Comprehensive Sex Education |
Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education |
| Teaches
that sexuality is a natural, normal, healthy part of life |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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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