Religious group teaches unusual sex-ed lessons in Maryland PUBLIC schools

glatt · 02-10-2007, 08:34 AM

A non-profit religious based pregnancy counseling center in Maryland was invited into Maryland PUBLIC schools to teach sex education. As part of their presentation, they encouraged teenagers to abstain from sex to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases. To demonstrate how diseases are spread, the speaker from the Rockville Pregnancy Center asked students to share gum that had already been chewed, passing it from student to student. The speaker also offered squares of chocolate to students, but told them one of the squares was actually a laxative. In both exercises, no students were forced to eat/chew the candy, but many did. These presentations were done at multiple public schools.

It's outrageous that a religious group was brought into a public school in the first place. I don't know what the schools were thinking. With their religious slant, it's not surprising that the group was pushing abstinence. I've got no problem teaching teens that having unprotected sex can lead to diseases. I strongly encourage that. But the teaching methods are really kind of crazy. Hundreds of kids participated across the county, and nobody knows for sure how many actually shared the chewing gum but it was a lot of them.

The most amazing thing to me though is that even when the students were told some of the chocolate was really a laxative, they ate it anyway. And even though they knew it was the height of cold and flu season, they still swapped the gum between scores of students. Teens clearly don't make good decisions. Apparently neither do school officials.

The story.

Edit: Be sure not to miss the link on the Rockville Pregnancy Center's website. "Take a test to see if you're going to Heaven!"

Bullitt · 02-10-2007, 11:41 AM

This doesn't seem so "omg" to me since my public high school pushed abstinence above all methods of birth control. Their methods seem a little sketch though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

Teens clearly don't make good decisions. Apparently neither do school officials.

Now that right there is the understatement of the year

xoxoxoBruce · 02-10-2007, 01:50 PM

My first reaction to the "Gum Game" was disgust and dismay the kids would do this. Ooh yucky! But thinking on it a bit, is it really more risky than kissing... not kiss Mom goodnight...teens chewing each others faces?

The school board is so pathetically typical. This has been going on for what, 9 years, before they get wind of it? But when they do, mount the high horses, we'll stick it up the bottom of this, heads will roll, scapegoats will be sacrificed. Asshats.

Phil · 02-10-2007, 02:03 PM

all religions should be left out of schooling.

Pie · 02-10-2007, 02:20 PM

"as long as there are exams there will always be prayer in school"

xoxoxoBruce · 02-10-2007, 02:34 PM

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Cloud · 02-10-2007, 06:59 PM

far better than no sex ed at all, and I bet they'll always remember it

Ronald Cherrycoke · 02-10-2007, 07:17 PM

If I remember H.S. correctly... I think the students are sharing more than gum!

Phil · 02-11-2007, 10:04 AM

sex ed when i was at school consisted of a diagram of an alien (fallopian tubes and uterus) and an embarrassed teacher who didnt like the word "sperm".

Sundae · 02-12-2007, 12:44 PM

I'm a bit baffled as to what they intended to prove:

"Chewing other people's gum is putting yourself at the risk of infection, just like having multiple sexual partners. So don't do it kids! Oops, you just have, in this class, at my suggestion...... Erm....."

"Having unprotected sex is like playing Russian Roulette with a square of laxative chocolate. And let face it, if you wouldn't take a chance on the health of your bowels then why.... Eh? You mean you've eaten it anyway? So you're willing to risk the shits because chocolate is just sooooo good, what would you risk to dip your wick? Ah. An STD. I see, return to your seats please."

But then I'm not going to heaven. Officially. So what do I know?

Phil · 02-12-2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I'm a bit baffled as to what they intended to prove:

"Chewing other people's gum is putting yourself at the risk of infection, just like having multiple sexual partners. So don't do it kids! Oops, you just have, in this class, at my suggestion...... Erm....."

"Having unprotected sex is like playing Russian Roulette with a square of laxative chocolate. And let face it, if you wouldn't take a chance on the health of your bowels then why.... Eh? You mean you've eaten it anyway? So you're willing to risk the shits because chocolate is just sooooo good, what would you risk to dip your wick? Ah. An STD. I see, return to your seats please."

But then I'm not going to heaven. Officially. So what do I know?

people who chew gum are destined to become junkie - sluts?

Aliantha · 02-12-2007, 05:52 PM

Interesting theory, and I agree with some of the other posters. Most teenagers spend a lot of their spare time sucking face with other teenagers, so they're swapping spit anyway. I guess the fact that they obviously swapped gum etc with no visible effects doesn't really demonstrate the dangers involved with unprotected sex though does it? I'd suggest that it only reinforces the teenage ideal of being 10 foot tall and bullet proof.

Urbane Guerrilla · 02-16-2007, 01:40 AM

Or else people who chew gum are destined to blow pink bubbles.

