Abstinence Doesn't Cut It

Posted by William Gee

    In Texas, there is an alarming trend of teen pregnancies occurring.  In an effort to prevent teens from having, what conservatives call "relations", Governor Rick Perry set forth the abstinence only sex education plan in our children's schools.  This program is producing very disappointing results, as it not only prevents teens from having sex, but it is causing an increase in unplanned pregnancies.  In Kaylin Jureczki's article, Texas, why so many unplanned pregnancies?, she brings a valid argument to this issue. She expresses the need for teaching teens properly about sex education in schools, the importance of birth control, and the government assissted programs that help to curb unprotected sex.
      
     The times are changing.  Our kids are changing. Why doesn't the Board of Education realize this? Why is Governor Perry afraid to admit that his "glorious plan" is backfiring? Miss Jureczki states that teens are becoming more sexually active at younger ages than that of a decade ago.  I believe this is true.  But, does every generation say this about each successor?  If I recall, I was still playing hide-and seek and hitting lightning bugs with wiffle ball bats when I was in my early teens.  I am laughing at myself as I write this when I remember that "1st and 2nd base" were a young boy's coming of age triumph, so to speak.  I was taught sex education in middle school.  You could feel the tension in the classroom and the nervous snickering amongst the students.  For most, I believe that this was enough to prepare or prevent from engaging in sexual activity.  The idea of teaching abstinence sounds like the right thing to do, however, by saying, "don't do this" or "don't do that" will only bring out a negative reaction by teens.  The constant pressing of abstinence by the school, church, and parents will not supercede the peer pressures a teen experiences in this stage of their life.  Miss Jureczki's article accurately expresses the need for a change in how our teens are being properly informed about sex and the consequences that can come from it.

     The article also points out another concerning issue. Recent budget cuts to Planned Parenthood will also adversely affect the prevention of teen pregnancies.  For sexually active teens, Planned Parenthood is a necessity for accessing birth control and important education to prevent unprotected sex and unplanned pregnancies. This is another ridiculous measure by our governor, who recently signed a bill, de-funding Planned Parenthood.  I agree with the author that we need to keep this "lifeline" open to the low income citizens who make up the majority of unplanned pregnancies.

    While the article stated viable solutions to the prevention of teen pregnancy, there appeared to be a missing source.  What are the parents of these teens doing to prevent this?  It is not enough to rely on our schools to "babysit" our teens. Being divorced and a father of 3 teens, 2 sons and a daughter, I feel it is very important to talk to them. Having that one time birds and the bees talk is not enough these days. No matter how embarrassing it is for teens, and the parents for that matter, it is important to continuously remind them.  I am not advocating that they have sex at this age, but it is equally important to educate them about having protected sex.  The old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" comes to mind. 

    Overall, I found the article to contain valid arguments to a very concerning issue. Abstinence programs are failing our younger generation, and a change in education is urgently needed.  Texas conservatives need to admit that their sons and daughters are having "relations" behind their backs and it is up to these majorities to accept defeat, embrace change, and allow our kids a prosperous future.