From Kabe's old high school

[Duelist925]

You know, it IS possible to teach abstinence as both an attitude towards sex and as a form of contraception.

Abstinence as birth control=guaranteed 100% side-effect free, no chance of pregnancy, STI's etc.
Abstinence as a sexual attitude=Me and/or my partner have chosen to wait until we both feel ready to take that plunge. (for moral, religious, cultural etc. reasons)

While its possible, it's never taught correctly. As Neko pointed out, too often its through villifying sex, and spreading misinformation and outright lies about other forms of birth control, which is dangerous. It leads to teens deciding, "fuck it, if it doesnt work, why bother?" And boinking without even something as basic as a condom.

[RedRoseSpiral]

Honestly, her mother probably hated her and rather than admit that either she or her mother were horrible people, she needed a scapegoat.

I know a bit about this bitch. One of the big things she hits on is about how her biological mother put her up for adoption instead of aborting her. I have a feeling somewhere out there is a woman wishing she could have changed her choice.

[smileyeagle1021]

I know a bit about this bitch. One of the big things she hits on is about how her biological mother put her up for adoption instead of aborting her.

Yeah, thanks for not killing me invitro mommy... I'll repay you for the kindness in putting me up for adoption by a family better able to raise me by smearing your name all over the place.

[Rageaholic]

I have nothing much add. I hate this kind of fear mongering bullshit that religious zealots use to scare kids. She's not only spreading lies, but she's spreading dangerous lies that could actually lead to more unwanted pregnancies. I can understand being against abortion (it's a grey area), but being against contraceptives is so stupid and counterproductive that I want to pull my hair out when meeting people like that.

[fireheart17]

I have nothing much add. I hate this kind of fear mongering bullshit that religious zealots use to scare kids. She's not only spreading lies, but she's spreading dangerous lies that could actually lead to more unwanted pregnancies. I can understand being against abortion (it's a grey area), but being against contraceptives is so stupid and counterproductive that I want to pull my hair out when meeting people like that.

I have a feeling that you're describing someone who believes that contraceptives CAUSE abortions. Specifically the hormonal ones.
They are the people who want forced abstinence on everyone.

[bara]

Abstinence should be and is taught with standard sex ed. Or at least was. Its the abstinence only education that I do not like.

[Seifer]

I can't stand abstinence-only "sex" education. Can it even be classified as sex education at that point?

Honestly, the school officials, education board leaders, and Stenzel need to quit with the bullshit and just admit that they don't really give a shit about "safety." The truth is that all they want is for teens not to have sex because the idea squicks them - period. They don't agree with sex before marriage and want to force their morals and ideals on the teens in their care. If safety was their top priority, they would actually educate teens on the use of birth control such as condoms which seriously limits the chances of catching STDs.

[Panacea]

You know, it IS possible to teach abstinence as both an attitude towards sex and as a form of contraception.

Possible, yes. Effective? No. The scientific literature on the issue shows that abstinence only sex ed is not effective, while a combination of abstinence and comprehensive (sometimes called comprehensive plus) IS effective.

I can't stand abstinence-only "sex" education. Can it even be classified as sex education at that point?

Honestly, the school officials, education board leaders, and Stenzel need to quit with the bullshit and just admit that they don't really give a shit about "safety."

Actually it can be, when it is done right. Abstinence doesn't have to be about the religious values. There are valid reasons for young people to wait to have sex: physical maturity for intercourse and pregnancy, emotional and mental maturity to handle the reality of sex, avoidance of STDs, etc.

However, that's not what Stenzel is doing. She's indoctrinating young people, or trying to.

Now the reason I call what Stenzel does "indoctrination" is because she is trying to force a particular world view on young people with misinformation and falsehoods. Comprehensive sex ed is not indoctrination because the information on contraception and safe sex is true.

Stenzel really has no business teaching anyone about sex ed. She is not a health care professional, and is motivated only by her personal point of view . . . and the power trip it gives her over kids and their parents.

That there is such an uproar over this gives me hope for West Virginia, in spite of the BoE's tepid response to this. Hopefully, parents will vote these nutcases out of office next election cycle.