Teenage pregnancy has been a national epidemic for decades now, beginning during the 1950s. Premature parenthood is more than a nine month interruption in a young woman’s life. Rather, it can further complicate a life that may already be deficient in promise, hope, and dreams for the future. Young adolescents are simply just not ready to take on the responsibility of another life other than their own. Many states in the United States have developed abstinence-based classes, teaching young students not to have sex until they become married. “But a CDC study shows that only 12 percent of those who take virginity vows keep them” (Castleman). Many individuals argue that abstinence-based classes are not the key to success; rather, Safe Sex
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In many schools today there are some type of sex education course required for all students to take. In many cases it is either an abstinence-based or a safe sex course. Many people would disagree and say that teaching young children ways to practice safe sex is unmoral, instead they want to tell them to remain pure until marriage. The negative viewers on safe education are usually not informed about how safe education programs work, therefore they choose abstinence over teaching safe sex. Safe sex programs teach young adolescents about contraceptives they can use to prevent pregnancy as well as teach them about sexually transmitted diseases. Abstinence-based programs are often given to students in the hope to scare them away from sex instead of teaching them how they could prevent the negative sides of sexual activity. “The abstinence push began in 1998. Abstinence programs ask teens to vow virginity until marriage. Abstinence-only sex education is most deeply entrenched in the South, and notably less popular in the rest of the country” (Castleman). However, studies show the south has higher pregnancy rates than other states, sometimes two to three times higher. Many studies have shown that abstinence based courses are not the key to success to dropping rates of teenage pregnancies. “Researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, analyzed 26 studies of efforts to reduce teen pregnancy. Abstinence-only programs did not delay first intercourse. In fact, pregnancies often increased” (Castleman). Study after study you will find nothing but negative aspects that come from the abstinence-based programs. Kathrin F. Stranger-Hall, an assistant professor in the biology department at the University of Georgia, has done a vast amount of research in the two different sex education courses. Her study showed “the more strongly abstinence is emphasized (in state laws and policies, the
In many schools today there are some type of sex education course required for all students to take. In many cases it is either an abstinence-based or a safe sex course. Many people would disagree and say that teaching young children ways to practice safe sex is unmoral, instead they want to tell them to remain pure until marriage. The negative viewers on safe education are usually not informed about how safe education programs work, therefore they choose abstinence over teaching safe sex. Safe sex programs teach young adolescents about contraceptives they can use to prevent pregnancy as well as teach them about sexually transmitted diseases. Abstinence-based programs are often given to students in the hope to scare them away from sex instead of teaching them how they could prevent the negative sides of sexual activity. “The abstinence push began in 1998. Abstinence programs ask teens to vow virginity until marriage. Abstinence-only sex education is most deeply entrenched in the South, and notably less popular in the rest of the country” (Castleman). However, studies show the south has higher pregnancy rates than other states, sometimes two to three times higher. Many studies have shown that abstinence based courses are not the key to success to dropping rates of teenage pregnancies. “Researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, analyzed 26 studies of efforts to reduce teen pregnancy. Abstinence-only programs did not delay first intercourse. In fact, pregnancies often increased” (Castleman). Study after study you will find nothing but negative aspects that come from the abstinence-based programs. Kathrin F. Stranger-Hall, an assistant professor in the biology department at the University of Georgia, has done a vast amount of research in the two different sex education courses. Her study showed “the more strongly abstinence is emphasized (in state laws and policies, the