This class once again encourages abstinence but also states the statistic that 50% of all teens are sexually active. Before teens are dating, education about STI’s and birth control, how they work and do not work, including myths and misconceptions, is vital education as part of a thorough sex education. If your family values include abstinence before marriage, talking about birth control does not mean you are giving permission for choices you don’t agree with, but it does empower teens and young adults to make wiser choices as they become independent and make their own choices as individuals.
The goal of this class is to encourage open dialogue and educate our youth to end misinformation which can lead to “if only I had known”. If one child is saved from an STI, unplanned pregnancy, abortion or suicide, the time involved will be worth it. Education doesn’t guarantee prevention, but it does create opportunities for conversations.
Data states:
- Teens with a religious influence have a higher rate of teen pregnancy, most likely as a result of a lack of education and guilt surrounding use of birth control. It ends up “just happening”
- Pregnant teens are 7 times more likely to commit suicide!
- Nearly half of teens get pregnant in the first 6 months of being sexually active!
- 7 out of 10 pregnant teens are Caucasian