Whether we want to hear it or not, most kids are going to have sex, no matter what. Many schools around the country, especially in the South are finding they can’t just go with abstinence-only sex-education classes. According to a recent article in the Texas Tribune, most Texas schools did not apply for federal money, because they teach mostly abstinence-only programs and the federal government won’t fund those, because they don’t work.
While many religious leaders want to believe that encouraging kids to wait until marriage to have sex works, it doesn’t. This is quit obvious, because Texas has the fifth highest teen pregnancy rate in the country. Some girls as young as 13 had been pregnant twice. the numbers don’t lie and they are proving to educators that something isn’t working.
A high profile, pastor, Ed Ainsworth, speaks at schools in Texas as an abstinence-only proponent. He said the movement toward teaching about contraception made him “a little nervous.” Ainsworth, who has appeared on “Dr. Phil” and was featured prominently in the PBS documentary “The Education of Shelby Knox,” will travel this year to 50 to 60 schools in Texas, and more across the country, to deliver his abstinence-only message. He hopes to speak to students about integrity and the importance of not getting caught up in cheap sex that will hurt your heart.
“Will a condom protect your heart? As a female, will a condom protect your reputation?” Mr. Ainsworth said. “It might protect you from getting pregnant, it might protect you from getting a disease, but there’s no way it will protect your heart, mind, emotions and reputation. There’s no way. So how can we call it safe?”
This is an issue that many people feel strongly about. Some say teens are gonna do what they want no matter what. How about you? Do you think abstinence-only sex-ed can work or does their need to be education about birth control and safe sex?
