Want to reduce the number of abortions? Tell your legislators to fund comprehensive sex ed in public schools.

Ken Schram: Facts confront fantasy in sex education | KOMO-TV - Seattle, Washington | News
By Ken Schram

SEATTLE -- Some people hate it when fact confronts fantasy.

Conservatives who believe in abstinence-only sex education are all bristly over a University of Washington study that says that particular brand of sex-ed just isn't working all too well.

U-dub researchers took a national sampling of teens and found that when taught about condoms and birth control - along with abstinence - teens are half as likely to become parents as those who only get the "don't have sex" message.

Not only that, the study also says teens who get comprehensive sex-ed are no more likely to actually have sex than teens who are simply told wait till you're married.

Mind you, the federal government has already spent $1.5 billion on abstinence-only sex-ed at the insistence of conservatives.

So of course this new information is driving them nuts.

Rather than confront proof that abstinence only messages are not working - are indeed hurting kids - they'd rather continue to believe that imposing their moral values on teens is enough to keep kids chaste and virginal.

Like I said, some people really hate it when fact confronts fantasy.

Just cause somthing in it present form may not be working, doesnt mean we shouldnt be finding new ways to make it work. Especialy with what is at stake.

If what is at stake is stopping or slowing down the number of abortions, don't you think it's wiser to go with something that DOES work and not try to continue a program that isn't working?

Sounds to me that you are more interested in stopping sex then stopping abortions. And that just isn't going to happen.

abstinence-only sex ed has down about as much for lowering teen pregnancy as have a nice day has down for lowering depression.

The only way to ensure your child isn't going to get knocked up or knock someone else up is to ensure 1) they know they should not have sex if they feel pressured, pressuring is not the sign someone loves you 2) your child knows you'll love them no matter their choice 3) teach them about preventive measures and give your teenage son a condom (or 2 depending on how much he makes the girls swoon), let your girls go on the pill but they should always use a condom 4) boys should never pressure girls its a form of bullying, they should always respect women for the wonderful beautiful creatures they are 5) its OK to say no and no really means no 6) if you're my daughter you're not going to have sex until you're at least 30...OK maybe the last one is unreasonable

I've always taught my boys to respect women. They talk to me about things, I make sure they know the risks of having sex, etc.

And having to help take care of infants (little brothers) is the best EVER birth control device for teenagers. I mean, take care, 24/7, change diapers, feed, etc, not the 'lets play dolly' type of take care. After seeing the amount of work they are, none of my boys has any interest in taking a chance on getting a girl pregnant.

What worked best for me and so I do it to my boys too..is something my Dad told me..Treat every girl as if she was your sister, if you think you want to have sex with her ask yourself how would you feel if some guy wanted to have sex with your sister, when you can answer I'm Ok with the idea my sister i having sex then you're ready ...there is no bigger turnoff

However as I am still not Ok with the idea it didn't work forever but it really worked when I was 14-16

Since the ones who got the "don't have sex" message had a much higher rate of pregnancy, it seems fairly obvious that they are ignorant and in need of further instruction.

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And what about the relationship with their parents of the ones who became pregnant?

It's simple statistics, those who received comprehensive sex ed had few pregnancies. Those who received abstinence-only sex ed had more pregnancies.

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How does an abstinence message hurt kids??!? Please try to explain that one. And are you seriously suggesting that parents should simply abandon attempts to impose any kind of moral values on their children, and let them do whatever they want??

You're misreading or perhaps deliberately misleading...it's an abstinence-ONLY message that hurts kids. Why? Because (1) it is doomed to failure, and (2) when it does fail, kids don't know how to protect themselves. By the time kids get to be teen-agers, it isn't a matter of "letting" them do whatever they want, because they are going to. It is a matter of guiding them so that they see the value in doing the right thing, and so they WANT to do that.

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The fact is that this kind of "research" is far far too subjective to be of any value - except to those who want to replace fact with fantasy.

It's simple statistics, and that is the fact.