Abstinence Programs

See, I love teaching sex education to middle school and high school students! It is incredibly important and I really think that if the educator doesn't want to be teaching it or feels awkward with it, the kids also see right through that as well. Kids are tough, especially middle school kids.

But I also feel a lesson plan is very, very helpful, to be honest, even if you shape to work for you and your kids. I also took a general sex educator seminar that didn't focus on a specific curriculum, but just how to present factual information that teaches, but doesn't judge or let your own preconceptions get in the way and that was also great. The curriculum I use focusing on social emotional learning and lets the kids guide the discussion. But also provides me with all the tools I needed as an educator, especially in being prepared for questions students ask and how to provide factual answers and additional resources if needed.

I think that the education is very important, but the discovery of the vast misconceptions perpetuated by peers and parents is quite trying.

My first experience teaching kids in any significant way was back before I was a nurse. I used to be a firefighter in a fairly large urban interface department and would teach forestry at two of the local schools. I had a formal lesson plan for that, but mostly because there were several of us that taught it and we wanted to maintain uniformity throughout the district. The general lack of knowledge was much easier to teach to than the many rumors and legends that must be stricken down. Also, I didn't have to worry about complaints from parents or the district so that was nice.

We all know this, however we are bound by our state/county/school policies. The OP is in Texas, abstinence only is the only "sex ed" those kids get

Well that's because our teenagers don't have sex before marriage ...

Texas has the highest rate of repeat teen pregnancy in the country | Commentary | Dallas News

Or maybe not?

For what its worth, I think kids need to have sex education, the details and the rationale for why they should practice safe sex. Abstinence programs do nothing but rob them of much needed information for when the time comes that they do partake, and the vast majority WILL partake. Period.

Is there a particular reason or need for a formal curriculum versus developing your own?

I have had the distinct displeasure of guest teaching sex ed to older school age and middle school kids, but other than a general outline I never had a formal lesson plan. My goals were always to gauge where the kids were at before we started, teach the relevant material to fill in the gaps and correct any misconceptions, and typically proctor some form of evaluation that the principal or school district wanted. The more I kept it open to the kids guiding it (or at least let them think they were guiding it) the more invested they were. I've never personally taught from someone else's lesson plans, but unless you are truly a great teacher the kids will see right through it, become bored, and do just about anything else they care about.

Honestly, Peak, I'm not sure if there is a requirement for a formal curriculum or not. This is something that was just thrown at me and I have no idea where to start with it. Thus my grasping for help from my awesome cyber-coworkers! I do agree with the other posts that state we need Sex Ed as opposed to just abstinence-only curriculums, but like its been stated, I'm bound by what the State says we can teach.

Aren't most of the "pregnancy crisis center" religiously funded and run? Does your public school district allow religious groups to come in and indoctrinate the kids, or is this a private school?

Yes, they are religious based and if you go to the pregnancy center, you will be taught a biblical view. The curriculum they provide in the school is very white washed, fact only with no religion involved. I have seen both. I am a public school and the local pregnancy center is not permitted to be there because (gasp)there might possibly be a bias towards Christian values. Don't worry, we do not "indoctrinate"our kids. But I do sponsor a really nice Christian fellowship group that meets after school hours. Even there, I am not allowed to speak to the topic, I just provide snacks.

Are you sure the school curriculum is really "fact based"? The religious "crisis pregnancy centers" are famous for providing, ummm, let's say, "inaccurate" information (aka "lies") about the "dangers" of abortion in order to scare people into continuing pregnancies.

Are you insinuating that there is no risk associated with abortions, be it elective or otherwise?

Are you sure the school curriculum is really "fact based"? The religious "crisis pregnancy centers" are famous for providing, ummm, let's say, "inaccurate" information (aka "lies") about the "dangers" of abortion in order to scare people into continuing pregnancies.

Yes. I have seen the curriculum. If you go to the pregnancy center you will get very Christian based material. The center I am familiar with is opposed to any and all kinds of birth control. I am very conservative and they are much more conservative than I am. I am talking specifically about abstinence only education. That is the program they bring into the schools. I never said abstinence only works. I work in a high school. I spend lots of time talking to girls about the various forms of birth control out there. I also talk about hormonal bc and that it doesn't prevent std's and the need for a second barrier method. I'm not trying to place my values on anyone. As nurses it is NEVER our job to put our values on anyone. I was just trying to give a suggestion to the OP who inquired about abstinence only programs. They never mentioned abortion or other topics. Why would an abstinence program mention abortion? Geesh...didn't realize I was going into such controversial territory. Was just trying to be helpful.

The OP is in Texas, abstinence only is the only "sex ed" those kids get

This kind of thinking assumes that if kids are not taught about biological processes and sexual urges, they won't engage in sexual activity. It is a head-in-the-sand approach to be certain. It reminds me of a former neighbor, who told me that her teenaged daughter would never engage in sex because she had been told that her body was a temple of the Lord. It left me to wonder whether the daughter was already pregnant.

Sex education is controversial in many places, unfortunately. I'm lucky to live in a state and work in a school that supports comprehensive sex education. Which talks about abstinence as the healthiest option a student can choose - and many do choose it, actually, when presented facts (just over 50%!). And I also taught about how abstinence is still a choice even after a person has had sex. But if a student is having sex, well, facts also help so that student can stay healthy.

The curriculum I use has a great exercise using a decision making model. I give kids a lower risk scenario and use this model to help them come up up with three possible choices to make, we look at the pros and cons or each choice and use them to make a decision. And I tell the student no decision is "right or wrong" or "good or bad" but instead, each decision will have consequences, positive and/or negative, and that they need to consider them and be willing to accept them when making a choice. This applies to relationships, but also to so many things in life.

I once had a great discussion on abstinence-only vs. comprehensive sex education, which interesting enough, want the same thing. For students to pick the healthiest choice for them, which in both programs, is abstinence :).