle will be complete. END THE NEED FOR ABORTION.
Those extremists that were kicked off BOE are “conservative” like the KKK is “Christian”.
The election last year when the ultra wigged out crazy Connie Morris got booted was proof that “mainstream” people are tired of these nut cases. This newest action by the BOE is one more sign they are returning to reality–after hiring a qualified person to be commissioner. What a concept!
Just for the record, since some of you still have to generalize everything issue into a conservative vs liberal and republican vs democrat. I am a Christian and I’m all for this change! I’m against abortion being used as birth control but until we teach these kids that it can happen on the first time and that there are a multitude of options to keep it from happening, we’re still going to have thousands of young girls (and adults because they didn’t learn it when they were young) needing/wanting them. I just hope that they still stress that abstinence is the BEST method!
The conservatives are the ones who elected these people in the first place. And Ken Willard was elected by conservatives again in Wichita’s and my distict.
I am SO relieved that they’re finally ditching the bad policies. At least that’s one positive.
I do wish the article would have pointed out that Ken Willard voted against this change.
Protecting him are we?
Along with the talk of sex education there should be the discussion of what happens if you do become pregnant.
There is another alternative to having the baby (when you are not ready or prepared) or abortion (not allowing the baby life). There is the option of adoption. The most selfless gift anyone can give another. It is not an easy decision to make and it requires a lot of support for the mother and father (if he’s around) but the end result is a child having an opportunity at a life their biological parents could not give them at the time and a couple of childless parents being able to have baby.
The payback is priceless!
sts, sol – good comments. We need to teach contraception and we also need to teach abuot adoption as an alternative.
One other thing I think is needed is reform in the adoption laws. An adoptive parent should not have to constantly worry about an egg donor or sperm donor showing up years later.
I AGREE BEN!
And once that mother signs the papers, it’s a done deal unless the child was stolen or something.
No take backs.
The father should not have to sign over rights.
Yes, adoption should absolutely be a done deal. Too many adoptive parents have gotten their hearts torn apart.
Ben, I’m not sure in what context you were referring to the “egg donor”, but the bio Mom has a much bigger stake in the matter than the bio Dad, who may be nothing more than a sperm donor. We are forever grateful to our son’s bio Mom, who abandoned her plans for an abortion and allowed an amazing life to come into this world. She deserves a lot of credit for her courage in not taking the easy way out.
I wish it were a world were abstinence only sex education worked. I have a tendency to believe that the amoral (not immoral) teaching of sex today lends adult credence to behavior that should not happen, and leads to more sex. However, regardless of my wishes, it simply does not work anymore. Maybe it never did. ALthough in my day, far less sex went on than was bragged about, and that happens now on a whim. I think the suggestions above are excellent. i think that teenage fathers and mothers should be brought in and let THEM explain the consequences. I think all options (including abortion) should be discussed and discussed thoroughly. I also think those that have incurable diseases such as genital herpes should be included. Then, methods of limiting the consequences of premarital sex should be discussed. All of them. Then, abstinence should be taught as the best, not the only, way to avoid the consequences. I wish it were not so. Wishing does not face reality. Many are not getting the education they need at home. (or the attention). Sad commentary
So, abstinence is the best method of birth control. This from a religion founded on a virgin giving birth? Okayyy, which one’s right here?
Jed, you stepped on it. Virginal birth… abstinence… what’s your point?
While my Christian heritage teaches me abstinence is best, the evidence is quite clear that it is the BEST METHOD of birth control It is 100% effective, there are no drugs or hormones placedinto young girls bodies, their are no condoms to either “forget” to use or fail. For the girls, especially young teenage girs, there are no “but he said he loved me” tears of remorse. Etc. However, because i is not universally practiced, everything should be taught, it is poor policy not to.
Sol,My point is that you are advocating as the only sure method of birth control the one that if it were as sure as you say, you wouldn’t have a religion!
Sol,My point is that you are advocating as the only sure method of birth control the one that if it were as sure as you say, you wouldn’t have a religion!_____________________________________Posted by: Jed | May 10, 2007 at 11:40 AM
OK, lots of problems here. First, go to the top of this thread and read what I – myself, no labels or monikers, just little old me – is advocating.
Second, Mary was abstinent. Thus the virgin birth. Does the phrase ‘virginal birth’ confuse you?
Third, abstinence ***IS*** the ONLY form of birth control that is 100% effective.
Uh, SCOTUS has ruled that the father has a constitutional right to be notified of an adoption and to assert his parental rights. Don’t have the cite, but this case is >20 years old, IIRC. Thus, the need for notice to the father so he may have the opportunity to assert his rights, if he doesn’t consent to the adoption, or to obtain his consent.
Sol, he’s trying to say that it can’t be 100% fool-proof if Mary gave birth.
Unfortunately Jed, it’s obvious that you are grasping for straws. That is considered a miracle and although God can do anything he wants, I don’t see it happening again anytime soon. So, unless God chooses another young girl practicing abstinence to produce another son, it is still 100% the best birth-control out there. And wether you agree with that or not, it’s still extremely better than condoms or such. But like I said above, I believe we should teach ALL of the choices and consequences and hope that all kids can start making the best choices.
outlander – i might have been a bit harsh in my choice of words. The main point is that you should be able to be secure now and not have to worry about anyone ’showing up.’
