Posted on 04/09/2010 8:57:05 AM PDT by JoeProBono
MAUSTON, Wis. (AP) -- Mike Taake has taught sex education for 30 years, and he says he knows what doesn't work: just telling kids to wait.
The Mauston High School health teacher has used abstinence-only and comprehensive curriculums, and he said students need all the information they can get about sex to make the best choices. But teaching them about contraceptives could land him and other teachers in court...
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Very interesting debate. The problem is that so many sex ed programs divorce sex from morals/consequences especially the ones that promote homosexuality as normal and healthy.
Would the homeschool list be interested in this?
This guy’s an idiot.
I’m not so sure about someone (an adult) who feels so strongly compelled to talk to other people’s minor children about sex...
“In Wisconsin, children under age 17 who have sex with each other can be prosecuted as juveniles. Seventeen-year-olds who have sex with one another can be convicted as adults of a misdemeanor.”
Perhaps the Wisconsin schools should just teach the legal consequences when discussing sex ed. Of course, legal consequences may not stop teens, who often feel invulnerable. Have legal consequences stopped kids from drinking or smoking pot? No.
Frankly, I don’t see how teaching about contraceptives can be argued to be “contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” He’s arguing that teaching sex ed is the *reason* kids have sex.
It would make more sense to outlaw dating, or private meetings between people under the age of 18. Sexual activity between teens occurs when they are alone, right? So anyone who lets kids be alone together is also “contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” Ban dating instead!
BTW, my son is just finishing up at a public HS, and had “sex ed.” I reviewed all the materials, of course. and there was no promotion of homosexuality. There was always a discussion of proper behavior, respect of partner, and consequences. So the sort of program you describe isn’t happening here at least.
you bad Joe
Yes they aren’t everywhere. I am glad that your son didn’t encounter one of the perverse programs out there. Our school system has an abstinence based program. They teach consequences and about STDs etc. My husband helps teach the courses.
I don’t think teaching contraception is the responsibility of the school. Sex education really isn’t either but since they are going to have something taught, I would argue for an abstinence/consequence based program.
BTW, dating has been outlawed in our home. We are raising our children for courtship. I know your ban dating was spoken tongue in cheek. I have told several people that if I was widowed and looking to remarry, I wouldn’t put myself alone in a car with a man. I surely wouldn’t put my 17 year old daughter in a car with a 17 year old boy.
The Sex Positive Agenda opposes abstinence. Look at Positive.org's "just say yes" campaign.
They see sexually promiscuity as a birthright and seek to see everyone sexually active at every age and with every thing. Experiment. No moral judgements over anything (just bragging rights).
It could be argued that teaching underage minors about contraception comes with the tacit assumption that you want them to have sex.
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Or it could be argued that it comes with the tacit assumption that you know THEY want to have sex - or at least experiment with it. Because they will have those urges, no matter what you teach them about it. It comes with the development of their bodies.
I taught my son that the urges are natural, but controllable, and it’s his responsibility to handle them so that nobody (including himself) gets hurt. Is teaching a teen about safe gun handling a tacit assumption that he is going to shoot somebody? No - but if a teen “draws a gun,” he or she should know the consequences that may arise.
Funny story that happened two weeks ago.
My husband, a youth pastor, was talking with about 60 students at our local Jr high school. He told them not to be in a place/situation that you aren’t prepared to face. Then he told them the story of David and Bathsheba without using their names or telling the class that the story was from the Bible. In the beginning of the story, it says “in a time that kings were gone out to war”. David was the King and he should have been at war instead of on that rooftop where he could see Bathsheba. After the class a young man came up to him and said that he knew where that story was from, it was from that Babylon movie. My husband just smiled.
The quote from the mother about how we can’t expect teenagers to not have sex drives me crazy. Are we raising animals? From the beginning of their lives we are telling kids that we have no expectations of self discipline or responsibility from them. We are then disappointed when that philosophy is evident in all areas of their lives, not just with sex.
In college, my roommate’s mom was a professor who told a class that it was always possible to “stop” no matter how high their passions may be. Of course, they didn’t believe her. She pointed out that if their parents walked in on them they would stop instantly. People are more dignified and intelligent than animals.
My son isn’t interested in dating - it costs too much. (LOL!) Also he has seen how romantic/sexual attachments too young can really alter a person’s future. He doesn’t want anyone limiting his choices, not even his own emotions.
But my suggestion to ban dating wasn’t totally tongue-in-cheek. You have the insight dealing with your daughter - the only way to stop sexual behavior between young people is to keep them from being alone together, If “no teen sex” is what the Wisconsin AG wants, he should ban dating.
Yes, like teaching them driver's ed encourages them to get in wrecks.
Very good point. The problem is that so many parents don’t ever teach their children self control. They give in to every whine, tantrum, and demand. You really can’t expect a teenager to control their sex drive when as a child they were never taught to control their temper/urges etc.
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