It looks designed to be sent to people who comment on the issue regardless of on which side.
It occurs to me a point that is rarely made that is part of why I disapprove of abstinance-only education (although I think I mostly object because it does not work, but I'm not sure which part bothers me more) is that it's teaching morals in the school. I don't think schools generally should. I think schools should generally teach information and facts and choosing morality should be left to the students, and teaching it should be left to the family.
Mainly, it bothers me that they're teaching a morality I strongly object to in schools. I think remaining abstinent until marriage is generally wrong and should not be done (I do think there are exceptions, but as a general rule, I think people should not). If I had a child, I wouldn't want my child taught a message I disagree with like that (although I'd let my kid be taught it rather than withdraw the child from the class. I figure any kid will encounter numerous beliefs that the parents disagree with and it's better to use it as an opportunity for discussion of why I disagree and what I do believe in).
I'd want my child taught facts, like how saying no to various sexual acts can decrease various risks. I'd also want my child taught facts about other ways of decreasing or increasing those risks. And I want the teaching of what you should do with that information left to families. I want the discussion of whether or not it is right to have sex outside of marriage to not be in a health class. Maybe you can hold that in a philosophy, ethics, or debate class. But I'd want it raised as an issue for discussion acknowledging various views, not as: this is what is right and this is what is wrong, do this. I just think that sort of attitude doesn't generally belong in public schools. (Private schools are a separate matter as basically parents often choose to give the schools a much greater part of the parenting. As long as the private school is clear about what it is teaching, it's permissible.)
But there is also the fact that it does not work. Which people who like abstinence seem to try very hard to ignore.
no subject
It occurs to me a point that is rarely made that is part of why I disapprove of abstinance-only education (although I think I mostly object because it does not work, but I'm not sure which part bothers me more) is that it's teaching morals in the school. I don't think schools generally should. I think schools should generally teach information and facts and choosing morality should be left to the students, and teaching it should be left to the family.
Mainly, it bothers me that they're teaching a morality I strongly object to in schools. I think remaining abstinent until marriage is generally wrong and should not be done (I do think there are exceptions, but as a general rule, I think people should not). If I had a child, I wouldn't want my child taught a message I disagree with like that (although I'd let my kid be taught it rather than withdraw the child from the class. I figure any kid will encounter numerous beliefs that the parents disagree with and it's better to use it as an opportunity for discussion of why I disagree and what I do believe in).
I'd want my child taught facts, like how saying no to various sexual acts can decrease various risks. I'd also want my child taught facts about other ways of decreasing or increasing those risks. And I want the teaching of what you should do with that information left to families. I want the discussion of whether or not it is right to have sex outside of marriage to not be in a health class. Maybe you can hold that in a philosophy, ethics, or debate class. But I'd want it raised as an issue for discussion acknowledging various views, not as: this is what is right and this is what is wrong, do this. I just think that sort of attitude doesn't generally belong in public schools. (Private schools are a separate matter as basically parents often choose to give the schools a much greater part of the parenting. As long as the private school is clear about what it is teaching, it's permissible.)
But there is also the fact that it does not work. Which people who like abstinence seem to try very hard to ignore.