Very, very, very well said, Frat!

I work in a school. We see and deal with these issues on the daily, so I think I know exactly what real involvement constitutes thanks.

Real involvement does NOT mean simply saying "don't do it" and expecting kids to comply. Real involvement starts in the home, with loving and involved parents teaching their children the ways they should go.

Since that all too often doesn't happen, in schools, it mainly starts with teaching children the basic things they don't learn at home because they're in a one parent household (like the majority of black children- 63%) and no one has the time to teach them. Schools are being put in the position to raise the next generation of children, since their parents have completely bowed out of the process.

When it comes to sex it means that schools teach teens what they need to know as adults- which is not that sex is bad never do it, but that sex is a part of life (something that any of them with a TV that receives BET's programming already fully know) and that if you make adult decisions too early you deal with adult consequences, like pregnancy and AIDS. And that if you can't or won't abstain, then condoms are the only way to protect yourself and the people that you love.

I don't think that the message should be "be safe" first and foremost. The message should be "abstinence is the only assurance, BUT if you will not abstain then BE SAFE".

perhaps BET should put "teen summit" back on the air, and as often as they air "comic view".

and we keep saying that prevention starts at home from the parents. and thats all good. but truth is, its not happening. not to give up on the efforts, but its time for a plan B. you cant give the same remedy if not everyone will implement it.

actually, we need a plan C--first were told, dont do it til ur married for x, y, z reasons. then, if youre going to do it, BE SAFE about it. but now what? do u try reverse psychology and say, go ahead and get down with everything out there? so this way teen sex will lose its appeal?

your call.

Poll from another site
 

What type of sex education should be taught in schools?
Abstinence
Contraception
Both
Neither, taught at home

Re: Poll from another site
 

BOTH

As someone else stated, it would be great if sex education began at home, sometimes it does, often times it doesn't. Kids are going to pick information up somewhere (friends, TV) and instead of letting them get the wrong information why not teach them the correct information. So why not teach abstinence as the best policy, but if you're going to have sex be safe & protected.

because thats been done already, and its not working. like u said, kids are going to pick up outside info from "The media" and their friends. you can promote abstinence first, but if something more interesting comes along (sadly in the form of "come on, lets do it because... fill in whatever reason u like) we know what will be chosen.

of course there are kids who abstain. and like the kids who arent abstaining, it is their choice, their decision. we cant make the decision for them, even if you do provide the roof over their head, and the clothes on their back...