In a troubling reversal, the nation's teen birth rate rose for the first time in 15 years, surprising government health officials and reviving the bitter debate about abstinence-only sex education.
The birth rate had been dropping since its peak in 1991, although the decline had slowed in recent years. On Wednesday, government statisticians said it rose 3 percent from 2005 to 2006.
The reason for the increase is not clear, and federal health officials said it might be a one-year statistical blip, not the beginning of a new upward trend.
However, some experts said they have been expecting a jump. They blamed it on increased federal funding for abstinence-only health education that doesn't teach teens how to use condoms and other contraception.
Some key sexually transmitted disease rates have been rising, including syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. The rising teen pregnancy rate is part of the same phenomenon, said Dr. Carol Hogue, an Emory University professor of maternal and child health.
"It's not rocket science," she said.
I feel badly for all of these children whose lives have been damaged by a poor educational model based on repression and fear of sex.
Just say no, did not work to stop drug use and it certainly will not work in stopping hormonal teenagers from having sex.
We should be teaching more than just sex, teach masturbation, oral and other forms of safer sex. There are many things that can be done sexually that dont end in pregancy, nor transmit STD's. Just like abstenance not everybody will follow. People in the end will do what they want, as adults we just need to provide guidance, and assistance. Closing your eyes and sceaming 'moral values' just dont work.
ReplyDeleteYeah I would probably end the lesson well before I gave instruction concerning oral or anal sex, as that would be a much too much information in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteBut I would certainly suggest that telling middle school kids that masturbation is normal and healthy would not be out of line, as it will actually allow them to understand their bodies and sexuality better. Once again I would not be willing to give too much instruction in that area.
But simply saying "sex is wrong, don't do it until God gives permission" is much too simple of an approach.