NationStates Jolt Archive

I know this has been done to death, but I could use a wee bit of help. I am doing a pursuasive speech in my debate class on sex education in America. I am taking the position that Sex-Ed is superior and that Abstinance-Only Programs can actually be harmful.

If you have any information or links that you think may be helpful, I would greatly appriciate it.

Thanks in advance!

People are going to "do it" anyway, and if they aren't educated about it, well, more teen pregnancies for you. Not to mention the diseases.

Here's (one of) your best argument(s):
Teen sex is inevitable. There are far too many hormones (and far too much alcohol and drugs) for there to be any effective means of curbing teen sexual activity.

Thus, abstinence-only education inevitably fails. We can only hope to make things better by preventing pregancy and the spread of disease.

As long as you win that sex is inevitable, you win the argument. You also get to make statements like "abstinence-only causes AIDS spread," which is true if people will have sex no matter what.

I wrote more about this subject on the "so what?" thread. I have work to do now, so I can't write much more.

Yes, it's true, some teens, regardless, will want to have sex. The curiousity is there, and without a full education in sexual matters (basically, an abstinance-only education), they will be even more curious. The desire is there, and the forbidden fruits taste the sweetest.

This is why sexual education that has a small section on abstinance and a general focus on everything else, especially contraceptives and safety practices, is better than one that works from either extreme.

I like boobies.



No arguement can beat it.

Sexual education is statistically known to decrease the amount of teen pregnancies more than abstinence-only programs. Texas has been used as an example of a state with abstinence-only programs and also an increased amount of teen pregnancies.

And condoms CAN ruin the mood, especially if both parties are inexperienced. What better abstinance is there than that? :p

Comprehensive sex-ed programs include teaching that abstinance is the most effective form of birth control and STD prevention, they just also include additional information on human reproduction and safe sex practices. Why would parents not want their kids to be informed?

We want our kids to avoid the dangers of driving, so we teach them ways to avoid accidents and we teach them what to do if (God forbid) they do get into an accident. We don't remove all mention of cars from our schools, take away driving tests, and force kids to learn how to drive from watching The Fast And The Furious.

I know this has been done to death, but I could use a wee bit of help. I am doing a pursuasive speech in my debate class on sex education in America. I am taking the position that Sex-Ed is superior and that Abstinance-Only Programs can actually be harmful.

If you have any information or links that you think may be helpful, I would greatly appriciate it.

Thanks in advance!

On one hand, the parents SHOULD be doing this. On the other, many won't, so I think it needs to be taught...

So over-the-top things like this happen:

Three schoolgirl sisters have given birth aged 12, 14 and 16.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4572219.stm

and more on it at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/4574991.stm

This is a link to the transcript of a 60 minutes show, that will be very helpful to you.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/20/60minutes/main696975.shtml
:)

We want our kids to avoid the dangers of driving, so we teach them ways to avoid accidents and we teach them what to do if (God forbid) they do get into an accident. We don't remove all mention of cars from our schools, take away driving tests, and force kids to learn how to drive from watching The Fast And The Furious.

That's a good point! I'll have to include that in the speech!

Thanks, o Bottled one...

Think you need to do your own research and not expect message boards to do it all for you.

I know this has been done to death, but I could use a wee bit of help. I am doing a pursuasive speech in my debate class on sex education in America. I am taking the position that Sex-Ed is superior and that Abstinance-Only Programs can actually be

I do not know how conservative/christian your school is - but you could include the fact that sex-ed can make people more confident for their first experience,as well as letting them enjoy sex more, since they actually have a basic idea of what to do. You can also ask the philosophical question if witholding information that is no threat to society (like how to build bombs, or the nuclear launch codes) is not a sign of evil. Do phrase that better though.

In addition abstinance within a marriage is often not good for the mental health of the people involved ;). However, not everyone wants children 9 months after marriage. Actually knowing what one can do to prevent it would be a good idea.

And finally sex-ed might debunk some myths. Many people seem unable to comprehend that heterosexuals can also get AIDS, that you do not get pregnnt from a dirty toilet seat, that a girl *can* get pregnant during her first time and that a virgin girl does not have to bleed the first time (not to mention the whole "cherry" thing...). Extremely basic knowledge in other words.

Think you need to do your own research and not expect message boards to do it all for you.

This is part of research; for one thing, it canvasses opinions. It may bring to light ideas that hadn't occurres to him/her, and may give him/her an idea of what arguments will be used against the arguments in his/her speech. And now i'm sick of typing him/her, so i'll leave it at that :rolleyes:

Think you need to do your own research and not expect message boards to do it all for you.

