And the debate goes on!  Should we teach comprehensive sex education in our schools or abstinence education?  Seems like every year this hot button issue surfaces in state legislatures and school systems across the country.

One example is in North Carolina where state law requires public schools teach teens that “a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage” is the best means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases.  They teach the benefits of abstinence as the only certain means of preventing pregnancy, STDs, emotional problems, etc.  They teach the positive benefits of sexual abstinence until marriage and the risks of premarital sexual activity.  They teach respect, responsibility, maturity, discipline, and character.  And they teach the facts about contraceptives.  That is they will reduce some risks of pregnancies and STDs, but the emphasis is - the risk is still there (as it should be).  Sounds pretty “comprehensive” to me!

But advocates of so-called “Abstinence based comprehensive sex education” led by Planned Parenthood, NARAL (abortion rights group), ACLU, and radical gay rights organizations are strongly opposed to this kind of teaching.

They believe we should be teaching our 13 years olds all FDA approved methods of contraception.  They want Johnny and Susie to learn how to use male and female condoms, emergency contraception, diaphragms, cervical caps, sponges, spermicides, oral contraceptives, skin patches, vaginal contraceptive rings, contraceptive injections, implanted contraceptives, intrauterine devices, and surgical sterilization.

They want to replace the word “marriage” with “committed relationships” which includes not only unmarried heterosexual relationships but also homosexual, bisexual, and multi-partner relationships.  They want these lifestyles taught on a footing equal to marriage.

What’s interesting is current NC state law allows for any public school system that wants to teach comprehensive sex education to your teens may already do so.  All a school board has to do is allow for a public hearing following public notice and making the objectives of the proposed program and instructional material available to parents for review 30 days before and after the public hearing.  That’s local and parental control which allows communities across the state to decide for themselves what’s best for their kids.

Since 1995, only 10 out of 115 school districts throughout NC have decided to go this route.  That’s overwhelming opposition to comprehensive sex education.  Yet advocates want to change the law to automatically shift all teens into these classes unless their parents sign a form that says they only want their teens taught abstinence.  If you don’t sign the form or if it is not returned to the school, guess what classroom your little boy and girl goes to?  Welcome to comprehensive sex education Johnny and Susie!

And talk about stigmatizing and segregating teens at such a vulnerable age.  I can hear it in the hallways now.

“Hey Johnny, I hear you’re in the abstinence class.  You’re a nerd!”

“Hey Susie, I hear you’re in the comprehensive sex ed class.  You must be a slut!”

The unfortunate sounds of segregation may be coming back to NC Public Schools.

Until next time…

M.L. Productions, Inc.

 

You probably remember when you said something bad to one of your siblings, even though you really didn’t mean it, you’re mom would reprimand you by saying something like, “Well, you’re words mean something.”  Truth is, spoken words, or in this case – sung lyrics – do indeed mean something and both have a tremendous affect on teens today.

In a recent study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, researchers graded sexually explicit lyrics in popular songs from today’s top artists.  Then they interviewed 711 teens aged 15-16 regarding their musical tastes and sexual behavior.  Overall, 31% said they have had sexual intercourse.

Of those teens who said they rarely listen to music with sexually explicit lyrics, the rate was 20.6%.  Of teens who said they listen to these lyrics a lot, the rate was 44.6%.  That’s double the amount of sexually active teens who are jamming to raunchy lyrics on their iPods!

Yet what do we hear from these teens so often?  “I don’t listen to the music for the lyrics, I listen to it for the beat.”  It is imperative that parents, teachers, and youth leaders teach our kids that superimposed on a beat are messages and lyrics that do indeed mean something.  The more they listen to them, the more they want to be like the ones singing or rapping them.  Teens become desensitized to the debauchery and lasciviousness constantly penetrating their minds.

Next thing most parents wonder is why do so many teenagers want to look just like these groups, talk just like them, act just like them, be just like them?  It’s because what they listen to over and over again affects the way teens want to look, talk, and most importantly – ACT.

That’s why it is imperative mom and dad that you monitor what is on your teens’ iPods, that you sit down with them and read the lyrics on the CD covers, that you ask your teens why these groups sing about explicit sex so much.  Then you can direct them to make better decisions as to what they listen to while giving them what they say they want anyway – the beat!

Why do today’s music groups sing about sex so much?  Easy answer, SEX SELLS!  They know it get’s our attention, especially teenagers.  And that’s all these groups want so it will compel teens to spend $15, $16, $17 dollars or so to buy their CDs or download their songs from iTunes.  Then these groups could care less about the impact their lyrics have on the way teens think about sex or their videos have on the way teens view sex.  Many teenagers want to imitate what they hear and see, especially from their “idols.”  No wonder more teens who get a heavy dose of sexually explicit song lyrics are more prone to be sexually active.

It is vital that parents, teachers, and youth leaders get more involved with teens and what they’re listening to and watching (music videos).  Tell them you’re all going to listen to what’s on their iPods and CDs together.  If your teens are hesitant to that suggestion, then you know something is up.  Insist on doing it anyway, make it fun - then direct them.

But keep in mind, if you are going to take something away from kids, you need to replace it with something else.  Make a deal with your teens.  Tell them you’re going to the music store with them or sit down in front of the computer and listen to music together.  If it’s all about the beat, which is what teens say, then you will have no problem finding it with lyrics that are uplifting and positive.  Buy those songs for your teens.  You won’t get any argument from them for that!  And you shouldn’t get any argument from them about the songs you just bought, because it’s all about the beat….right teenager?

Until next time…

M.L. Productions, Inc.