From: john@anasazi.com (John R. Moore)
Subject: Re: Sexuality
Organization: Anasazi Inc, Phoenix AZ USA
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 16:21:31 GMT

jhb@calmasd.prime.com (Jim Bishop) writes:

]In article <1993Jan9.044551.21399@anasazi.com>, 
]john@anasazi.com (John R. Moore) writes:

]John, I think we are pretty much in agreement...see below.

]> In article <1993Jan8.111923.1101@calmasd.prime.com> 
]> jhb@calmasd.prime.com (Jim Bishop) writes:
]> ]Well the "sexual revolution" also occurred in the last 25 years.  I
]> ]would imagine that more sex lead to higher rates.  I'd also argue that
]> ]useful sex ed for preventing STD's and pregnancy has been around for
]> ]less than 10 years. 

]> I had sex ed in 1963 that was quite explicit in that regard. Again,
]> when I was in the Navy, we were specifically educated in avoiding STD's.
]> That was in 1966 and 1967.

]Did the pill exist in 1963?  
I don't think so.


]There are also many other forms of
]contraception available today, and abortion was illegal then.  Of
]course there was no worry of AIDS in those days either.  Do you feel
There was, however, worry about VD - AIDS isn't the first VD to exist
with very serious consequences.

]sex ed had any effect on the sexual mores for the students?
I really don't know. On the other hand, it was presented in a very clinical
way and spent most time on reproductive biology and very little on
human sexuality and techniques and positions and alternative sexual
preferences.


]> ]Your final comment is one that makes the rest of your argument totally
]> ]pointless.  The only protection against AIDS is education.  Part of
]> ]AIDS education has to include sex education.  
]> 
]> What a bunch of nonsense. The protection against AIDS is 
]> abstinence, sex with noninfected people (generally achieved by a low
]> level of promiscuity) or the use of a barrier. AIDS doesn't care
]> how well educated you are.

]John, you are agreeing with me here.  What you stated above is the
]"education" I was referring to.  My point was how do you explain the
]above without also explaining the logistics of sex?

I think you will find that we have done about as much as we can
in sex education in that regard. All that's really required is to
tell people what I said above, and emphasize how horrible AIDS is. As
far as I can tell, if you have a TV set and watch it, you get that
information. As far as the mechanics of sex, I think most kids know
that long before they get into sex education - I know that I did.

]> This is utter hogwash. Today everyone in america who doesn't live
]> in a cave without TV knows how AIDS is spread and that condoms reduce
]> the risk. Even so, studies show that there is still a high rate of
]> unprotected sex - even among promiscuous young homosexuals.

]It took lots of pushing to get the Reagan administration to enact a
]national AIDS education campaign.  The General Surgeon's mass mailing
]to U.S. homes about AIDS in the late 80's was against the
]administation's wishes.  Yes, John everone today should know about
]AIDS.  My point is that everyone should have know in the mid-80's as
]well.

I don't believe that the Surgeon general's mailing prevented even a single
case of AIDS.

]> What is needed is a change in attitudes. Unfortunately it is hard to
]> convince adolescents that they are mortal!

]Agreed!

]> ]Do you not believe that HIV would be spreading even faster had no
]> ]attempt at education had occurred?
]> 
]> I think it would be spreading faster in the gay community. I don't think
]> education has had any effect in the het community (where the spread
]> is quite low anyway).

]Well, I know of many heterosexuals who changed there behavior as a
]result of information about AIDS.  However, I think you are right
]about many more people ignoring the information.  If we weren't
]agreeing I think you would have suggested no education.  You don't
]seem to be suggesting that.  What would you suggest (as a way to get
]people to behave responsibly concerning sex)?  

I don't disagree that schools should have sex education, but I don't
think it needs to get explicit about techniques. Furthermore it doesn't
require value neutral teaching. 
-- 
John Moore NJ7E, 7525 Clearwater Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85253  (602-951-9326)
john@anasazi.com ncar!noao!asuvax!anasaz!john anasaz!john@asuvax.eas.asu.edu
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