RainbowBrite86
Well-Known Member
http://living.msn.com/life-inspired/the-daily-dose-blog-post?post=fd7d5ca9-968a-445a-90a3-2950de998073&_nwpt=1
I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND
Tennessee lawmakers don’t want teenagers having sex, which is why Sex Education courses in Tennessee public schools teach kids that abstinence is the way to go. Concerned that telling teens to draw the line at sexual intercourse might not be getting the job done, however, the Tennessee State Senate recently voted 28-1 to prohibit Sex-Ed instructors, including any outside individuals or groups invited to address the students, from demonstrating or promoting “gateway sexual activity.”
The law itself is pretty vague about the meaning of “gateway sexual activity,” but the basic idea is that something less may lead to something more, the way some people believe that marijuana use leads to dangerous drugs or a cold beer on a hot afternoon is the first step toward weeklong benders in Tijuana.
By not defining “gateway sexual activity,” the senators have left it open to interpretation. Critics say the term could reasonably apply to kissing and holding hands, which can certainly lead to sex, just as first base leads to second base, then to third base, and so on. So in an effort to stop teenagers from going all the way, the Tennessee State Senate is threatening to fire teachers for discussing any alternatives other than abstinence, and giving parents the right to bring legal action against any teacher who goes beyond the approved curriculum.
The state that brought us the Scopes Monkey Trial over the sin of teaching evolution to high school students is now monkeying around with the important work of educating teens about sex, which might help them make informed decisions, rather than just telling them to "look, but don't touch" when it comes to any contact between the sexes—even something as seemingly innocent as holding hands. What’s next? A ban on flirting?
The senators’ hearts are in the right place. Tennessee ranks in the top 10 for teen pregnancy, and the incidence of teen sex at every age from 12 on up is much higher than the national average. Given that, it’s certainly understandable that lawmakers are eager to protect young people from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. But telling a bunch of hormone-driven teenagers to just say no to sex, and to avoid kissing or holding hands because they might lead to intercourse, isn’t likely to accomplish much.
Judging by Tennessee’s current teen-sex and teen-pregnancy statistics, teaching abstinence doesn’t appear to be having the desired effect, so what’s the point of extending the same failing strategy by banning any discussion of “gateway sexual activity?” Other than making a lot of teachers nervous, what does it achieve?
There’s nothing wrong with advising teens to abstain from sex, but we also need to teach them how to keep themselves and their partners safe if they choose to ignore our advice. When it comes to protecting teens from the potentially harmful consequences of their own behavior, it’s best to plan for what they could do, not what we think they should do.
I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND
Tennessee lawmakers don’t want teenagers having sex, which is why Sex Education courses in Tennessee public schools teach kids that abstinence is the way to go. Concerned that telling teens to draw the line at sexual intercourse might not be getting the job done, however, the Tennessee State Senate recently voted 28-1 to prohibit Sex-Ed instructors, including any outside individuals or groups invited to address the students, from demonstrating or promoting “gateway sexual activity.”
The law itself is pretty vague about the meaning of “gateway sexual activity,” but the basic idea is that something less may lead to something more, the way some people believe that marijuana use leads to dangerous drugs or a cold beer on a hot afternoon is the first step toward weeklong benders in Tijuana.
By not defining “gateway sexual activity,” the senators have left it open to interpretation. Critics say the term could reasonably apply to kissing and holding hands, which can certainly lead to sex, just as first base leads to second base, then to third base, and so on. So in an effort to stop teenagers from going all the way, the Tennessee State Senate is threatening to fire teachers for discussing any alternatives other than abstinence, and giving parents the right to bring legal action against any teacher who goes beyond the approved curriculum.
The state that brought us the Scopes Monkey Trial over the sin of teaching evolution to high school students is now monkeying around with the important work of educating teens about sex, which might help them make informed decisions, rather than just telling them to "look, but don't touch" when it comes to any contact between the sexes—even something as seemingly innocent as holding hands. What’s next? A ban on flirting?
The senators’ hearts are in the right place. Tennessee ranks in the top 10 for teen pregnancy, and the incidence of teen sex at every age from 12 on up is much higher than the national average. Given that, it’s certainly understandable that lawmakers are eager to protect young people from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. But telling a bunch of hormone-driven teenagers to just say no to sex, and to avoid kissing or holding hands because they might lead to intercourse, isn’t likely to accomplish much.
Judging by Tennessee’s current teen-sex and teen-pregnancy statistics, teaching abstinence doesn’t appear to be having the desired effect, so what’s the point of extending the same failing strategy by banning any discussion of “gateway sexual activity?” Other than making a lot of teachers nervous, what does it achieve?
There’s nothing wrong with advising teens to abstain from sex, but we also need to teach them how to keep themselves and their partners safe if they choose to ignore our advice. When it comes to protecting teens from the potentially harmful consequences of their own behavior, it’s best to plan for what they could do, not what we think they should do.
