monkey see, monkey do serves as a personal blog and creative outlet for
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please abstain from condescending educational programs
i always wondered if the “just say no” to drugs campaigns and similar educational efforts were really effective at modifying behavior. i found them condescending. the recent finding that abstinence-only sex education programs are completely ineffective should give pause. my conclusion, treat children like intelligent beings and give them all the information they need.
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2 comments to “please abstain from condescending educational programs”
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18. April 2007 at 7:22 am :
What do you think is “all the information they need.” And, who should give that information?
18. April 2007 at 8:52 am :
ah, you want me to propose something actually useful with my view? something implementable? in general i would advocate a balanced approach, which are emotionally neutral. so for sex education, one that includes all of the dangers of sex but acknowledges the fascination and attraction that so many have toward it. the abstinence programs seem to take an approach that it’s bad, our urges are bad, we must just renounce it. that’s a very self abusive point of view. i’d rather see an acknowledgment that different cultures have different feelings about sexuality, what age it’s appropriate, and the consequences in each culture of varying from that, and the risks inherent to it. that seems genuinely honest and generous, to just give kids the same kind of larger perspective that is possible to have. instead of using self abuse or self hatred as a mechanism for controlling social behavior.