I would give an exception for sentimental and medical reasons but that is about it.
I would give the father a say IF (and a BIG IF) he is involved from the beginning. And, depending upon circumstances, maybe even grandparents. But, once it’s done – IT’S DONE.
I am not sure how the virgin Mary is relevant to this topic, but it is obvious that the story of the virgin birth is false, just one of the many fairy tales that make up the Christian religion.
It is not possible to get pregnant without having sex.
That is why it is so dangerous to let the fundie right make decsions regarding sex education. People that believe a virgin got pregnant and that dinosaurs ate salads on the ark are not fit to make decsions regarding the education of children.
Are we seeing the beginning of the end of the Christian Taliban in Kansas??
Posted by: Kev
You’re wishful thinking or oblivious that Alexa’s law was signed into law yesterday–by a liberal, pro-abortion governor, no less.
Alexa’s law is a good first step towards ending legalized abortion–well, if this action by the “moderate” school board doesn’t eliminate it first (per earlier posts).
VT,Outstanding, as it should be. The problem might lie with poop-head dads that just want to cause trouble.
On the positive side, the Dad is half responsible (in most cases) for creating the child, he should be at least half responsible for making the correct decisions in either raising the child or letting another family give his child a life.
Scott, you just proved that you haven’t even read the whole thread… Once again, some of you are so wrapped up in your hate, intolerance, and rush to categorize everyone and everything that you don’t even realize that there are quite a few of us “crazy” Christians who actually agree with this change to sex education. Like I’ve already said twice on here, I think it’s great, everyone should hear about ALL of the choices but I still believe that abstinence is the best and only guaranteed birth control.
I was taught abstinence in a old fashion way as the teacher who taught the health class told us about the function of the human body, then later on we were ushered into the auditorium to see the “sex” film. The projector always broke down at the sperm segment. :D
It was funny now that I think of it, as girls went separately from boys to view the same video, but came out much “quieter” than the boys.
It didn’t really help as the “crotch” staring and obvious development of the females in areas where there hadn’t been any noticeable growth, somehow seemed excitingly enhanced! :) :)
Then there was the binoculars and the adult rated Drive In Movie theaters episodes. Well, never mind about that. :D
Let’s just say, it’s better to be informed about possible scenarios of sex than to be guessing about it and going exploring on your own which may lead to undesirable results. Being as there is an increase in female pregnancy, I don’t think the education opportunities of “sex” really affect it one way or another.
However, teaching responsibility in a sexual relationship may offer advantages over irresponsibility.
Now where did I put that Playboy mag…
The thing that always bothered me about the sex ed classes that my kids took was the blaring absence of any teaching of the responsibilities that come with sex.
I always stressed to my kids that if you engage in sex, there are responsibilities that come with that choice. If you feel you cannot handle the responsibilities, then don’t engage in sex.
But in today’s society where everything is sexual – movies, music or marketing any product by having a half-naked woman writhing and slithering around; why do we expect our young children to not be sexual?
On one hand we overwhelm them with sexual images and then we try to tell them that abstinence is the way to go? No wonder our young people think we are full of it.
“Now where did I put that Playboy mag…”
That is obviously the only “sex” you ever got.
Imagine teaching young students how awful and pschologicaly taxing an abortion can be….and then hand them some condoms and let them know there is a way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Teach them about the pill. And tell them the Pope and Pat Robertson are OLD and will be dead before they reach the age of 30.
But VT, that’s the very reason why some women would rather get an abortion.
There is no better way for an abusive man to stay in the life of his victim.
The man takes the baby, and sues mom for child support.
“Just for the record, since some of you still have to generalize everything issue into a conservative vs liberal and republican vs democrat.”
Not every issue breaks down that way but, for the most part, they do.
I took the liberty of pulling my “Shorter Oxford English Dictionary” off the shelf to get a precise definition of “hobbyhorse.” Here goes:
“A topic to which a person constantly recurs or in which he or she shows an obsessive interest.”
The dictionary quotes C. McCullough as follows: “He also had a tendency to be downright boring once he climbed aboard his hobbyhorse.”
Sounds about right. And the headline is appropriately bitter.
However, my all-time favorite bitter headline at “We Blog” is still, “Anti Arena Rally Could Have Been Held At Denny’s.”
Sex education is a great thing; we are always better off with knowledge than ignorance. However it would be a mistake to assume that sex ed and birth control are going to put an end to abortion. The reasons women have for abortion are many and varied; not all, or even most abortions are the result of teen pregnancy.Sex ed and available birth control will certainly cut down the numbers, which is all to the good, but to assume that’s all we need to do to end it? It won’t end it any more than a law against it will. We have a lot of problems to be solved before we can begin to talk about ending abortion.
Sex education is a great thing; we are always better off with knowledge than ignorance. However it would be a mistake to assume that sex ed and birth control are going to put an end to abortion. The reasons women have for abortion are many and varied; not all, or even most abortions are the result of teen pregnancy.Sex ed and available birth control will certainly cut down the numbers, which is all to the good, but to assume that’s all we need to do to end it? It won’t end it any more than a law against it will. We have a lot of problems to be solved before we can begin to talk about ending abortion.