I'm doing research. It doesn't hurt to get a little extra help and I'm not planning to base everything on this message board.

Watch your tone...

Comprehensive sex education is needed in our schools. I lobbied for weeks for a bill to be passed in the Illinois General Assembly, allowing individual schools to apply for grants to fund comprehensive sex ed, so that communities can choose if they want to have it or not.

You should do your own research, find sources maybe with the local Health Department and see their take on it. I work for the Illinois Department of Public Health doing STI/HIV Prevention Education, so if you have any questions shoot me a telegram ><

I think you will find the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (http://www.siecus.org/) to be an excellent source of information.

Among the information you can find there are these tidbits:
Virginity Pledgers More Likely to Engage in Risky Sexual Behavior Including Anal and Oral Sex (http://www.siecus.org/media/press/press0094.html)
Some examples of what federally-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs actually say (http://www.siecus.org/policy/in_their_own_words.pdf) What the research says about abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and comprehensive sexuality education (http://www.siecus.org/policy/research_says.pdf)

Also, here is Congressman Henry Waxman's Report: The Content of Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Programs (http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/Documents/20041201102153-50247.pdf)

Good luck!

:eek: Wow...Cat-Tribe, I'm impressed. You've either got a lot of time on your hands, or you've done your research! Good work! :D

This is part of research; for one thing, it canvasses opinions. It may bring to light ideas that hadn't occurres to him/her, and may give him/her an idea of what arguments will be used against the arguments in his/her speech. And now i'm sick of typing him/her, so i'll leave it at that :rolleyes:

I see nothing about him asking for people's opinions on the matter, only for people to give information and links. Would have been different if I had seen "What do you think about...?" rather than what looked like an attempt to get related information and links without actually working for them.

It's still part of the research process, though - it's really onl the same as Googling it. It doesn't do any harm to ask - if people are happy to help, they will, and if not they won't - or, alternately, they'll post useless bitchy comments complaining about it.

It's still part of the research process, though - it's really onl the same as Googling it. It doesn't do any harm to ask - if people are happy to help, they will, and if not they won't - or, alternately, they'll post useless bitchy comments complaining about it.

There is a difference in asking for others to give you links and using Google. When others provide links, you are more likely to get something that is actualy useful. If you use Google then you have to wade through things that might not pertain to what you want - or are supproting the wrong side of your argument.

I am neither bitching or complaining, just pointing out that I think it is lazy.

Therefore cutting down the work time and having longer to formulate an argument with the relevant information. Efficient, not lazy.

I see nothing about him asking for people's opinions on the matter, only for people to give information and links. Would have been different if I had seen "What do you think about...?" rather than what looked like an attempt to get related information and links without actually working for them.
Real life experience coupled with research can make a better argument, and only because you have done more than by-the-book academic research. In this case, the person has gone beyond the standard book and internet resource method of research and is seeking an array of information.

I know this has been done to death, but I could use a wee bit of help. I am doing a pursuasive speech in my debate class on sex education in America. I am taking the position that Sex-Ed is superior and that Abstinance-Only Programs can actually be harmful.

If you have any information or links that you think may be helpful, I would greatly appriciate it.

Thanks in advance!


Defenitely. Yes, absitinence is the only sure-tell way to avoid diseases, teen pregnancies etc., but it's totally unrealistic to encourage that sort of behaviour: kids are kids and when they wanna have sex, they'll have it anyway. The only thing you can do (except for maybe keeping them locked in a cellar untill they marry) is give themn as much objective information about sex, STD and pregnancies so they can make up their own minds. You can also preach abstinence as an extra safe-guard but remember that forbidding actions only makes things more thrilling: no rush so good as tasting the forbidden fruit (hah, no pun intended). Trying to hush up the problem by telling lies about sex and thinking that the little fairytale about abstinence keeps a lid on the things is outdated, ignorant and stupid.

I think you will find the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (http://www.siecus.org/) to be an excellent source of information.

Among the information you can find there are these tidbits:
Virginity Pledgers More Likely to Engage in Risky Sexual Behavior Including Anal and Oral Sex (http://www.siecus.org/media/press/press0094.html)
Some examples of what federally-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs actually say (http://www.siecus.org/policy/in_their_own_words.pdf) What the research says about abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and comprehensive sexuality education (http://www.siecus.org/policy/research_says.pdf)

Also, here is Congressman Henry Waxman's Report: The Content of Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Programs (http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/Documents/20041201102153-50247.pdf)

Good luck!

Some of those links...scary...Others, funny! The Waxman Report is definately going to help me!

Thanks!