tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post6817498347874270872..comments2024-03-28T17:53:43.541-04:00Comments on DarwinCatholic: Abstinence Without MoralityDarwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08572976822786862149noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-22493822974909163852013-05-23T19:50:27.438-04:002013-05-23T19:50:27.438-04:00My public school taught chastity, and a healthy ch...My public school taught chastity, and a healthy chastity at that, through the STARS program. What ever happened to Students Today Aren't Ready for Sex?Theodore M. Seeberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13315945417122366201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-16871747245914988332013-05-21T09:19:42.967-04:002013-05-21T09:19:42.967-04:00My children attend public schools. Two are in hig...My children attend public schools. Two are in high school, one in middle school and one in elementary. Our sex education starts in 4th grade with basic hygiene and moves into menstruation/puberty in 5th and 6th grade. By the end of eighth grade, they know the rudimentary biological aspects.<br />I've reviewed the material before my children were in class - it is open to all parents and there is an opt out which some people use. I don't have a problem with the materials.JMBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02542004362101344466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-20595484095022348912013-05-20T19:29:01.581-04:002013-05-20T19:29:01.581-04:00My own, more radical, ideal is to abolish all Stat...<i>My own, more radical, ideal is to abolish all State-funded education and trust to private initiative and private charity.</i><br /><br />I'm sympathetic to that. Honestly, as someone who went to Catholic school from grades 1 to HS graduation, I'm not sure it's all that much of an improvement.<br /><br />I cheer on the autodidacts and the home schoolers. Crudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04178390947423928444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-10015112897050996282013-05-16T20:25:30.097-04:002013-05-16T20:25:30.097-04:00Of the three options given, the third is the only ...Of the three options given, the third is the only acceptable one.<br /><br />That said, I'm afraid recent history has shown Darwin's ideal (which, once upon a time, was also mine) to be impractical - State money will inevitably result in State control. My own, more radical, ideal is to abolish <b>all</b> State-funded education and trust to private initiative and private charity.Bob the Apehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303535277957530100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-85034075271039139722013-05-16T19:11:52.842-04:002013-05-16T19:11:52.842-04:00Whenever I read discussions of sex ed in public ed...Whenever I read discussions of sex ed in public education I always slightly regret ducking out of the sex ed rallies when I was in high school. We covered basic bio info quite well in science classes (well enough for me to puzzle out a basic NFP sort of thing years before even knowing NFP existed) but the moral behavior part was left for yearly rallies for the upperclassmen. A friend and I dodged the various powers that were and ducked off campus, deciding in advance that they would be stupid. I'm sure we were right, but still I kind of wish I was there, if for no other reason to be able to make fun of it. <br /><br />I think the third option makes a lot of sense, and I think there's room to cover the mechanics of NFP there too. The biology of it all is quite fascinating, I think!Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12689104216675201913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-21373922547154100062013-05-16T17:01:27.879-04:002013-05-16T17:01:27.879-04:00I went to public schools and our version of sex-ed...I went to public schools and our version of sex-ed was very basic biology. No behavior addressed at all. This was in the buckle of the Bible Belt but also in a city, whatever that's worth.<br /><br />All the behavior education was left to the parents, for good or ill. My local parish had non-existent moral education. <br /><br />The big Protestant churches were very big on True Love Waits and the like. I don't remember hearing about used-up gum analogies. They talked about sex being the greatest thing ever that was only for your spouse. If anything they erred on the side of false expectations of fireworks on your wedding night. Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12507330852895229468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-9398055014307682522013-05-16T12:00:39.251-04:002013-05-16T12:00:39.251-04:00Sex ed just wasn't that bad. I support the bi...Sex ed just wasn't that bad. I support the biological function model rather than "how-to"--that's essentially what we got under the umbrella of "sex-ed." No putting condoms on bananas--more's the pity. Abstinence-only in schools is ludicrous for the reason you mention and more--it would simply turn into a joke for those who were not psychologically scarred. I *would* like to see a MORE detailed description of how the female reproductive system works, and some inclusion of Fertility Awareness Methods of child spacing (secular NFP). That would be a good service to young people. But as a Catholic parent, I don't object to having my child learn about contraceptive methods from a textbook, or about STDs. It is for me to put the information into context. I definitely draw the line at promoting behaviors, but that can happen in English and social studies as well.Literacy-chichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08925734773412633965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-75466501072578262112013-05-16T08:26:16.062-04:002013-05-16T08:26:16.062-04:00I'm with you on the third option, too. I'...I'm with you on the third option, too. I'm a fan of the First Amendment. Moral instruction is not the government's role, period. <br /><br />Part of the problem, from the Christian p.o.v., is an impoverished understanding of what "purity" means. Confusing it with virginity -- well, actually, a sort of extra-virgin virginity, since I'm getting the idea that it excludes a history of nongenital sexual activity too -- is just the tip of the iceberg. Let me be the first to admit that I don't have my mind entirely wrapped around "purity" very well myself, and it would probably be instructive to unpack it from various definitions that have been put forth over the years. <br /><br />There is an interesting counterpoint to our objections, though, which is that -- while affirming that all people have equal worth no matter what their past, and all sinners are redeemed by the blood of Christ -- virginity is still recognized by the Church as a state which has significance. Cf. the case of that rare jewel of a vocation, that of "consecrated virgin," still very much a part of the Church and still only open to women who assert that they have *never* had consensual sex. <br /><br />So virginity signifies, and virginity is something that *can* be forfeited forever by choice. But at the same time we're bound to recognize that something else can *never* be forfeited by *any* choice. The world has trouble with this kind of thinking. No small wonder, as nothing in it is really countable.bearinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07953735060133330755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13522238.post-57117469852388504112013-05-15T23:50:09.814-04:002013-05-15T23:50:09.814-04:00Thanks for the shout out, but i think you nailed i...Thanks for the shout out, but i think you nailed it. BettyDuffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17130418609022759086noreply@blogger.com