TWO WEEKENDS ago Congress passed a spending bill which increased funding to abstinence-only educational programs by $30 million. These measures, buried in a $388 billion spending bill, are just the beginning of President Bush's agenda to enforce "conservative values" on young Americans.
Abstinence-based programs are the conservative's answer to dealing with sexual education for youngsters. There is no talk about safe sex, sexually transmitted infections or pregnancies -- just the trite mantra, "don't do it."
When parents give their child a new bike for Christmas, the logical step is to teach the kid how to ride safely. Obviously, this takes instruction and patience in order to ensure the child's safety.
In a world filled with sexual innuendos and graphic sexual images, television shows, movies, etc., we cannot let children simply ride (no pun intended) without instruction. Granted, parents can teach their children these lessons based on their religious or social values. However, given this sex-crazed society, we need to ensure that every child is taught basic lessons of how to have safe sex, no matter his/her parent's instruction. This is accomplished through mandatory sex education in schools.
The possible results of sexual intercourse should not be avoided in the classroom. There are incredibly dangerous consequences for sexually active youngsters, and they need to be equipped with knowledge on how to avoid these outcomes and how to deal with them if the situation arises. STIs and unwanted pregnancies are two of these detrimental results which can change a child's life. If a parent or classroom is unwilling to talk about sex without a marriage contract, how will children be able to resolve these situations without guidance?
This conservative stance is often associated with pro-life advocates. This position, however, seems contradictory. If children are not taught about safe sex and protection, there will be an increase in unwanted pregnancies, which leads to more abortions. It is inevitable that children will have sex before marriage in today's society. Simply teaching abstinence does not address the reality of today's youth. CNN reports that a National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy study proved the effectiveness of "straight talk" about sex in preventing pregnancies, and also stated that no evidence exists to suggest the same results for abstinence-based education. In order to decrease the amount of abortions, pro-life advocates should start sexual education early and teach children that safe sex is the best prevention of unwanted pregnancies.
School is the best place to teach these lessons, because parent instruction varies based on a family's religious affiliation. Teachers and administrators should not be afraid to talk about sex -- if they hear it on television, on the radio or in daily conversations, the logical place to talk to students about sex is in a safe, accurate environment like the classroom.
This educational environment does not preclude parents' teachings. School education supplements a family's social and religious views with accurate information that is not based on metaphysical reasoning. Proven statements are administered -- wear a condom to prevent STIs and pregnancies. This is not religious indoctrination or sexual promotion.
Granted, abstinence should be encouraged both at home and at school. Sexual relations may be inevitable, but a general disapproval of rampant sexual activity is needed. But to simply end the conversation at this point is frivolous.
Also, the government is not in the business to enforce religious values upon children through publicly administered education. It is there to address and remedy social problems. Unwanted pregnancies and STIs are significant problems and the best way to prevent this is to teach safe sexual practices.
Every child should be equipped with accurate knowledge in order to conduct safer sexual relations. This information is not poison to a religiously devout child. Abstinence is about strength -- hearing about condoms or HIV will not turn these children into sex demons. In fact, discourse in the classroom about the detriments of sex may deter even more children from starting at a young age and provide conviction for those abstaining until marriage.
We cannot let conservatives in Congress and the president's agenda begin to impose "conservative values" without dissenting discourse. Abstinence-based education is just the first step in increasing funding to conservative social programs. Soon, millions of dollars in funding will be allotted to programs restricting abortions and encouraging religion in public schools.
Michael Behr's column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at mbehr@cavalierdaily.com.
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