From: jennifer@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: misc.education
Subject: Re:minors right of access to contraceptives
Date: 14 Apr 92 20:59:50 GMT
Article-I.D.: cc.1992Apr14.145950.54465
Organization: Utah State University


	Having sex education taught more heavily in the schools will create
more opposition, but others say we need.  Parents don't want such things
stressed in the schools because it brings in moral judgements.  But then again,
I don't see parents teaching their children about sex.  My parents didn't. 
They just told me that my body was changing.  My husband's parnets didn't
explain much more to him.  I feel that there are a lot of issues involved in
the whole matter.  For instance if you don't allow minors access to
contraceptives then they may say that you are limiting their freedom.  I myself
have values about pre-marital sex and I will teach them to my children and
explain why religiously, physically, and mentally/emotionally why it is not
good to engage in pre-marital sex.  I won't be able to stop them from engaging
in it however, but I feel that they are less likely to if they understand all
the aspects behind it.  
	As to having personal testimonies about teenage pregnancy, abortion,
etc., won't stop teenagers from engaging in sex.  It may decrease the chances,
but I don't think it will do that very much either.  I don't know what the
statistics are on this, so my belief may be wrong.  I just know from others
that it doesn't happen.  When I was in elementary school, we had a drug unit. 
We had a guest speaker who showed us a lung of an individual who smoked and the
lung of a healthy individual.  That was enough for me to choose not to smoke
becasue I enjoy physical activity and wanted to run at the time.  I knew I
couldn't if I smoked.  But others aren't them same way.  In my highschool, in
our child development class they had to carry around for a week a french bread
baby.  They had to tend the "baby" as their own child.  If they went to a dance
on the weekend, they had to find a babysitter.  I know there were some who
didn't take it seriously.  It was a hassle for them.  I know others who had fun
with it.  Alo in this same class, they had a guest speaker who spoke about what
she went through as a teenager, still in highschool and being pregnant, and
giving the child up for adoption.  The classes were in tear at the end of the
class period.  This girl went to our highschool, so many people knew her.  I
think that sad thing is  is that her sister got pregnant also (and she was in
the child development class).  To me she had to be pretty blind to not see what
her sister went through.  I also have a friend who has several friends who have
gotten pregnant (teenagers)  and gotten married.  She told me what she has seen
go on in their lives as a result of the pregnancy.  There were times when she
even made fun of her friends.  Well, she is now pregnant and still in
highschool.  She had a dream of becoming a nurse, but now that dream has to
wait awhile because she will be having her baby next fall--when she would start
her college career.  She has to work to pay for bills and always complains she
is poor.  She is marrying the guy who is the father ( who has no high school
diploma) and will have to work also to maintain their household.  I was told
that my friend got pregnant because she sees it as a status symbol.  In a way I
can't wait until she gets hit in the face and regrets what she did.  I ddon't
think she does now.  Others don't learn from other's mistakes.

Jenn