Why is it that abstinence-only programs can’t discuss contraception in a sex education class? Teaching an abstinence-only class simply means that abstinence would be taught as the only way to avoid becoming pregnant or getting an STD. By no means would that mean that abstinence-only classes wouldn’t mention contraception devices. Quite the opposite. Much focus would be placed on contraception devices and how they are not guaranteed to work.

Abstinence-only programs would not encourage using contraception devices, such as condoms and birth control pills, as a possible alternative to abstinence. However, that doesn’t mean condoms and birth control pills would never be brought up.

The large failure rate of a condom would be brought up in order to prove that it is not a fail-safe alternative to abstinence. No, in an abstinence-only program, each student wouldn’t be given two condoms and a cucumber and told to practice putting the condom on the cucumber as some programs are doing now. Doing that only tells a teen that using contraceptive devices is a valid alternative to abstinence, which is in fact one of the causes for the high pregnancy rates facing teenagers today. Research has actually proven that telling teens the use of contraceptive devices is an alternative to abstinence is ineffective. Telling a teen that having sex is all right, regardless of whether or not a contraceptive device is used, will only encourage a teen to have sex before marriage.

Only an abstinence-only sex education will show a teen that sex is worth waiting for.

Kevin Wendzel

Junior

Computer engineering