Texas Sex-Ed Texts Barely Mention Contraceptives

DALLAS (Reuters) - Texas education officials on Friday approved health textbooks for high school students that extol the virtues of sexual abstinence but only make passing mention of contraceptives, which critics say violates state regulations and endangers the health of teens.

The battle in Texas has national implications because the state is the second-biggest market for textbooks in the United States. Books approved by the state's school board are typically marketed nationally.

The 15-member Texas Board of Education approved four books, all of which promote a birth control program based on abstinence. Three make no mention of contraceptives, while one makes passing references to condoms.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=15&u=/nm/20041106/ts_nm/health_texas_textbooks_dc

And the tool coverings, too.

Are you referring to condoms, penises, or conservative Xians? LOL!

Now maybe the parents will be forced to mention them.

If we are relying on schools to raise kids, then we have a problem.

:eyes:

Not to mention every other form of STD.

contradictory, idiotic, discriminatory... oy veh!
And why do you suppose that those in the homosexual community "are more prone to self-destructive behavior like depression, illegal drug use and suicide"? It wouldn't be because of discrimination, would it? Because they are treated like dirt? And teaching homosexuality as a "choice" to young people is supposed to stem this problem? Why do I live here?

...strikes again! Contraceptives are going to be made illegal here anyway....good way to cut down on abortions, eh?

HA!

Assholes

"Cause we all know how well that works.

:eyes:

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All text and symbol, no video. :(

extend our party to encompass in order that they get
cushy Congressional and Senate jobs.

Sorry though I will put a graphic warning.

what the fuck caliber where those dumb asses using to blow those little dogs to pieces? isn`t nice to know you maybe working right next to someone who thinks this cool..

in recreational behaviour. Do not watch if you
like little animals!!!

Sorry, I should have posted this warning earlier.

Seriously.

Let the little tramps get pregnant then they'll know who to label, outcast and, if need be, tar and feather on Main Street.

:)

Kids get their sex education from their friends, the internet etc. From talking with my grandaughter i learn that they are very open about it, that boys and girls talk to eachother (as friends) about sex. Twas from her I learned that condoms come in flavors.
I don't think anyone actually ever learned about sex in their sex ed classes.
And many in this generation actually do talk to their parents quite openly. but then again, maybe it's different in Texas.

Such as circumstances under which pregnancy and std infections will occurr. There are lots of myths that teenagers circulate amongst each other. Most don't seem to relize that oral sex can transmit sexually transmitted diseases, for example. Some believe that pulling out is an effective birth control method. Some believe that condomns aren't effective anyway. It would be great if all teenagers could openly talk about sex with their parents, but some of them can't especially if their parents are in the abstinence only crowd.

I would have taught her sooner if I had thought there was a need. We have had a very open dialog about sex since she was 6 years old and and wanted to know the basics. She is now 17 has had one sexual partner and they used condoms which I provided for her. Teenagers do have an open dialog with each other about sex. I just didn't want my child to not understand AIDS and other STD's not to mention the other alternatives that are out there. Her friends came to me when they wanted information/supplies they did not get at home. None of the girls in my daughters peer group have become pregnant. In the families where they took the, 'just don't do it' attitude I have seen several girls become pregnant.

and you live in Texas?

When he was 6 we watched the Nova show about how babies are made. (That didn't go over very big with my ex! LOL) But we were in close dialogue about sex up until the time he first had sex at age 19, and then with a girl who he'd been with for 5 years. So I trust he'd learned all the important info by then.

But then, I'm an enlightened DU kinda parent. I couldn't talk with my mother about sex at all, which is probably why I got pregnant in the first place. Never underestimate the power of denial among many parents.

People made fun of Jocelyn Elders when she said that masterbation should be taught in schools, but really she did have a good point. Teenagers hormones are raging and many seem to think that fullfilling that with another person is the only proper way to deal with that.
We have a friend who makes glass dildos, which are completely safe and are easily sterilized. We happened to talk to another glass dildo maker who said that a nun saw her products and said "That is completely safe sex. These should be distributed in every high school in the US."

Three thoughts, based on Elders' commentaries:

Kids are going to experiment with sex regardless what a book says. And considering that Texas as a whole is not the bastion of literacy, I doubt the abstinence based ed is going to make a difference.

The reason Jocelyn Elders was ragged on is Murkans with their Puritan heritage think sex is dirty, and masturbation is another dirty act. The woman was streetwise and she knew what she was talking about, but the rest of them were in denial.

OTOH, what puzzles me, if to the Fundy Murkans sex is so fricking dirty and despicable, why are Fundy Murkan people still doing it, and how are all those Fundy couples making babies like litters of rats? You'd think they'd abstinenced themselves into extinction.

Morons. Do they actually think that they can fight against raging teenage hormones and win? I think they'd be better off giving away free vibrators and blow-up dolls. Perhaps having 'self-pleasure' booths in schools as well.

they will claim such a thing never happens.

Not two guys, though--that's disgusting. :eyes:

Actually not a fantasy, just moved here from California.

decreases when contraception is taught along with abstinence. The pregnancy rate goes up with abstinence-only sex-ed. I don't have the links for it, but a friend was telling me that the states with the lowest church attendance rates have the lowest teen pregnancy and STD rates. It's the states with the high fundamentalist church attendance that have the most problems with teens being more curious, and ignorant, about sex and STD/pregnancy prevention. Telling them "No" only makes them more curious.

As far as learning good sex-ed from friends: I don't recommmend it. Teens are necessarily going to be responsible for each other and providing accurate information. They should have access to current information.

I think that out of wedlock birth rates and STD rates are rising in Texas. We have had commercials on TV a few years ago that pushed the idea that parents who told their kids that condoms worked were liars. I think there are some studies also that children taught abstinence only had sex rates similar to those taught about contraceptives, BUT they used no form of protection.

How are they going to explain away how hormones make these kids horny?

demon possessions. :eyes:

If we make a text for the Fundy Murkan world called Abstenance after Marriage. Emphasize that married sex is dirty, diseased, and leads to death, maybe they can abstinence themselves into extinction!!!

What I fear is kids will consider these statements true....

http://www.lotsofjokes.com/cat_392.htm

It works about as well as contraceptive education.

The studies also show that teaching BOTH works better. Motherfucking Southern Babtists Taliban rednecks....