Teach your kids sex ed early

[Pie]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Many parents do not fully inform their children of the risks of unprotected sex and that could be one of the reasons for such high STD and pregnancy rates among today's teenagers.

I would argue that many parents do "inform" their children -- and those same children believe (as SG did) that it won't happen to them. Teen pregnancy rates are down from the levels they achieved in the 1950s, and now we are no longer focusing on the low-hanging fruit (if you will) of kids who listen and understand the first time. Tell 'em, keep telling 'em, and test them occasionally. Then, maybe, just maybe, they'll get it.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by Pie

I would argue that many parents do "inform" their children -- and those same children believe (as SG did) that it won't happen to them. Teen pregnancy rates are down from the levels they achieved in the 1950s, and now we are no longer focusing on the low-hanging fruit (if you will) of kids who listen and understand the first time. Tell 'em, keep telling 'em, and test them occasionally. Then, maybe, just maybe, they'll get it.

Yes, many parents do inform their kids about safe sex, mine did, and I have had no problems in that area. But that isn't my point. My point is that STDs should be treated as a social problem and public schools should do what they can to help further lower STD and pregnancy rates. This is because even no matter how well a parent teaches their kids about safe sex, it only takes one mistake. A 99.9% record of not making dumb decisions means absolutely nothing if someone gets pregnant or picks up an STD during that 0.1%. I can say from personal experience that dumb decisions are easy to make when you are drunk and being pushed into something, especially for teenagers.

While I personally will guarantee that my potential future children will learn about safe sex and the consequences of unprotected sex, I would feel better if schools joined in as well since I will not know who is raising the kids that my kids may sleep with. Also, even with using precautionary measures, condoms do break, boy/girlfriends cheat, and some STDs can even be transferred through oral sex. So even if the chances of school taught safe sex having an impact is small, for me, it would still be worth it.

Originally Posted by classicman

Kids think they are invincible and bad things only happen to other people.

Well this mindset arises from the fact that many of these kids are pampered throughout their childhood. I never really had that mindset, but I also learned consequences from my actions early on. But yet, even without that invincible mindset, mistakes, bad decisions, and bad luck can still occur.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Well this mindset arises from the fact that many of these kids are pampered throughout their childhood. I never really had that mindset, but I also learned consequences from my actions early on. But yet, even without that invincible mindset, mistakes, bad decisions, and bad luck can still occur.

Although I agree with most of what you say, I shared a piece of my past to prove that intelligent, well-educated, sensible teens can still act like they have a Get Out Of Jail Free card in their back pocket. I was not pampered - I'd say almost the opposite. I was very much taught that every action has a reaction and my parents would not love me if I screwed up. And a teen pregnancy was the worst way of screwing up imaginable (STD could be hidden after all).

Good kids from well intentioned homes and decent parents screw up too.
I was 16 - which seemed so old to me then.
But I can imagine how much more daunting the whole world of sex is if you're 13, 14 etc. Too young? Yes of course. But Juliet was only 14 in Shakespeare's play. Let's not pretend it's a modern issue.

[zaithyn]

Yeah, me too. I really don't like this article.


________________
Blues

[classicman]

Kids think they are invincible and bad things only happen to other people.

[Sheldonrs]

Originally Posted by classicman

Kids think they are invincible and bad things only happen to other people.

I think I disagree with this statement. I know when I was a kid, it was mostly true. But to me, kids today seem to almost WELCOME bad things happening to themselves. Like it's a badge of honor to get pregnant at 13 or contract some disease or get expelled or suspended from school.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by Sheldonrs

I think I disagree with this statement. I know when I was a kid, it was mostly true. But to me, kids today seem to almost WELCOME bad things happening to themselves. Like it's a badge of honor to get pregnant at 13 or contract some disease or get expelled or suspended from school.

This may be a location based thing.
My niece is 15 in September. She goes to the same school I went to. No-one in her class is, or was pregnant.
There was one girl pregnant in the year above me when I was at school (she ended up in my year because of this.) We were all freaked out by her.

Different kids, different values. And please note this is NOT a class issue for me. My sister's SIL (ie, same genes as the father of my niece & nephew) quit school because she was pregnant. But then her bro (my BIL) was the only father she'd ever known. Nature? Nurture? I dunno.

I just think the media like to make out that abortions are sending the world to hell in a hand-cart.
And I think they'd lead to a more civilised society.
And unfortunately the difference is religion.

But these days you can't scare the bejesus out of teenagers.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Sheldonrs

I think I disagree with this statement. I know when I was a kid, it was mostly true. But to me, kids today seem to almost WELCOME bad things happening to themselves. Like it's a badge of honor to get pregnant at 13 or contract some disease or get expelled or suspended from school.

they don't see the end result as a life changer - they always see someone else taking care of the problem or it being resolved - Which is NOT true. Sometimes good kids do stupid things not realizing it will forever alter OR END their lives.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by classicman

they don't see the end result as a life changer - they always see someone else taking care of the problem or it being resolved - Which is NOT true. Sometimes good kids do stupid things not realizing it will forever alter OR END their lives.

They see how they think it makes them look in the eyes of their peers and they like it. Kids like to look older, edgier... that's why they smoke, drink, have sex etc. I agree with Cman in that they really don't understand the consequences for the most part, they just want to look cool to their friends. I remember girls in my high school that seemed proud that they got knocked around by their boyfriends - like dealing with these 'adult issues' made them more interesting.
Most people grow out of this if they don't do anything too stupid...

[piercehawkeye45]

I never said good kids from well intentioned homes don't screw up, in fact, I mentioned that many times. I've lived with the consequences of my actions in other areas for over a year and I expect to live with it for the rest of my life. I'm in the same boat. I was a intelligent, well-educated, sensible 20 year old who made a single decision that has made a major impact on my life.

Because of this, I fully understand why children with good parents can still make mistakes. And because of this, I would like schools to teach safe sex because that child with good parents could make a mistake with another child who hasn't had anyone to teach him or her safe sex. That could result in a very bad situation for the first child.

Also, I am not trying to make it sound like school taught safe sex has a drastic impact on student safe sex practices, but any drop in STD or pregnancy rates is worth it to me.


BTW, my pampered comment was not directed at anyone who has made a mistake because they failed to see all outcomes of a given decision. That is impossible for any teenager to achieve. My pampered comment was directed at teenagers who truly do not believe that any bad can happen to them because they have never learned the consequences of their actions. SG, you were obviously not one of those children.

[ZenGum]

I don't know when they changed it, but the age of consent in Victorian London was 12.

Yes, T-W-E-L-V-E.

Maybe Drax is off building a time machine?

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

I don't know when they changed it, but the age of consent in Victorian London was 12.

Yes, T-W-E-L-V-E.

Maybe Drax is off building a time machine?

haggis!

Yeah, but wasn't the average life expectancy like, 15?

[Pie]

You don't have to go so far back in time to see that, ZG -- my grandmother was married at nine years old. She's 84 now so it was a while ago, but not that long.

[Aliantha]

Well the victorian era didn't end till around the turn of last century, so it's close to the same time frame. Only 10 or twenty years off.

[Pie]

D'oh!