Be warned: bubble gum and mustaches don't necessarily mix well.

Aliantha · 02-16-2007, 03:28 AM

Nor does bubble gum and long hair which is unrestrained.

02-18-2007, 06:08 PM

Separation of church and State... it is so easy, if you are not an idiot I guess.

02-10-2007, 08:34 AM	#1
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Religious group teaches unusual sex-ed lessons in Maryland PUBLIC schools A non-profit religious based pregnancy counseling center in Maryland was invited into Maryland PUBLIC schools to teach sex education. As part of their presentation, they encouraged teenagers to abstain from sex to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases. To demonstrate how diseases are spread, the speaker from the Rockville Pregnancy Center asked students to share gum that had already been chewed, passing it from student to student. The speaker also offered squares of chocolate to students, but told them one of the squares was actually a laxative. In both exercises, no students were forced to eat/chew the candy, but many did. These presentations were done at multiple public schools. It's outrageous that a religious group was brought into a public school in the first place. I don't know what the schools were thinking. With their religious slant, it's not surprising that the group was pushing abstinence. I've got no problem teaching teens that having unprotected sex can lead to diseases. I strongly encourage that. But the teaching methods are really kind of crazy. Hundreds of kids participated across the county, and nobody knows for sure how many actually shared the chewing gum but it was a lot of them. The most amazing thing to me though is that even when the students were told some of the chocolate was really a laxative, they ate it anyway. And even though they knew it was the height of cold and flu season, they still swapped the gum between scores of students. Teens clearly don't make good decisions. Apparently neither do school officials. The story. Edit: Be sure not to miss the link on the Rockville Pregnancy Center's website. "Take a test to see if you're going to Heaven!" Last edited by glatt; 02-10-2007 at 08:42 AM.

02-10-2007, 01:50 PM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	My first reaction to the "Gum Game" was disgust and dismay the kids would do this. Ooh yucky! But thinking on it a bit, is it really more risky than kissing... not kiss Mom goodnight...teens chewing each others faces? The school board is so pathetically typical. This has been going on for what, 9 years, before they get wind of it? But when they do, mount the high horses, we'll stick it up the bottom of this, heads will roll, scapegoats will be sacrificed. Asshats. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-10-2007, 02:03 PM	#4
Phil Hoodoo Guru Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 304	all religions should be left out of schooling. __________________ Atheist n A person to be pitied in that he is unable to believe things for which there is no evidence, and who has thus deprived himself of a convenient means of feeling superior to others.

02-10-2007, 02:20 PM	#5
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	"as long as there are exams there will always be prayer in school" __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

02-10-2007, 02:34 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Not that there's anything wrong with that. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-10-2007, 06:59 PM	#7
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	far better than no sex ed at all, and I bet they'll always remember it __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

02-10-2007, 07:17 PM	#8
Ronald Cherrycoke Master Locutor Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 153	If I remember H.S. correctly... I think the students are sharing more than gum!

02-11-2007, 10:04 AM	#9
Phil Hoodoo Guru Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 304	sex ed when i was at school consisted of a diagram of an alien (fallopian tubes and uterus) and an embarrassed teacher who didnt like the word "sperm". __________________ Atheist n A person to be pitied in that he is unable to believe things for which there is no evidence, and who has thus deprived himself of a convenient means of feeling superior to others.

02-12-2007, 12:44 PM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I'm a bit baffled as to what they intended to prove: "Chewing other people's gum is putting yourself at the risk of infection, just like having multiple sexual partners. So don't do it kids! Oops, you just have, in this class, at my suggestion...... Erm....." "Having unprotected sex is like playing Russian Roulette with a square of laxative chocolate. And let face it, if you wouldn't take a chance on the health of your bowels then why.... Eh? You mean you've eaten it anyway? So you're willing to risk the shits because chocolate is just sooooo good, what would you risk to dip your wick? Ah. An STD. I see, return to your seats please." But then I'm not going to heaven. Officially. So what do I know? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

02-12-2007, 05:52 PM	#12
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Interesting theory, and I agree with some of the other posters. Most teenagers spend a lot of their spare time sucking face with other teenagers, so they're swapping spit anyway. I guess the fact that they obviously swapped gum etc with no visible effects doesn't really demonstrate the dangers involved with unprotected sex though does it? I'd suggest that it only reinforces the teenage ideal of being 10 foot tall and bullet proof. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

02-16-2007, 01:40 AM	#13
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Or else people who chew gum are destined to blow pink bubbles. Be warned: bubble gum and mustaches don't necessarily mix well. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

02-16-2007, 03:28 AM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Nor does bubble gum and long hair which is unrestrained. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

02-18-2007, 06:08 PM	#15
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Separation of church and State... it is so easy, if you are not an idiot I guess.

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