Speak Out: Sex or Abstinence?

Just say "No!" to sex. That's the only message allowed now in Ohio sex education courses. But critics say students also need to be informed about safe sex and contraception.

What's your opinion?

The state's board of education has unanimously passed a resolution requiring schools to teach that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

According to two studies just released, a third of the nation's schools follow such a policy. The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Alan Guttmacher Institute say teachings about abstinence are at the core of most sex-ed courses in those states and contraception is discussed only in the context of the failure rate.

Both Institutes say it's a disturbing trend and advocate more discussion and distribution of birth control devices, saying teenagers are going to have sex sometime and they need to learn about available options. But proponents say it's absurd to think abstinence and safe sex can be taught concurrently.

Should abstinence be the only method of birth control discussed in the classroom? Or do students also need to be exposed to safe sex and birth control concepts?

Speak Out on the ThirdAge Opinion Page.