2011
Abstinence-only teaching proves ineffective
M ary E arp ___________________
"Three days ago a stork
built its nest on top of my
garage. I'm not stupid.
Obviously it's getting ready
to bring me my baby. I know
where babies come from."
Brittany, played by Heather
Morris, portrays a teen
clueless about sex in a recent
episode of "Glee." Though
this may be a lighthearted
joke in the show, it may apply
to us more than we know.
Abstinence seems to be the
most heavily emphasized
form of sexual education
taught at WLHS.
Oregon state law requires
schools to provide sexual
education annually to
students in grades six
through eight and at least
twice to the grades nine
through 12. When taught,
information about abstinence
must be stressed, though
information on safe sex
should not be excluded.
"The state has guidelines
which we base our teachings
off of," Joe Cerny, Health/P.E.
Department Chair, said. "We
currently have an abstinence-
based program, though we
give information on safe sex
the school brings in guest
speakers to talk about
abstinence and safe sex.
They provide information
regarding sexually
transmitted diseases and
pregnancy as well.
"We discuss safe sex
methods that will help
to prevent unwanted -
pregnancies and the
prevention of contracting
STDs," Cerny said.
Cerny states that the
current health system teaches
both spectrums of sexual
education. Though the school
provides information on safe
sex and abstinence, according
to some students, they do
not give both areas equal
credence.
"I don't remember being
taught anything about safe
sex," an anonymous student
said. "I just remember the
whole 'don't have sex' thing."
If students are not given
enough information on safe
sex, teenagers may not know
its dangers. It is inevitable
that some teenagers will
have sex, and information on
safe sex may help teenagers
prevent pregnancy and
sexually transmitted diseases.
"1 th in k they shou ld
as w e ll. "
According to Cerny,
teach abou t b o th abstinence
and safe sex," Katherine
Stubblefield, sophomore,
effectiveness of teaching
only abstinence versus sex
Photo courtesy of Barbara Lake, Fox TV
Kurt, played by Chris Colfer, receives ’’the talk" from his father, Bert,
played by Mike O'Malle. Sexual education in schools has always been
a widely debated topic, and was theme of a recent "Glee" episode.
said. "Sex is something that is
going to happen sometime so
kids should know how to do
it safely."
According to a recent
study done by the AIDS
Research Center in San
Francisco, Calif., parents
agree that schools should
teach about safe sex. Eighty-
five percent of parents with
teenagers wanted safe sex,
along with abstinence, to be
taught at their child's school.
education. In a unanimous
result, teaching safe sex
results in fewer pregnancies
and less STDs. If teenagers
are taught only to not have
sex, they may not have the
knowledge they need about
what to do if they become
sexually involved.
I believe that information
about safe sex, alongside
abstinence, should be equally
emphasized in health classes.
It is also important for
C ongress has done
cou ntless stu d ies on the
parents to find a w ay for
their ch ild ren to learn about
practicing safe sex and
learning about the dangers
that come with it. They can
either sit down and have
"the talk" with their child, or
find a way for them to talk
to someone else if they don't
feel comfortable. Students
could also schedule an
appointment with a doctor
to talk about sex. It could be
a great way to receive more
information if needed.
If students have any
questions outside of the
classroom, according to
Cerny, there are other
resources from which they
can receive information.
"We always want students
to have the information they
need," Cerny said. "They
can come to their counselor,
parents or the health
department if they have
questions."
If effective sexual
education is not provided
for teenagers, they might do
something that they regret.
Sexual education is a huge
part of becoming a teenager
and carrying out a healthy
lifestyle, and teenagers
should be taught everything
they need to know, giving
b o th abstinence and safe sex
equal attention.
Exposure to loud music brings consequences, creates annoyance
C hrisann
Km
It is a huge privilege to have
music in school. Remember
how you weren't allowed to
have iPods in middle school?
In high school, a good amount
of free time is used to listen
to music or playing on one's
iPod Touch. The luxury of free
time for students lasts until
someone's music is blaring into
the open silence.
Rock, metal, country, pop,
alternative; it doesn't matter
what genre of music it is. Each
genre has its own tune and
beat—and loudness. With
new technology, younger
generations start to listen
to more music more of the
time, sooner. I've noticed
fifth graders holding iPods,
listening to loud music.
One out of five teens has
lost a small amount of hearing
because of the stunningly high
volumes that blast out from
ear buds into a teen's ears,
according to TweenTribune.
Researchers analyzed data
from 12-to-19-year-olds on a
national health survey. That
means 6.5 million teens are
affected with at least slight
hearing loss. These heavy
During car rides, I can hear
my sister's loud pop music
through my own pop music.
If it's that loud, it's too loud.
When a student's music is
cause it's their fault."
There's a saying that goes
like this, "Music on, world
off." Alright, I understand
how people love to listen to
Mÿy
,
v.x‘
West Linn High School, 5464 West A Street, West Linn, OR 97068
(503) 673-7843 •fax: (503)657-8710 •
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Gretchen Provensen, freshman, listens to music while researching on the computer. Past research has
proven that teens who listen to loud music are inflicted with hearing loss. Loud music has also created
disturbance to other students who try to focus in class.
consequences may appear
minimal at first, but they
can affect you permanently.
They can also affect how you
learn in school. If you can't
hear your own friends talk to
you, how do you expect to be
able to hear a professor at the
bottom of a classroom during a
college lecture?
Personally, I don't turn
up the music volume more
than halfway. If I can't hear
someone next to me talking
to me, the volume is too loud.
the loudest thing in the quiet
classroom, one: it disrupts
everyone else, two: the student
doesn't realize it, and three: it's
awkward asking them to turn
it down when they can't hear
you.
"It's so annoying. It's
mostly their fault because
they'll find out later about
the consequences and they'll
find out they can't hear as
well anymore," Dana Rost,
sophomore, said. "They can't
do anything about it, really,
Justin Bieber or karaoke or to
Taylor Swift's love songs. But
if it's the one and only thing
an entire classroom can hear
through your earphones, it is
TOO LOUD. You are inflicting
terrible damage on your ears.
If grades are important to you
but music is, too, turn down
the volume. Your ears will be
eternally grateful if you treat
them nicely so they can serve
you well for the rest of your
life. Wouldn't want to go deaf,
you hear?