Abstinence Education
April 20, 2012 by
Filed under Latest Thoughts
In light of a recent article in the Boulder Daily Camera I would like to share a few thoughts. The article may be found here.
For the past five years I have spoken in numerous Boulder Valley Schools as a guest speaker on the topic of abstinence as a healthy option for teens to consider when making the very important decision of whether or not they want to be sexually active. Boulder Valley School District teaches comprehensive health education which includes presenting contraception and abstinence as options.
Within the medical community there are various “ideals”…A diet consisting of healthy fats, carbs & protein is considered “ideal” to keep cholesterol in check. Exercise, drinking in moderation and not smoking is considered “ideal” for overall wellness. Delaying sexual activity, limiting the number of partners and entering into a long-term, committed, monogamous relationship is considered the “ideal” for sexual health. Science stands behind all of these “ideals”. Will every person choose to strive for these ideals? Absolutely not. Does that mean we should not encourage people to strive for them? Absolutely not.
Regarding the content of any public school presentation I have done, NEVER have I presented abstinence on the basis of religion. I have never equated sexual activity with being bad or dirty. Quite the opposite. Sex is a powerful, natural and pleasurable way for two people to be intimate with one another. My message is rooted in the facts on a medical level – engaging in casual sex has potential risks both emotionally and physically. Because teen girls have an “open” and immature reproductive system, meaning the cells lining the cervix are not fully mature, that makes them more susceptible to picking up bacteria and viruses. As reported from the Center for Disease Control 1 out 4 sexually active teen girls currently has an STI or STD. This does not mean boys are not at risk. Oral HPV, commonly transmitted via oral sex, has now surpassed tobacco and alcohol as the #1 precursor to mouth cancer in adults. The face of oral cancer used to be someone in their 50s, 60s or 70s who was a heavy smoker or drinker. Today it is a young adult in her or his 30s. This is the information I share with teens regarding their sexual health surrounding the visual demonstration in question. Abstinence education is not about squashing a person’s sexuality, but rather lifting it up for the future, when he or she may enjoy & share it within the medical “ideal” of a long-term, committed relationship.
Parents are the primary educators and I always encourage the students to seek a trusted source when faced with challenges.
Keep it smooth,
Brad
Brad,
I was told that you explained the concept of secondary virginity with then kids in your presentations. So I was wondering what this is and where the idea of secondary virginity originated? Thanks,
Laura
Laura,
Yes, I do talk about this within my presentation. Many students who have been sexually active struggle with physical, emotional or psychological turmoil/stress after the fact. Too many students have the skewed idea in their minds that somehow just because they have been sexually active at some level they are “damaged goods”. Obviously, this is not the case and represents a very unhealthy self-image. For those students who have experienced some type of regret from a previous decision secondary virginity allows them to recommit to their sexuality. I do not know where or when this term first originated.
I welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person to gain a better understanding of your concerns with our message. Feel free to email directly should you be interested.
Thanks,
Brad
Brad,
Human beings are sexual beings (that’s how we got here), abstinence is an unnatural state. Full stop.
Furthermore, “the visual demonstration in question” is, imho, completely inappropriate (not to mention disgusting). Suggest you re-think it.
Susan
Dude i love the spit in a cup activity! Its a very concrete picture of having multiple sex partners, yea its gross but that’s the point. I dont know may adults who say they wish they started having sex earlier and with more people before they were in a committed monogamous relationship. It can also demonstrate that you have no idea most of the time if your sexual partner has an STD or not. 4 mil. teens get one every year, we have to do something.