Should we be teaching abstinance or safe sex?

Should we be teaching our high schoolers abstinance, or safe sex? How would you react if your kid came home with a condom, or if you are in school, how would your parents react?

I think its great how schools teach the students about sex. Some times its easier when you hear it from someone else/ And I rather my 15 year old come home with a condom then a baby! personal opinion.

I think sex ed is even being given in elementry schools now!!!

personal opinion: I THINK ITS GREAT!

Well in my health class they kinda do both. They always bring in someone from just wait, and they tell you the story of how they are a happy virgin and blah blah blah. Then after they go on about stds and how you will definatly get one if you have unprotected sex, then they tell you that if you are bound and determined to have intercourse then be safe, and there are condoms in the clinic.

I really just think they should teach about safe sex, and the facts. Like stds and pregnancy. If you want to remain abstinant then chances are youve already made up your mind before sex ed.

Definitely safe sex- Abstinence hasn't worked so far, let's try another option!

I actually recall a conversation I had with my Dad when I was about 16- we were at the supermarket, and we walked past where the condoms were stocked. I said Dad, which ones do you prefer? (jokingly), and he pointed to one and said oh, those ones are pretty good, to which I responded Yeah, I hear these ones are pretty good too! This joke conversation went on for a few minutes (people must have thought we were very odd!), and then we moved on. I later said to my Dad Doesn't it bother you when I talk about these things, even in joking? My Dad simply said No, because at least I know you're educate when it comes to contraception. You know your options, and you're not likely to get yourself into a bad situation. I'm actually glad you're that responsible.

For my kids, If they came home with one, I'd make siure they knew what it was for, but I'd also have the rule not under my roof until you're legal. Call me crazy if you like, but I'm just not all that comfortable with children under the age of consent having intercourse in my house.

What lex said... abstinence only has never worked, they tried it, it didnt work, so something else has to be tried. What amazes me is that the same people who promote it are the same people who have an issue with abortion... doesnt anyone realize that if kids were educated about contraceptives then there would be fewer pregnancies resulting in fewer abortions?

I think teaching children the importance of education and how their lives will be so much easier with it, and how much commitment a baby is and some infected willys and vaginas to grosse them out that this is what could happen if you don't use protection!

too many people have children too young and I'm sick (in britain) of people keep having more and more children and expecting the government to support their families...fine, have one but don't go and have loads and not expect to have to support them!

watch; 'the man with 20 kids' the best advert for safe sex on the planet!

safe sex def,u cant tell kids not to have sex thats stupid,all kids are curious about sex its in our nature,when I was in school we got no sex education at all,I learned everything frm friends,I wudnt mind if my son was taught how to use a condom in school,I think the more sex education the better,as long as the kids are over 16 and use condoms I dont think its a problem

Anyone going to stand up for abstinance? I was really shocked at the way the term slut was thrown around. Since everyone knows that kids are going to have sex, shouldn't we start encouraging our teens to be educated instead of cutting them down all the time for the decisions they make? Anybody ever heard of a self fulfilling prophecy?

Sex education should cover the whole spectrum of human sexuality.

+++Abstinence hasn't worked so far+++ No kidding, there are hardly any morals to be found these days. Get married and you will know what to do.

safe sex
abstinence wont work
kids need to be educated so they know what there getting into before they do it
they need to learn the facts of sex, what can happen, how it can happen, what you need, how you can get stds, ect,...things like that
knowledge is power
if people dont know anything about a subject, there far more likley to make a mistake
and usually one that seriously affects there future

Safe sex. Take it from a teenager. If you were to come to me and say don't have sex I would be five times more likely to do it. When I am told not to do something it makes me want to do it to see how bad it truly is.
If an adult where to tell me if you are thinking about sex at least make it safe sex it wouldn't seem like something I need to, I guess you could say, prove. On that note I would have that in my mind if I were to have sex. I would tell my self hey do I have a condom.. I hope so otherwise this isn't going to happen

I have to say that I have not read any of the other answers. There's just too many. So, if I say the same thing as someone else, it's just because we think alike.

This is an easy question for me. From someone that is a Mom, I'm going with safe sex. You can teach abstinence till you're blue and it's not going to make any difference. Kids are going to do what they're going to do.

My kids are grown but if they were young and came home with condoms, I would think it was great if it was my sons and if it was my daughter, I'd still be glad that she had the condoms because it would be showing that she is being safe but I would rather she saved herself for marriage.

I had my first son @ 16 so I have no room to talk, though if my parents had talked to me, I may have had a chance. At least I would have had a choice. Then again, if that happened, I wouldn't have the great son that I have today.

My Mom didn't do either. The only thing she said to me was that 'monkey bites' were advertisement for guys. I thought that was lame. My parents never gave me 'the talk'.

It's all a long story, but my answer stands. . .Safe Sex.

I think we should teach safe sex.
Abstinence has been a huge failure and doesn't do anybody any good.
After all we can't deny that we are still human.