You are not going to stop people having sex if they want to have sex. Kids should be taught safe sex, it is an important thing to learn.

Neither. The school has no business in anyone's sex life. Teaching about sex, providing information about various forms of birth control (including abstinence and condoms) and informing students about possible consequences of sex such as STDs, pregnancy, obsessive relationships, various legal implications and loss of "virtue" is appropriate. However, public schools do not have the right to promote any particular sexual choice for individuals. The information should be provided with objectivity.

Safe sex because it does not matter how much you teach abstinence there are going to be those that do not practise what you are preaching. Therefore it is best that they know all about safe sex.

There are some things nobody thinks twice about their kids learning from "strangers:" Algebra, History, etc. But I know I don't want a stranger talking to my children about a subject that it's so easy to be biased about. So I don't want my children "learning about sex" in school, because I want them to know the whole truth. Ideally, parents would teach their children everything they need to know about sex, including abstinence. The main problems with that scenario are 1)too many parents simply don't/won't discuss this with their children, and 2)they give inaccurate/incomplete information when they DO talk to their kids about sex. In this age of rampant STDs, I think it's smart to make it clear that the only "safe sex" is no sex. I'm not a fan of abstinence teaching - it's impractical. But passing on incomplete information is almost as bad. What I mean is, that saying using condoms will keep you safe is inaccurate, and inaccurate information can get you killed. Condoms are part of "safer sex" practices, and I think that needs to be made clear. There are things you can do, sexually, that will help keep you safer, but having sex still puts you at risk for STDs, including ones that can kill you. I know it's awkward to talk to your kids about sex, I mean the thought of talking to my parents about sex ... well, YUCK. And I'm 32 ! But I know that in order to keep my children safe, I have to do things that aren't always pleasant, for me OR for them. That means knowing the facts, and knowing the appropriate time and manner in which to pass those facts along in an unbiased, non-judgemental way. However, I would rather have SOME "sex-ed" taught in school (even if it's not complete or completely accurate), rather than nothing at all, if a parent isn't going to do that job themselves.

I believe both should be taught....as a high school student, I know some people who are sexually active. I knew people who were sexually active in the 8th grade. Many of them have never sat down with there parents and had the "talk". Society today is all about s-e-x. Its everywhere....it influences almost every aspect of childrens lives. It's in movies, tv shows, music, the internet, school (believe it or not). If parents have a problem with safe sex practices being taught in schools they need to start talking to their children....before their little friends start talking to them first

Isn’t abstinence the safest practice? However, to answer your question, I accept the reality that each class has a very diverse makeup. As a parent, I always wanted to be the one who instructed my children about human sexuality. I suppose it ended up that my wife actually carried out this duty as I was off instructing the congregation in other matters. (sigh) I accept that there are many youths in every school that would receive little or no training in “Health” or human sexuality if it was left only to parents to accomplish this weighty task. That being said, as a responsible citizen and neighbor, I can see the need, and the value to teach youths about the power and the value of abstinence and about condoms, etc. This should be handled with dignity and taught along with a high sense of values. To divorce human sexual education from values would be self defeating and disastrous.

I think both options should be presented. Kids should know that the best plan is abstonance to keep form getting pregnant or stds. But also teach that if a kid is determind to have sex to use protection that can be relied upon.

Schools should put forth both abstinence and safe sex practices, but shouldn't lean one way or the other. Many times, people forget that schools are supposed to educate, not persuade people.

I think a comprehensive safe sex education is the best option. The wide range of options should be discussed - from abstinence to the use of condoms. Education is a right and so should safe sex education.