Comprehensive Sex Education
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Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education
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Teaches that sexuality is a natural, normal, healthy
part of life
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Teaches that sexual expression outside of marriage
will have harmful social, psychological, and physical
consequences
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Teaches that abstinence from sexual intercourse is
the most effective method of preventing unintended
pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including
HIV
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Teaches that abstinence from sexual intercourse before
marriage is the only acceptable behavior
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Provides values-based education and offers students
the opportunity to explore and define their individual
values as well as the values of their families and
communities
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Teaches only one set of values as morally correct
for all students
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Includes a wide variety of sexuality related topics,
such as human development, relationships, interpersonal
skills, sexual expression, sexual health, and society
and culture
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Limits topics to abstinence-only-until-marriage and
to the negative consequences of pre-marital sexual
activity
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Includes accurate, factual information on abortion,
masturbation, and sexual orientation
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Usually omits controversial topics such as abortion,
masturbation,
and sexual orientation
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Provides positive messages about sexuality and sexual
expression, including the benefits of abstinence
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Often uses fear tactics to promote abstinence and
to limit sexual expression
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Teaches that proper use of latex condoms, along with
water-based lubricants, can greatly reduce, but not
eliminate, the risk of unintended pregnancy and of
infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
including HIV
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Discusses condoms only in terms of failure rates;
often exaggerates condom failure rates
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Teaches that consistent use of modern methods of contraception
can greatly reduce a couple's risk for unintended pregnancy
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Provides no information on forms of contraception
other than failure rates of condoms
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Includes accurate medical information about STDs,
including HIV; teaches that individuals can avoid STDs
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Often includes inaccurate medical information and
exaggerated statistics regarding STDs, including HIV;
suggests that STDs are an inevitable result
of premarital sexual behavior
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Teaches that religious values can play an important
role in an individual's decisions about sexual expression;
offers students the opportunity to explore their own
and their family's religious values
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Often promotes specific religious values
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Teaches that a woman faced with an unintended pregnancy
has options: carrying the pregnancy to term and raising
the baby, or carrying the pregnancy to term and placing
the baby for adoption, or ending the pregnancy with
an abortion
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Teaches that carrying the pregnancy to term and placing
the baby for adoption is the only morally correct
option for pregnant teens
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