The Benefits Of Abstinence-Only Education

‘Abstinence is key’ everybody claims, but not when it comes to educating our youth about safe sexual behavior. Many schools are beginning to introduce abstinence only education programs to their curriculum with the mentality that this will prevent high school students from engaging in sexual activity. This impractical method of prevention will not only hurt those being, or not being educated, it will also hinder our society. Abstinence-only education programs, many critics argue, use fear based models to scare teenagers into not engaging in sexual intercourse. Although this method may work for some, it is more dangerous than it seems. When the faulty of a school are required to answer any question with “Abstinence is the only way to prevent …show more content…
For example, David Nocenti conducted a research study that proved that “Teen pregnancy rates are higher among those who receive abstinence-only education than those who get comprehensive sex-ed (Abstinence-Only Education).” This information is not astonishing when you realize those who are receiving abstinence-only education are not receiving the tools and insight of how to have safe sex when they do decide to become sexually active. Another study, conducted t John Hopkins University revealed that there were “few differences in sexual activity between students who were taught abstinence only education and those that were not (Abstinence-Only Education).” The only key difference between these two groups was that the “abstinence-only teens did not practice safe sex (Abstinence-Only Education). The reason for this group of teens to be practicing unsafe sex is because they have not been given the understanding or the tools to be able to be safe in the activity they are engaging