The Irony of Sex Education

Why Abstinence Doesn't Work

First off... Why is it that the more vociferous a proponent of "no sex until marriage" a young person is... the less their virginity appears in danger? Perhaps you think this a cruel generalization but how often is it true? I'm reminded of a scene in my journalism class wherein "Ebony" was expousing her preference not to have any interaction between her tongue and the male genitals though if he wanted to "eat" her... that was fine. Upon further investigation it was found that not only had Ebony never been in a situation where she might be called upon to suck cock, she had never even had the hinting of such a possibility occur. So much of the lives of young people is lived in a vicarious manner. I'm getting off subject.

For a brief interlude Sex Education experienced quite a bit of controversy over everything from making condoms available to highschool students to the proposal of teaching "mutual masturbation" techniques. Quickly this was quashed and Sex Education settled into a more "conservative" method. In this particular section of the country that included a brief synopsis of anatomy, a bit about STDs, and a deluge of propagandist material (donated by several local churches) preaching the values of abstinence.

Let's review the facts...

Abstinence has been the sole method of birth control allowed to be taught in many public school systems accross this country for several years now. In this time the divorce rate has increased to approximately 50%. The dissolution rate is most dramatic in younger couples. In a conversation with a marriage counselor it was conveyed to me that the troubles of the newlyweds mainly involved the question of children. Many couples agreed that they did not want them immediately. Why then the high rate of divorce if they couples are in agreement? In their sex-education they had been taught all about how to have babies... in their sex education they were taught virtually nil about how NOT to have babies. Apparently the stress of "waiting until they're married" and then, when finally married being forced to wait some more for fear of pregnancy was too much of a strain. Ooops... looks like another plan to increase the solidarity of the "american family" backfires again.