Most important, teens need to understand they don t have to make excuses or give a list of reasons. The teacher needs to remember that teens who feel ambivalent may find it harder to act appropriately. Therefore, it is important to teachers to help teens acknowledge their ambivalence and to explain that it is normal to have such feelings. Knowing that they have conflicted feelings, however, does not mean they have to act in ways contrary to their best instincts. No one has a right to pressure another person into doing something they don t want to do.
Good relationships take time.
If sex is what s needed to hold a relationship together, and then it s probably not a very good one and will break up later anyway. Young people need alternative ways to meet needs to feel grown up. They will make more mistakes out of sexual misinformation and ignorance then from knowledge and awareness. Teachers must understand that, regardless of how little young people participate in class, they do listen and remember things they can use. For young people who don t want to become sexually involved, adult reinforcement and support for postponement strengthens their values and abilities to carry out their beliefs.